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The Thurston family have and continue to make an outstanding contribution to agriculture in the city of Kawartha Lakes and beyond. This family proudly has three Kemptville College grads. Keith and Sandy graduated in 1970 and their son Jeff, graduated in 1998. In 2023 they were the recipients of the “Kawartha Lakes Agriculture Farm Family Award”.

Their accomplishments and contributions have included 4-H leadership, Interprovincial exchanges and hosting international students. They have been and continue to be active members of many county organizations – Soil & Crop, milk committees. Holstein Club and many more. They also find time to support and coach youth sports and are active members in their church.

Following graduation in 1970, Keith worked as a Federal Meat Inspector in Toronto and GTA. After a couple of years, he realized he wasn’t cut out to be a city lad, at which time he returned home and formed a partnership with his parents at Thursthill Farms. This year 2024 was a special year for Keith. In the fall of 1972, he became a Pioneer Hi Bred Ltd. Sales Representative. This was a sideline to their dairy and cash crop farm. Fifty years later this is now a full-time business with his son Jeff as manager. Pioneer honoured Keith for his service this year. When Keith was asked for a Pioneer Award picture, the shy lad he is, we were sent the picture below.

Sandra ( Miller ) is a farm girl from Renfrew in the Ottawa Valley area. She met Keith at Kemptville. Following graduation, she went to Toronto to work with Versa Foods. She then worked as a Food Supervisor at Glendon College ( York University ). Sandra then transferred to Port Hope Hospital which coincided with married life to Keith at Thursthill Farms.

She eventually became a full-time stay-at-home mom to Jeff, Jeremy and Jessica and also full-time farmer’s wife. Sandy’s outside interests include Women’s Institute, 4-H and church.

This is now a 6^th generation farm with Jeff and his wife Nicole and family becoming part of the transitional generation. The dairy operation has moved from tie stall to free stall and now robots. Keith and Jeff are still active in Pioneer sales. Keith and Sandy are also still involved with farm activities as well as being active with their nine grandchildren.

Congratulations on a successful road travelled by Kemptville College grads!

Buttarbrook Farm, Gores Landing, owned and operated by Bruce Year ‘69 and Cindy, was the fun location to celebrate Bruce’s 75th birthday.

Neighbours, relatives and Kemptville College Year ‘69 friends joined together for an afternoon of delicious food and great conversations.

Back row left to right:

Fran and Gordon French, Alumni President, Kim Alumni Treasurer and Graham Link, David Guardhouse, Ellen Mooney, retired teacher and Liaison officer and Year ‘67 Grad, Bruce Mooney, Harry and Marion Shanlan.

Front row left to right:
Stephanie Hill, former Alumni President, Pauline Guardhouse, Bruce and Cindy Buttar.

Bruce Butter ’69 grad from Gores Landing, celebrated his 75th birthday with fellow classmates. Bruce and his wife Cindy are wearing personalized t-shirts of Bruce’s picture for the occasion.

The Directors of Lombardy Agricultural Society recently honoured John Joynt for his 65 plus years of service to the agricultural society. A delicious dinner was prepared by Keith Drummond and the Hawks’ Nest. President Judy Drummond spoke of all his accomplishments and volunteer hours. 

Left to right: Judy Drummond, Mary Joynt, John Joynt

The Kemptville College Alumni appreciates the encouragement provided by John for the alumni to achieve their goal to have a home for the Kemptville College Alumni Historical Building.

Linda ( Loughlin ) ‘73 grad, finished her Kemptville College courses in December 1972 and started work at the Pembroke Civic Hospital in January 1973. Kerry and Linda married that summer and moved to Kerry’s family farm. Kerry ‘68 grad worked at Kemptville College after graduation and also continued his studies, completing his degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in ‘73.

In 1984, Kerry took a position as Red Meat Advisor in Kemptville and the family – three children – relocated to Kemptville. Linda started work at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and later went to positions at Royal Ottawa Hospital, Winchester District Hospital and Glebe Centre. At the same time, she started catering, which spanned a 30-year period of events ( weddings, funeral, award banquets, conferences, and 7-course dinner parties ). The catering was a ‘hobby’ while working full-time hours.

