Kemptville College Alumni

May Spotlight – Canadian Hackney Hall of Fame Induction – Clare Hayes ‘68

Clare Hayes graduated in 1968 and started working for the Sunderland Co-operative. Before retiring in 2010, he held the position of General Manager for twenty-seven of his forty-two years there. Recently, he was recognized for for a lifetime of horsemanship and sportsmanship.

Growing up on the family farm in Cambray, ON, ponies were part of everyday life for the Hayes family children and their parents. The passion for horses really showed up for Clare when in 1956, he showed a dappled chestnut Shetland pony at the Cannington Fair.

In 1979, Clare took over the family farm with his wife Mary and their two sons Dennis and Bryan. The farm name is a combination of their two names, BRYDEN. Clare has bred and raised 41 Hackney Bryden ponies. Over time he showed Hackney, Shetland and Welsh ponies. Bryden farm is located near Lindsay so it was natural for Clare to be involved in the Lindsay Fair for many years. As well, different horse and pony associations, benefitted from his extensive knowledge.

Clare is shown driving a Standard bred named Impressive. After racing him for a few starts, Impressive was later converted to a Roadster Horse. In the photo Clare is showing him at the World Championship Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Family is important to Clare and Mary. Dennis and Gen have a son Everett and a daughter Emma. Dennis works in the technology industry as well as raising Morgan horses. Bryan and Ruth have a son Ben and a daughter Natalie. Bryan is a licensed plumber at the Darlington Nuclear Plant and has purchased the family farm. Clare is still involved with the farm even though he now lives in the town of Lindsay.

In Clare’s yearbook posting, it stated that he hoped to find a job in the industrial part of agriculture and also combine his pleasure for show ponies. It appears he has done both and is now passing his horsemanship to his grandchildren. Congratulations on all your achievements as a horseman, a businessman, a Kemptville grad, and above all, a family man.

April Spotlight – Linda and Kerry Carnegie

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!

Reminiscing with Mac Graham ‘51 grad

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.

March Spotlight

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.

Generational Alumni Baby

A new baby has arrived in the MacIntosh – Wheeler family! The picture is in the beautiful log structure at their sugar shack, in front of the large stone fireplace. Warren MacIntosh’s grandfather started the farm in 1927 and in 1986 Warren, a 1986 Kemptville grad, took over the farm. Glengarry Stock Farm has been in operation for 97 years. Warren married Trudy Hughes, a 1991 Kemptville grad, in 1992. Brittany followed in her parents’ footsteps and graduated from Kemptville in 2014. She has been farming full-time since 2020. She was also an alumni board member after graduation. Brittany and Isaac Wheeler were married in August 2022. Isaac works off the farm for Trans Mountain Equipment in British Columbia. With the new family addition, he will become a ‘farmer apprentice” as well as running his own company EYEZYK’s Excavations Services.

In the picture below, Trudy is holding Aida Lynne Kimberley Wheeler.

Standing in front of the fireplace ( left to right ) are Isaac, Brittany, and Warren. It is great that Aida enjoys going to the barn morning and night with Brittany!

Order Of Canada Recipient 2024 – Ken Knox ‘67

On Feb 22, 2024, Governor General Mary Simon invested 61 recipients into the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall. There are three levels of appointments. Ken Knox was inducted as a member which allows him to use C.M. after his name. The Order of Canada was established in 1967 – the year that Ken graduated from Kemptville College. The Order of Canada is how our country honours nominated people who make extraordinary contributions to the nation.

You may view the ceremony by entering the Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony – February 22, 2024. On YouTube, you will see Ken at 1:02.38 and hear his presentation. You can also view, in writing, why he was presented the order on the listing below the YouTube video.

Congratulations Ken. The Kemptville College Alumni Board is proud to see you get this award.