GLEN MCNEIL PRESENTED INAUGURAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ONTARIO DAIRY FARMER AND WELL-KNOWN INDUSTRY

ADVOCATE GLEN MCNEIL was presented with DFO’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in January at the organization’s Annual General Meeting.

Nominated by Roger Boersen, DFO board member for Region 10 (Perth and Huron), the inaugural award recognizes and celebrates an individual’s lifelong commitment to the betterment of Ontario’s dairy industry, the dairy community and local endeavours.

To earn the new, prestigious title, the recipient must be a current or retired producer with more than 15 years in the industry, operate a successful farm business, and be acknowledged by his or her peers as a positive ambassador with deep industry knowledge and passion.

“Glen McNeil’s contributions to the dairy industry as a producer, mentor and advocate have been immense,” DFO Board chair

““I am very honoured and humbled to have been presented the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the DFO Recognition Dinner. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to DFO for this memorable recognition. I am indebted to Vanda and our family for the sacrifices they have made to enable me the opportunity to be involved in this great industry that we are all so passionate for.

—Glen McNeil

Murray Sherk said. “He is kind and generous in giving back to dairy producers and his community, and the sector has benefitted from his commitment to quality, advocacy and goodwill. His is truly a lifetime of achievement, with much more to come, and DFO’s Board is proud to present this award to acknowledge that.”

McNeil has a rich family history in Huron county. He and his wife, Vanda, own and operate Heather Holme Holsteins, a thirdgeneration family dairy business, which has been awarded a three-time Master Breeder. They farm alongside their son, Curtis, and his wife, Cathy, and their children. McNeil’s parents started the farm in 1935 and he partnered with them in 1977. The farm is located just outside of Goderich, ON.

McNeil’s contributions to the dairy industry are numerous and he firmly believes in giving back to his community and the larger dairy industry at home and abroad. Some of his accomplishments include serving as national Holstein Canada board president in 2012 and serving on the Holstein Canada board for nine years. Prior to that, he was involved in the Huron County Holstein Club and Holstein Ontario. Glen has also served on the Huron County DPC from 2014-2022. More recently, McNeil was re-elected as the Huron County Warden (Head of County Council) for the 2023-24 term and has served as mayor of the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh since 2018.

Outside of council, McNeil and his family are heavily involved in the Huron County 4-H Club and he has been the guest announcer for the Lucknow 4-H Invitational Dairy show for many years. The family lends calves out to 4-H members so they can participate in the 4-H dairy club and the family has hosted countless tours and events. The McNeils believe in advocating and educating the public to increase knowledge about and appreciation for the industry.