While working at the Royal Ottawa, she also managed food service in their five related facilities. During her career Linda was very involved with both Provincial and National Food Service and Nutrition Associations.  She ended her ‘busy’ career life at the Rehab Centre under the Ottawa Hospital. Kerry was also very active at this time when in 1989, he became Ag. Rep. for Ottawa Carleton. From 2000 until his retirement in 2008, he was employed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Linda retired in 2012 and began her next career as ‘a volunteer’. Recently, she was honoured for volunteer services when she was presented with the Ontario Senior Achievement Award. This award is presented to 20 outstanding seniors across the province.

Linda is presented with her award by Hon. Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Hon. Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility.

She was also recently honoured to receive the North Grenville Civic Award for Exemplary Work in Community. Linda’s years of dedicated service as a volunteer with Beth Donovan Hospice, Holy Cross Catholic School and Kemptville District Hospital are an inspiration and have made a difference in the lives of so many. Linda will tell you volunteering has given her a purpose. “you get more back than you give when you volunteer.’’

Linda and Kerry also have time for family. Their two sons, Shawn and Kyle, live in the Kemptville area and both work for the City of Ottawa. Their daughter, Amber, is in Petawawa and works for the Federal Government in Veterans’ Affairs. They are kept active with seven grandchildren, the eldest is 16 and the youngest, twins, are 4.

When you are asked to volunteer, remember Linda’s words, “ It is rewarding work, helps others in need and keeps your mind and days filled.” Congratulations on all your accomplishments!

Kim and Graham Link ’69 grads, recently went to Lakeland College in Vermillion AB to visit their grandson Jack. While out west , they went to visit Mac Graham a ‘51 grad, originally from South Mountain ON. Mac and his wife, Marion, were dairy farmers until they sold the farm in 1996. They moved to the Regina area in 2015, to be closer to their daughter Nancy. Their son, Doug, who lives in East Moline, Illinois, is a designer for John Deere. Marion passed away in 2021. Since Kim had on her Kemptville vest, Mac wanted to model his Kemptville sweater that has travelled with him. He enjoyed reminiscing with Kim and Graham and appreciated them taking time to visit.

My Pride Holsteins – Mike Visser – 2002 Grad

“When you love Holsteins and want to own your own farm you have to “think outside the box “ to make that dream come true.”This is a direct quote from Mike Visser, owner of My Pride Holsteins, given to Bonnie Cooper when she wrote an article for The Link Winter 2024 – Holstein Ontario.

Mike is a 2002 agricultural grad from Kemptville College. He is originally from Owen Sound and did not grow up on a farm. 4-H played a large part in his love of cattle. After graduation, Mike worked on the farm with his grandparents and his uncles. He started buying his own cattle and building My Pride Holsteins. When he realized he would not own a farm in Southern Ontario, he made a major life change. In 2012 he moved to Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario. He had a connection with Thunder Bay since when he worked for Foundation Sires, he would travel there to sell semen. College classmates also lived in Thunder Bay. Trudy (Aalbers ) Reid , Jason Reid, Johan Huisman, Joel Veurink and Ryan Jaspers ‘03 are all involved in agriculture there. Mike had been thinking about the veal industry and rented a farm so he could raise veal calves. In 2013 he started his sale of veal and in 2015 he purchased his own 30 acre farm. His first year, he sold veal from 15 calves and now he markets over 100 animals a year. His sales are in “red” veal since his animals are fed milk and corn. The picture below shows Mike at the local “County Market “ where he also sells pepperettes, breakfast sausages and pre- made hamburgers. His 20 My Pride Holsteins provide the milk needed for the calves.                             

In 2016, his veal business received the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Moving to Thunder Bay gave Mike the opportunity to own his own farm. He has friends and a community that supports him. Fairs in the area benefit from seeing him show his home bred animals with high classifications. Mike is also able to give back to his community by sponsoring the youth prizes at the Thunder Bay Show. Remembering his 4-H days, he also helps sponsor the 4-H team that shows at the Royal each year. It is nice to see a Kemptville grad achieve his goal and give back to his community. Congratulations Mike!                                          

The complete article, which includes the info on the records of My Pride Holsteins can be found at:

https://www.ontarioholstein.ca/the-link-magazine

This is the Winter 2024 edition. Enjoy pages 32-34. Thank you Bonnie Cooper and Martina Arth for your co-operation.