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Ottawa Valley Seed Growers

Kemptville College Alumni – Ottawa Valley Farm Show

These three long-standing traditions have one item in common! That one common feature is the Hudson family from Panmure Farms in Kinburn ON. The Hudson family has been active in the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association for many years. Graham led the OVSGA as President in 1976 & 1977. Graham also cares for the trophies that are polished and handed out each year at the Ottawa Valley Farm Show seed show. Graham, who graduated from Kemptville in 1954, along with Jim Arbuckle, a ‘63 grad, established the charity seed auction in 1992. This auction has raised more than $186,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Panmure Farms is owned and operated by 6th generation Hudsons. Bruce and Brian grew up working with their parents Graham and Kay. At a young age, they realized that selling sweet corn meant pocket money.Brian is an ‘83 Kemptville grad and also a director of the OVSGA. He is actively involved in the duties of the seed show. Bruce, who graduated from Guelph, has been OVSGA president in 2012 &2013.

Hudson’s Farm Fresh Produce is now run by Bruce & Liz and Brian & Lynn. Their sweet corn is available in season. As well they have potatoes, yellow and green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, beets, onions, squash and pumpkins.

With Kemptville grads involved at the OVSGA and the Ottawa Valley Farm Show, it was a natural move for the Kemptville College Alumni to want to be present as well. Each year, for many years, the Kemptville College Alumni has been invited to have a meeting place at the Farm Show. The Ottawa Valley Farm Show takes place from March 15th, 2022 to March 17th, 2022 at the EY Center. The Kemptville College Alumni invite all grads to visit together on March 16th, 2022 at 9: 30 am in Hall B.

This is a chance to support the OVSGA, Ottawa Valley Farm Show, and Kemptville College Alumni. You may even get a chance to visit and have coffee with one of the Hudson family.

Left to right Brian, Graham and Bruce Hudson
Left to right Brian, Graham and Bruce Hudson

Kemptville College Alumni AGM is fast approaching!

Board members are getting ready for the AGM to be held on Oct. 23rd, 2021 at I o’clock in Lombardy.
Val Allen and Isabel Kinnear ’69 are putting the updated touches on the donor boards.  Are you planning to attend? All alumni are welcome.

Val Allen and Isabel Kinnear

A Relaxing Retreat

Charles MacDonald ’67 grad wanted a place to relax in his five-acre sugar bush. He has many trails in the bush but the original building was gone.

He called a fellow classmate Mackie Robertson and shortly a 12 x 16 building with a 4-foot verandah was completed. The exterior is pine board and batten, and it is insulated for year-round use. The pandemic has certainly made grads want to enjoy the beautiful nature we have all around us.

Charles ( left) and Mackie ( right ) just relaxing after a day of work.