The Kemptville College Alumni is once again presenting two $1,500 Scholarships to two students who are in their second year of studies in a Food or Agricultural related program at an accredited college in September of 2026.
You can complete the application online, and submit here.
Preference will be given to the person who does have a relative that graduated from Kemptville College but the merit of the applicant also carries value. The Applicant could have worked for a Kemptville grad, had a Kemptville grad as their 4-H Leader or a community association with a Kemptville grad.
Application deadline is January 31st, 2027 The chosen recipients will be notified on Feb 7th, 2027 by email or telephone.
Charles McDonald, a ’67 Kemptville grad from North Lancaster, has donated a 75 acre parcel of South Glengarry land to be used as a County Forest. The land surrounding the woodlot is prime farmland that is mostly clear with very little bush left. The piece of land that belonged to Charles is a beautiful mature forest that has been meticulously maintained by Charles and his family for over 100 years. It consists of a mixture of Sugar Maple, Bass Wood, Soft Maple and Burr Oak.
The Counties Council of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will integrate this parcel of land into their existing forest management program. Charles always enjoyed his rural setting in North Lancaster and wanted to make sure the land was not cleared. Charles also enjoyed History and was the first college grad to send a Historical Building donation when we started fundraising to build.
Charles is proud to show the land and in the picture below, taken by ’71 grad Audrey Baker, shows Charles with Audrey’s family after their tour of the acreage.
There is also a picture in our older posts of Charles and classmate Mackie Robertson beside the cabin, that will remain with the forest. Check out “A Relaxing Retreat”.
Thank you Charles, for your part in protecting our forests!
The railing has been installed at the entrance to the Kemptville College Alumni Historical Building. This will accommodate any of us who just needs a little support along the incline. Thank you to Ron Burgess ‘68 and his workers who put the railing up and to Marg Milne ’57 for her financial contribution.
Unity is strength – when there is teamwork and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved!
In preparation for our Kemptville College Alumni Reunion on June 13th, 2026, the Crimson Maple tree has been planted at Lombardy Fair Grounds. This is in recognition of our ten-year partnership with the Lombardy Agricultural Society.
The work crew dug the hole and anchored the tree.
From L to R: Gordon French, Gerry Covell, David Stickland and Ron Burgess.
Gordon and Ron are with Kemptville College Alumni and Gerry and David are with Lombardy Agricultural Society. You will notice the Kubota did most of the work to dig the hole but the men planted and then filled the hole.
Admiring the tree , which will be presented on the 13th, are Chris Craig , President of Lombardy Agricultural Society and Allan Cooley, Vice President of Lombardy Agricultural Society.
Chris Craig , President of Lombardy Agricultural Society and Allan Cooley, Vice President of Lombardy Agricultural Society
L to R: Riley, Addison, Brant, Michael, Tessa and Reanne. They are all wearing their Hill View jackets. Photo credit Charles Summers photo
Leeds-Grenville recently held farm tours as part of the Holstein Ontario Convention. Dwyre Farm from Elgin was part of the tour. In 2019 a web article was written about Addison Dwyre with her Jersey calf ( older post ) and now we are including the whole family and their Kemptville College connection. Micheal graduated from Kemptville in 2000 and returned home after graduation to farm. Tessa ( Kehoe ) graduated from Kemptville in 2003 and worked for a seed company. Michael and Tessa had both been in the same 4-H club so people were not surprised when they married in 2004. On the Dwyre Farm, Holsteins are the main breed but there are still some Jerseys and Ayrshires. Presently they are milking 96 cows and farm over 600 acres.
Tessa is involved with the Frontenac 4-H, Lansdowne Agricultural Society and the Rideau District High School Council. Michael has found time to coach soccer for North Leeds Soccer and really enjoys it. Their four children are all part of the farm operation and are involved in many activities. Addison has played soccer, including in Sweden and has a soccer scholarship in her first year at Lakeland College in Vermillion, Alberta. In 4-H she has received her 42 Project Seal – dairy being her favourite club.
