Special to the AgriNews

The Glengarry Agriculture Wall of Fame continues its tradition of celebrating those individuals who have had an impact on the agricultural industry in Glengarry.

The induction dinner honouring four new inductees to the wall of fame is taking place on Sat.,  April 22 at the Maxville Centre in Maxville.  The event will feature a social hour beginning at 6:30 and dinner at 7:30.  Price for tickets is $50. per person.

The latest inductees for 2023 are William R. MacEwen, Clark McCuaig, Douglas McDonell, and Marion Myers.

Members of the Agricultural Wall of Fame who will have tickets to sell are:

  • Robert D. MacDonald (613-525-3471)
  • Rae MacDonald (613-525-2405)
  • Warren MacIntosh (613-527-5355)
  • Jack Fraser (613-527-2572)
  • Ray Howes (613-528-4320)
  • Walter McIntosh (613-528-4694)
  • Sharon McDonell (613-347-3981)
  • Mary McLeod (613-347-3138)

WILLIAM R. MacEWEN (1928-1985)

Inducted on April 22, 2023
WILLIAM R. MacEWEN (Bill) was born in Maxville in 1928, son of William A. and Rachel (MacLeod) MacEwen.  Bill was educated in the two local schools and then attended business college in Toronto.  On his return he entered the feed and seed business with his father.  He married Vera Grant and they had 3 children (Kathleen, Allan and Jim).  In 1955, Bill purchased the business from his father as the Maxville Feed and Seed Co. Ltd.  He became a very successful businessman.  He established a hardware store which later became Maxville Home Hardware and also established the Ford Mercury dealership on Highway 34, south of Alexandria. 

While in the feed business, Bill introduced and initiated the use of a mobile feed mixer and grinder (called a Daffin) which became a very popular machine in the area and was used extensively until more farmers purchased their own grinders.  The feed business was sold in 1975 to Maple Leaf Mills.  In 1980, with his son, Allan, Bill started MacEwen Grain Inc. and MacEwen Fuels Ltd.  On the farmland that he purchased, grain corn has been produced extensively and poultry and hogs were raised. 

In 1983, Bill’s son, Jim, bought back the feed business as MacEwen Feed and Fertilizer Inc., and in 1992 it was renamed MacEwen Agricentre which currently operates from three locations:  Maxville, Vars and Cobden, employing more than 100 people, continually growing and showing innovative leadership in the agricultural community.

Bill was always involved in community activities.  The Masonic orders benefitted from his dedication to fraternal work.  He was active with the Shriners for several years and in 1974 was elected to the Divan at Karnak Temple in Montreal and was elected Potentate in 1979.  Like his father, Bill served on the Maxville Village Council, both as Councillor and Reeve.  He was a Past-President of the Glengarry Highland Games, a member of the Maxville and District Lions Club and a Founding Director of the Maxville Manor.  At the time of his death, he was an Elder of his church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, in Maxville.  In Cornwall, he was on the advisory board of the local branch of Guaranty Trust for several years and on the board of Directors of the Cornwall General Hospital.

Throughout his life, Bill demonstrated a fine sense of responsibility and achievement which has been carried on by his family who continually support their community and local initiatives.

CLARK McCUAIG (1934 –    )

Inducted on April 22, 2023
CLARK McCUAIG was born on January 23, 1934 on Finney Creek Farm and has remained in his ancestral home in South Glengarry. He spent a lifetime learning and working to be a successful farmer.  He has created a legacy of milestones and achievements.  He dedicated time to participate in community organizations that provided opportunities for others.  Clark has always exemplified the 4-H motto “Learn to do by Doing”.  He showed calves, learned the skill of judging, excelling to become a top achiever at the Williamstown Fair, the Ottawa Winter Fair and the Royal Winter Fair.  He was part of judging teams and became a certified Holstein judge.  He was a county rep. for Eastern Breeders Inc., serving on the Sire Selection Committee during the 60s and 70s. 

In 1967, Finney Creek Suzie Rockman Girl was named the top four-year-old and Grand Champion in Ottawa, placing 4th at the Royal, then named “Honourable Mention All Canadian”.  Clark claims that Suzie was his crowning achievement.  He created his own farm prefix Glenmaple, best known for the EBI bull Glenmaple Citation Star, whose semen outsold all others in 1982.

As a young man, Clark became involved and filled roles such as elder, trustee, board of managers, director and president in the following:  St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in South Lancaster, Williamstown Fair Board, Glengarry Holstein Club, Glengarry Federation of Agriculture and Glengarry Soil and Crop Association.

