A handful of farmers are the latest members to be inducted into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Several people from the community gathered at the Country View Golf Course for a luncheon to celebrate the recent inductees.
Among those inducted are brothers, Douglas and William Buchanan. The two have been farming together for over 50 years. Despite those long hours working together, they both say they've maintained a great relationship.
"In all that time, I can't remember one real disagreement," says Douglas. "It's been a great partnership all the way through."
In terms of being inducted, William says it came as a bit of a shock.
"It's a big honour," says William, adding there are many challenges farmers face, specific to equipment costs. "I don't know how the young people are going to get going in the business, it may become an industry for companies more so than individuals."
Fellow inductee Alice Uher also spoke to some of the challenges farmers face, one of which is raising awareness on the importance of the agricultural industry.
"We need to communicate with our non-farming neighbors [and] with society because a lot of people are so removed from agriculture, they just don't know," says Uher. "Unfortunately there's a lot of misconceptions."
Uher has been a member of the Kent Federation of Agriculture for over 25 years, and has been involved in expanding livestock operations, as well as speaking to different levels of government about Chatham-Kent's agriculture.
"It is a great honour to be inducted, a tremendous surprise, and certainly not anything I expected," says Uher.
Although Uher is not the only female to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, she is the only woman this year.
"I can't really say I'm a token female this time around," says Uher. "There's been some great women inducted and I'm sure there will be in the future as well."
Other inductees include, William Leeson and Henry Neutens.
Leeson had been recognized for the modifications made on farming machinery after WWII. He died in 1979, so his grandson Karl Leeson accepted the honour on his behalf.
Accepting the honour for Neutens was his wife Peggy and son Jon. Neutens had been recognized for his work as an ambassador for the fertilizer industry, and bonding the relationship between the industry and the province.
Chair of the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame Ken Stevenson says this group of inductees had been chosen based on their leadership roles and contributions in agriculture.
Stevenson adds, the event has seen a great turnout in supporters. Last year's induction ceremony saw about 150 guests and this year, the numbers grew to about 160 attendees.
