Lindsay Ag Society

12/06/2024

We hope you are enjoying your holidays so far!🎄

Our LAS office is closed for the winter season, but we'll be back on January 7th ready to tackle the New Year.
*Please note that following January 7th we will be closed on Mondays for the winter.*

11/11/2024

Congratulations to Mr. Wherry, longtime supporter of the Lindsay Agricultural Society and exhibitor at the Lindsay Exhibition!

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲

At the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society Field Day and AGM in July, the CMSS presented long-time breeder and exhibitor Doug Wherry with the Distinguished Service Award. Doug is well-known in the breed for his commitment to supporting shows on both sides of the border, as well as being a student of pedigrees. Doug taught school for more than three decades before retiring in 2001.

While Doug has had a life-long interest in dairy cattle, he first became interested in Milking Shorthorns after judging Milking Shorthorn shows in Ontario and PEI in the early 1990s. This led him to purchase his first Shorthorn, Fieldcrest Cotton, in 1994. The next spring, Doug paid a visit to the Fieldcrest herd in Addison, Ontario, purchasing Fieldcrest Prime Jewel as a young calf. Jewel would go on to be named Reserve Junior Champion and second in her class at World Dairy Expo that fall. Doug later sold Jewel to GMC Farms in New Hampshire, who would eventually win Grand Champion honours at the RAWF in 1999. This sale began a friendship with the Clark family of GMC Farms, resulting in a number of Canadian-bred animals sourced by Doug and co-owned with GMC, including Cedar Creek Logic Skylight 17 EX-91-2E. Skylight, who was a Futurity winner at the Eastern States Exposition in 2010, was the foundation of a successful family owned with the Clarks, including GMC-WV Princeton Skyway EX-94-2E, a 2019 Futurity winner at the World Dairy Expo.

As Doug did not have his own farm to milk cows, he developed friendships and relationships with other breeders to care for his animals. As such, he was willing to sell cows in milk, often starting new cow families for new breeders. One of these herds was Lynmark Farms (Tim Shearer and Irene Vietinghoff), who at the time were relatively new to the Milking Shorthorn breed. They purchased the brood cow Fieldcrest Rubin Pearl (dam of Prime Jewel) from Doug, with Pearl going on to be classified EX-92-8E, winning Grand Championship honours at multiple Ontario shows and being a Six Star Brood Cow. Descendants of Pearl went to form the core of the Lynmark herd. Doug was also a frequent consignor to the CMSS National Sale, making quality animals available to largely new breeders.

In recent years, Doug has been an active member of the Society Show and Sale Committee, particularly in ensuring that the National Show in Lindsay was successful. Doug frequently volunteered as barn supervisor as well as liaison for the breed with the Lindsay Fair, ensuring accuracy of entries and the show catalogue. Doug served as a CMSS Director for a number of years and has also maintained a membership in the American Milking Shorthorn Society, acting as a connector between the two societies for a number of years.

According to Doug, “I have learned in the years of owning cattle that there are good animals in every breed. Secondly, friends such as Mike Sullivan, Tim Shearer, Irene Vietinghoff, Greg and Marcia Clark, Keith Van Camp and Murray Jackson can provide you with a tremendous amount of very useful knowledge and encouragement.” Doug continues to own Milking Shorthorns, Holsteins, and Saanen goats with a number of partners.

The Society periodically awards the Distinguished Service Award to those that have made a significant contribution to the Milking Shorthorn breed in Canada. Potential nominees can include current or former breeders or past or present CMSS staff members. Considerations for eligibility include lifetime contributions to the breed, service to the Society as a director, committee member, sale or show volunteer, and promoter of the breed to the larger dairy industry. Recipients of this award also receive an honourary lifetime membership to the Society.

11/11/2024

Just as farmers sow seeds for the future, so did our heroes plant the seeds of peace with their sacrifice. Today, we remember their courage and honor the harvest of freedom they've left for us to tend.

As we observe Remembrance Day, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served our country.

11/11/2024

We are pleased to offer congratulations to one of our most dedicated volunteers, Suzanne Barker, on her incredible achievement. The Arbour Award is 4-H Ontario's most prestigious volunteer service award. 🍀

"In her 30+ years as a part of the Lindsay Agricultural Society (LAS), Suzanne Barker has had an immense impact on both the Society and the people who have had the pleasure of volunteering alongside her. She has shown immense loyalty and dedication to the LAS and its extended community through the various roles she has held over the past three decades. Suzanne has demonstrated the qualities of an extraordinary volunteer through her dedication, leadership, vision, and by being an inspiration to others through her countless hours spent volunteering her time to serve as a Director, two-time President of the LAS, as chairperson of several committees, and through her work with Kawartha Lakes Haliburton 4-H Association (KLH 4-H).

Suzanne embodies the qualities most sought after by volunteer organizations: dedication, loyalty, the ability to inspire others, the willingness and initiative to take on any task, and an innate ability to create a welcoming environment for new and existing volunteers. As one of our most dedicated and longest serving volunteers, Suzanne serves as an inspiration to all volunteers alike, through her willingness to tackle any task and freely give her time without hesitation or want of recognition.

It is difficult to summarize all the efforts of someone like Suzanne Barker in one letter. She has had an enormous impact on the lives of those who have had the privilege to volunteer alongside her during her time as part of the LAS community and will continue to inspire our volunteers who aspire to reach her level of dedication and loyalty to our organization."
- Excerpt from GM Sproule's nomination letter in support of Suzanne's nomination to receive the Arbour Award.

Congratulations Suzanne!🍀

🌳The recognition gift for this award is a tree which was planted on the LAS grounds, alongside a second tree, which was gifted by 4-H in recognition of Suzanne's late daughter, Melissa and her contributions to KLH 4-H. Melissa was served as a Director of the LAS, sat on several organizing committees, and was a regular volunteer at the LAS kitchen.

11/01/2024

Congratulations to #96 Cody Staples Honorable Mention Junior show person at the National Junior Beef Heifer Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

10/24/2024

The Lindsay Agricultural Society is now accepting applications for vacant Director positions to be elected in 2025.

Elections will be held at the Annual General Meeting in January 2025. Candidates must hold a current LAS membership to be eligible for nomination. Memberships are available at the LAS office and must be purchased before November 30, 2024.

📅The application deadline is November 29, 2024
➡️Email [email protected] to apply or for more information

10/21/2024

The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) wrapped up on October 5, and we are thrilled to share that the event was a tremendous success, attracting over 50,000 attendees!

10/17/2024

Autumn Opportunity
Fall Heifer Calf
Kawartha Master Violet
Exhibited by Carl Phoenix & Family and Kawartha Holsteins

10/08/2024

10/03/2024

Posted • Ontario Agriculture Week is just around the corner, taking place from October 7-13, 2024! Let’s celebrate the hard work of our farmers and the abundance of fresh, locally-grown food in our province. Use and to show your support and appreciation for all that Ontario’s food sector has to offer.