The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) has announced the induction of five exceptional leaders whose careers have left an indelible mark on Ontario’s agricultural landscape and beyond.

The 2026 Inductees are:

• -  The Honourable Robert Black

• -  Dr. Helen Fisher (Posthumous)

• -  Scott Graham

• -  Percy Hodgetts (Posthumous)

• -  Brian O’Connor

Dr. Helen Fisher (1948 – 2025)

Nominated by Arthur and Marlene Moyer, Ronald Moyer and Dr. Wendy McFadden Smith, Dr. Helen Fisher, affectionately known as "the Grape Doctor," was a pioneering viticulturist whose visionary leadership and research transformed Ontario's wine industry. During her distinguished career as a researcher first at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, then as an associate professor at the University of Guelph, she played an instrumental role in the 1980s transition from labrusca to vinifera grapes. This foundational change elevated the global reputation of Ontario wines. Her achievements in applied research provided growers with practical, science-based solutions for critical challenges, including the use of wind machines to mitigate cold injury, the development of trellising systems to enhance yields, and expertise in rootstock selection.

Beyond her technical contributions, Dr. Fisher was a dedicated educator who mentored generations of viticulturists at the University of Guelph, Niagara College, and Brock University, many of whom now hold leading roles in the industry. She was also a trailblazer in agricultural leadership, breaking gender barriers as the first woman appointed to Ontario’s provincial agricultural field advisory service. Her enduring legacy is defined by her profound influence on the modern viticultural landscape and is reflected in numerous accolades, including multiple lifetime achievement awards from organizations such as the Vintners’ Quality Alliance (VQA) and the American Society of Enology and Viticulture.

Percy W. Hodgetts (1878 – 1966)

Nominated by Dr. Christine Baes, University of Guelph and Sandra Lindsay, Percy W. Hodgetts, hailed as the “father of Ontario’s modern fruit industry,” was a transformative leader whose 41-year career with Ontario’s Department of Agriculture reshaped the province’s fruit sector. Serving as the first director of the Ontario Fruit Branch for 35 years, Hodgetts moved Ontario from a patchwork of household orchards to a commercial industry. He professionalized the sector by appointing the province’s first specialized apiarist and entomologist and by establishing the Horticultural Experimental Station at Vineland as a centre for innovation. He also championed the Fruit Pests Act, introducing inspection and spraying systems that protected orchards from devastating pests.

Beyond research and policy, Hodgetts was a trusted and respected leader for Ontario growers. His 34 years on the executive committee of the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Association reflected sustained confidence in his leadership while experimentation at his own Clarkson orchard ensured his work remained grounded in practice. He advanced cooperative marketing, standardized box packing, cold-storage infrastructure and the “Big O” brand. Hodgetts launched demonstration trains, packing schools and field programs to extend knowledge directly to growers. Even during climate crisis of the 1930s, the systems he built provided a resilient foundation that allowed the industry to adapt and endure.

The formal induction ceremony will take place on June 14 at the GrandWay Event Centre in Elora. 

Source:  Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame February 2, 2026 news release