FERGUS – The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees, recognizing five leaders whose work has shaped Ontario agriculture and beyond.
Among them is Senator Rob Black of Fergus.
“Selected by the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association, these individuals are being honoured for their lifelong dedication and transformative contributions to the province’s agrifood sector, ” said a press release.
Senator Rob Black’s nomination reads:
“Senator Robert Black is a distinguished leader who has dedicated over 40 years to advancing Ontario and Canada’s agricultural sectors. Appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2018, he has become a pivotal national advocate, serving as Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and Deputy Leader of the Canadian Senators Group. His notable legislative successes include spearheading the act to officially establish Food Day in Canada which celebrates domestic food production. He also led a critical, first-in-40-years study on soil health, “Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health” which now informs national soil health and conservation policy.
Beyond policy, Black has been a “powerhouse” for youth development, leading 4-H Ontario’s transition to an independent charitable organization, as founding Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI), and Program Director of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) where he mentored over 136 Ontario agricultural and rural leaders.
His lifelong commitment to agriculture and rural has earned him numerous honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.”
The other individuals that will be inducted include:
- Dr. Helen Fisher (Posthumous)
- Scott Graham
- Percy Hodgetts (Posthumous)
- Brian O’Connor
The formal induction takes place June 14 at the GrandWay Event Centre in Elora, bringing the Hall’s total inductees to 272.
