Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame announces five new inductees

Three men and two women who have had a positive influence on agriculture in Chatham-Kent and beyond will be recognized this fall.

The late Ron Anderson, the late Doug Arbour, Diane and Robert Devolder and Kathleen Quinton will be inducted into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame in a lunchtime ceremony Nov. 21 at the Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club.

The announcement came at the start of Monday’s Chatham-Kent council meeting.

Agriculture was Anderson’s passion, said Alice Uher, vice-chair of the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame Association.

Anderson, a visionary and agricultural specialist, “oversaw the agricultural sector in Chatham-Kent and assisted many growers and agriculture businesses with their growth and expansion opportunities,” she said.

Arbour, a longtime municipal politician with a background in the ambulance service, made Kent County a safer place to be, Uher said.

“Along with his ambulance services, he promoted education and safety courses to the rural population,” she added, and worked to improve emergency response to rural accidents.

The Devolders, of Dover Township, “were early adopters of the latest technology to advance agriculture in efficiency, on economic returns and to improve the environmental impact on area farms,” Uher said. “Their knowledge, passion and foresight helped make farmers successful.”

Quinton has been a vital participant in rural Palmyra, Uher said. Active in farming, leading 4H and teaching adults, and promoting a healthier environment, Quinton “stands as a model for young women across rural Canada.”