Specialist with 'biggest boot' wins new award

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

For years he has helped Ontario’s farmers manage their soil and promoted best management practices. Today, an organization representing those very farmers recognized the hard work of Adam Hayes, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s field crops soil management specialist, with its inaugural Soil Champion award.

photo: Adam Hayes

“Most of us will admit when it comes to thinking about doing something and talking to OMAF extension people, Adam definitely there had the biggest boot, because he’d kick you” and encourage you to take action, said Henry Denotter, president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, which launched the award during the second day of its annual conference in London. “Adam’s always there to say, ‘did you try this?’”

It is that sort of encouragement that Ontario’s farm community has come to expect from all OMAF extension staff, “but the king of soil definitely was our man,” Denotter said.

The inaugural award is sponsored by well-known innovative farmer Don Lobb and his wife, Lillie Ann Morris. It will provide recognition to an individual, organization or farm business “that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to soil conservation and soil health,” said Denotter in his introductory remarks before presenting the award to Hayes.

Hayes accepted the award noting that he has had a lot of opportunities to work on different projects and promotion of soil management and soil health over the years and “it’s been great to see the strides” that the province’s soil and crop specialists have made throughout the province. He also thanked his colleague, Ann Verhallen, provincial horticulture soil management specialist, for her support and encouragement as well as Lobb and Norris for sponsoring the award.

It was “a pleasure to be honoured,” he said. BF