A teacher by training, Hamilton provided “more than 40 years of standout leadership roles with key organizations,” the hall of fame said in a release. 

That includes service with the Alberta Cattle Commission (now Alberta Beef Producers), developing a classroom agricultural program for Grade 4 students, leading the Canadian Angus Association, working with the Beef Information Centre and helping to create the national livestock traceability system “that was crucial when BSE was discovered in 2003.” 

The Innisfail resident was nominated by the Canadian Angus Association.

For more info on Hamilton and other inductees, visit cahfa.com.

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A visionary pioneer, the late Louis Latimer leaves the legacy of developing a global demand for Canadian beef genetics.

Latimer was a trailblazer in using data-based selection methods and seeing the value of telling the story of his farm with his Remitall Cattle Company brand — a marketing move that was decades ahead of its time. His passion for breeding and marketing premier Canadian Hereford genetics opened market opportunities for elite genetics from his farm, and decades later led to the Canadian Genome Project selecting one of his sires to be the most influential sire genetically in the Canadian Hereford Association.

Many other Canadian breeders followed his model, helping elevate the overall quality of Canadian beef genetics. Latimer lived in Olds and was nominated by the Canadian Hereford Association.

A strong leader and excellent ambassador, Robert (Bob) Prestage dedicated decades to improving the genetics and quality of Canadian cattle to open international markets for Canadian beef and other livestock.

He began by developing a progeny test program for beef cattle 60 years ago — a program that is still used across the country. His work with Canadian Beef Sire and Western Breeders improved the genetic pool of Canadian beef cattle. Prestage was instrumental in creating a worldwide beef export network with the Alberta Angus Association, raising Angus to the dominant breed in the beef industry.

Through his Wicklow Angus farm, Prestage has a thriving international export business of semen and embryos of all species of livestock. Prestage lives in Camrose and was nominated by the Canadian Angus Association.

The other four inductees this year are former Canola Council of Canada president and recently retired Cigi CEO JoAnne Buth; Quebec Holstein breeder Marc Comtois; recently retired Ag Canada soil and crop nutrition scientist Cynthia Grant; and Quebec farm leader and hog producer Laurent Pellerin.

They will be officially inducted into the national Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Quebec City on Nov. 28.

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Every year, the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association honours and celebrates Canadians who have made notable, lifelong contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Nominees are evaluated on vocational endeavours, leadership, and vision.

May 1 is the deadline for submissions to be considered for induction in 2019. The criteria and a nomination form can be found at www.cahfa.com. More than two dozen Albertans, or people with a strong connection to the province, have been inducted into the hall of fame. A complete list of inductees can also be found on the website.

The 2019 induction ceremony will be held in Quebec City in November.

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