Riley has played soccer and run track. He placed 6th in Canada for 200m Hurdles in 2024. In 4-H he enjoys dairy and swine clubs.
Reanne, in Grade 9, plays every sport possible at her school and competitive soccer. She has her 18 4-H club seal , with dairy as her top club. This year both Reanne and Addison were on the Frontenac Royal Team.
Brant will be playing on a competitive soccer team for the first time this summer. He only does the 4-H dairy club because his older siblings make him. He enjoys the farm but not all the fuss of showing cattle. His favourite is raising and showing his 4-H pigs!
Dwyre Farm has a Master Breeder Herd and their animals, including heifers and calves are in demand.
Micheal and Tessa are proud to tell people that if you look after your animals, they will look after you. Congratulations to the Dwyre family for their contribution to the agricultural community!
Other Kemptville College connections on the farm tours were Creekside Holsteins, Lombardy ON. Melanie (MacMillan) 2003 grad and Lucas Chisholm 2001 grad were proud to show their farm and animals.
Maple – Ain Farms from Smiths Falls, has Arlene Hunter’s dad John Fraser who graduated from Kemptville in 1969.
Mike Vissar, Ontario Holstein Director for East Central, is a 2002 grad from Thunder Bay. He attended the tours and annual meeting in Kingston.
Many people touring the farms were also proud of their Kemptville College connection. Tessa Dwyre was delighted to have a visit with John Joynt ’63 grad. She has known him since she was 12 years old. John was certainly involved in forming Tessa’s love of Jerseys. What special memories!
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the Kemptville College Alumni welcomed twenty Year Representatives and guests to an information session that was held at the Historical Building at Lombardy fairgrounds and the Hawk’s Nest at the Lombard Glen golf course.
Show & Tell Committee L to R Back Row: Mike Smith ’83, Joe Krol ’80, Cindy Dawson ’83, David Bobier ’87, Ruth Anne Hawley ’75, Kim Link ’69, Don Good ’66 Front Row: Gordon French ’69, Ronald Burgess ’68, Sharon Blanchard ‘69
Year Representatives and guests were treated to information presented on the history, why Lombardy fairgrounds was chosen to house the Historical building, fundraising and information on the upcoming reunion which is being held Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the Lombardy fairgrounds.
Presentations were given by Gordon French, year ’69 grad, who was also our host and MC, Kim Link (Keene), year ’69, Don Good, year ’66, Cindy Dawson (Bradley), year ’83, Ron Burgess, year ’68 and Joe Krol, year ’80.
At the Historical Building Ron and Joe were supported by Joyce Burgess and Sharon Blanchard (Lane) year ’69 who were able to relate their experiences while getting the building established.
The greeters at the building, in the morning, were Mike Smith year ’83 and RuthAnn Hawley year ’75, who gave out name tags and information packages.
At the Hawk’s Nest, Jennifer Chaplin year ’76 and David Bobier year ’87 made the guests feel welcome and assisted where needed.
Year Rep Attendees from L to R John Faulkner, Peggy Faulkner (Gordon) ’62, John Ferguson ’76, Mary Gifford, Catherine McKeough (Lapointe)72, Allan Stanley ’71, Laura Fanasch (Pratt)’61, Ian Payne ’91, Sandy Bullock (Duncan) 71, Trudy (Hughes) MacIntosh ’91, Ken Hunter ’82, Graham Link ’69, Jim Ireton ’76, Don Forbes ’69, Deb Ireton (Cameron) ’76, Ellen Mooney (Webb) ’67 Sharon Bjergsoe (Robinson) ’77, Bruce Mooney ’69
Our goal for this get together was to provide information, a tour of the Historical building with time permitted to view our displays in the Historical building and to hear from the year reps their concerns and ideas to assist in organizing our reunions.
The Alumni would like to thank everyone for participating in our event and look forward to seeing you at Reunion.
