Five leaders who have made significant contributions to Ontario agriculture and beyond will be inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) in 2025. Their influence spans a diverse range of agricultural pursuits from livestock genetics to soil health and environmental sustainability to labour issues in horticulture, poultry welfare, and bovine veterinary medicine.

The 2025 inductees are:

• Edward Blair (Ted) Burnside

• Kenneth Elgin Forth

• Donald Wallace Hart

• Craig Hunter

• Ken Leslie

These individuals were selected by the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association for their contributions and commitments to improving Ontario's agricultural sector.

They will be formally recognized at an induction ceremony on June 8, bringing the total number of inductees since 1980 to 267. Induction into the OAHF is a prestigious honour, recognizing visionary leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and a lasting legacy within Ontario agriculture.

Kenneth Elgin Forth, LL.D. (Born 1952)

Ken Forth, a fifth-generation broccoli farmer from Lynden, has dedicated his career to advancing Ontario's horticulture industry. His leadership has spanned a wide range of critical issues including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), agricultural labour and safety, the Agriculture Safety Audit Program, the Workplace Safety Prevention Program, and the Ontario Human Resource Committee. Forth's impact is particularly evident in his unwavering support of horticulture, especially the SAWP.

Recognizing its vital role, he understands that without SAWP and the seasonal workers who come annually to Canada to help grow fruits and vegetables, most farmers would struggle, if not be unable, to plant and harvest their crops. His leadership was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, where, as president of the Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (F.A.R.M.S.), he ensured essential workers could cross borders and work on Ontario farms. 

As one letter of support for his nomination stated, "His dedication to sustainable farming practices and advocacy for the rights of farmers have left an indelible mark on the industry."

Forth's commitment extends to long-term service on the National Council of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (since 1995) and the board of directors of the Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (since 1992).

Ken Forth is nominated by Deborah Forth.

Source:  Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame February 3, 2025 news release