As a modern dairy farmer, Clark adopted leading edge methods that grew into innovations.  In the 60s he installed a dumping station with a glass pipeline. He was one of the first to store high moisture corn in an upright silo in the early 70s. He used embryo transplant technology and Glenmaple embryos were sold worldwide. In the late 80s a free stall barn and a flat parlour were constructed.  The latest innovation he experienced has been a new stable centered on robotic milkers, initiated by his son, Bruce.

Clark’s life has been enriched by his wife of 51 years, Isabelle (nee Farlinger)and by his children Bruce, Jane and Ann Margaret who are also active in their careers, interests and community involvement.  The legacy continues with six grandchildren:  Ainsley, Rory, Allister, Angus, Jamie and Liam.

DOUGLAS McDONELL (1942-    )

Inducted on April 22, 2023
DOUGLAS McDONELL, son of Clark and Eileen McDonell, was born on May 9, 1942 and was raised on the family farm just east of Williamstown.  He attended and graduated from the local schools in Williamstown.

Doug was an active member of the 4-H Calf Club.   At the 4-H Achievement Day at the 1959 edition of the Williamstown Fair, he had the Grand Champion Ayrshire calf and also was awarded the Lions Club Trophy as Grand Champion Showman.  That same year,  he had Grand Champion calf and was Grand Champion showman at the Eastern Ontario 4-H championship show at the Ottawa Winter Fair.

In 1960, Doug attended Macdonald College where he graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture.  Following graduation, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture as an Assistant Ag. Rep. in Halton and Peel Counties.  In the summer of 1966 he was employed by Shur-Grain Feeds.

In the fall of 1966, Doug enrolled at the University of Guelph where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.  He then worked for Master Feeds, a division of Maple Leaf Foods, for 2 years.  In 1972, he was hired as Assistant General Manager of the Ontario Public Stock Yards in Toronto and became General Manager in 1974 where he remained until 1994 when the Stock yards closed.  That same year, Doug was hired as Agriculture Manager of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.  He was General Manager of the Royal Winter Fair in 2003 and also in 2004, the year he retired.

During his years in the livestock industry, Doug was a member of the Livestock Industry Institute which is a North American think tank on livestock issues.  The year he was President, he hosted the annual convention in Toronto.  He was also President of the Canadian Livestock Markets Association for one year.  Presently, Doug is Secretary of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Doug and his wife, Carolyn, live in Milton, Ontario.  They have two daughters, Nancy and Laurie, and four grandchildren.

MARION MYERS (1938 –    )

Inducted on April 22, 2023
MARION (nee Coleman) Myers was born on April 23, 1938 and spent her formative years in Verdun, Quebec.  Marion’s interest in agriculture began when she met her husband, Charles.  They were both advocates of agricultural husbandry and had a dream of owning their own farm.  On July 27, 1956, Marion married Charles and the journey began.  They purchased a farm on Brodie Road and began a commercial “farrow to finish” swine operation.  In 1959, Pigdome Farm was born.  Marion focused on producing hogs that were known for their high indexes and lean, meaty stature.  Yorkshire, Landrace and Hampshire crosses were the mainstay of the Myers’ herd and because of this specific breeding program, many awards and accolades were achieved.  Marion was also instrumental in ensuring that 4-H swine clubs were available to those youth who were interested in the pork industry.  She was frequently invited to judge at several fairs in Eastern Ontario and offered her expertise to 4-H youth in the ring.

Marion’s expertise in the pork industry was not just local to Glengarry County.  For many years, she served as a Provincial Director on the Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board, representing the pork producers of Eastern Ontario and serving on industry-related committees that helped to enhance the quality, knowledge and longevity of the industry.  In 1975, she was elected as the first woman to serve on the Provincial Marketing Board.  She was also elected President of the local Glengarry Pork Producers’ Association in 1983, a position that she still currently holds.  One of Marion’s greatest achievements was the establishment of the McCrimmon assembly yard in 1980.   This venue provided a place from which  local pork producers could ship their finishing hogs to the processing plant.

Marion has been a community canvasser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation as well as being involved with the Alexandria Curling Club.  She still advocates for pork production and is often called upon for her expertise and opinion.

Marion and Charles raised five children:  Tracy, Charles (Jr.), Lesley, Gary and Bruce.  Although Pigdome Farm no longer produces hogs, it leaves a legacy to those who aspire to be the best that they can be in the industry.