John Robinson
John E. Robinson was born and raised on a family farm in Sussex, NB. In 1954 he graduated from Sussex High School and completed farm management and business courses. John and his wife Elizabeth started farming in 1961 with the purchase of the home farm, milking about 20 cows and growing vegetables. The farm was gradually expanded and now has a 100 percent Holstein milking herd of 170 cows plus 175 replacements.
John’s dedication to the farming community is extensive. He was a director on the NB Milk Marketing Board for 15 years, Vice-Chairman for six years, and Chairman for five years. He is a Past-President of the NB Federation of Agriculture, Past-President of NB Holstein Branch, Director of Holstein Canada, Past-President of the Sussex Holstein Club, Chairman of the Review Board for Farm Credit Corporation, NB Agriculture Development Board and Canadian Farm Business Management provincial coordinating group as well as a member of the New Brunswick Farm Products Commission.
John’s hard work has been recognized by his peers. The NB Institute of Agrologists presented him with the Louis Hebert Award as Farmer of the Year and he was inducted into the New Brunswick Dairy Hall of Fame in 1998.
John’s commitments extend to the rural community as well. He has been involved with Fundy Mutual Insurance as a Director, involved in the Scout and Girl Guide Association, Figure Skating Association, Minor Hockey Association, Basketball, the United Church, was a past Board Member of Kiwanis Nursing Home, the Princess Louise Park Committee and the Fundy Civic Centre Fundraising Committee and Campaign Chair.
John always felt that there are many benefits to being involved in agriculture including the growing of crops, the raising of livestock and the desire to leave the land in at least as good if not better condition than when you started. The greatest benefit of agricultural life has been having the opportunity to raise his children in a farming environment. He has also appreciated the many friends that he has made over the years with all his organizational involvement, many that have lasted long after his involvement with the particular organization has ended.
John has the philosophy that the things that have been accomplished in the New Brunswick Dairy Industry have been possible because dairy farmers worked together and adapted to change. To succeed, the dairy industry must continue to be aggressive and be the leader in agriculture as it has been in the past. With the leadership of men such as John E. Robinson, this certainly seems possible.
John and Elizabeth have four children - John Jr., Derek, Heather and Wendy - and nine grandchildren. Their farm is now incorporated as Hazelhill Farm Ltd. where John Jr. and his wife Nicki, along with Derek and his wife Angela, continue to work together as a strong family unit.
Nominated by the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick for a lifelong commitment to the dairy industry of New Brunswick, John E. Robinson is indeed a worthy inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.