Lloyd Palmer
Born in 1935 in Kensington, PEI, Lloyd Palmer’s passion for agriculture grew from time spent on a family member’s farm. His teenage experiences training horses led him to study at the former Nova Scotia Agricultural College, where he graduated in 1955. Lloyd began work with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing as an Assistant Agriculture Representative, a position he held during the summers while he completed his Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) at Macdonald College. After graduation in 1957, Lloyd continued his extension work in Pictou County, providing outstanding support to producers from all agricultural sectors.
In 1964, Lloyd took a leave of absence to pursue a Masters Degree at Michigan State University. He graduated in 1965 and was promoted to Regional Extension Supervisor upon his return to Nova Scotia.
In 1970, Lloyd returned to PEI, where for six years he held the position of Director, Extension Services Branch with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and then Director, Office of Management Services. In 1981, Lloyd was appointed Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Forestry. He provided exceptional leadership in this role, including his work with Deputies across Canada on a Strategy for Canadian Agriculture, and the development of a 10-point plan for the Island dairy industry, a beneficial and collaborative effort between Department staff, producers, and industry leaders. In 1986, as General Manager of the Land Development Corporation, Lloyd addressed debt management concerns brought forward by producers by structuring a land and building buy-back program to help producers restructure their debt loads.
Lloyd joined the PEI Potato Commission in 1987. As Chairman and CEO, and as General Manager of the PEI Potato Board, Lloyd provided exceptional vision to Island producers and the industry. Under his direction, the organization worked with the Processing Growers Organization to secure contracts with processors, undertook promotional activities for PEI Potatoes, and secured grants to upgrade Elite Seed Farm’s buildings and equipment. Lloyd’s leadership came at a difficult time for the industry, when PVYn was causing serious losses for producers. Working with the PEI Potato Board Chairman, Lloyd negotiated a program to assist impacted growers.
Lloyd became a founding member, President, and COO of the World Potato Congress (WPC) Inc., which organized the first WPC in Charlottetown in 1993. With Lloyd’s vision and dedication, potato congresses were established in England, South Africa, the Netherlands, China, and the US. During his 13 years at the helm, the WPC developed as a world-renowned networking organization for the global potato industry, bringing exposure and awareness of the potato industry in PEI and Canada. In 2007, Lloyd retired after 50 years of service to agriculture.
One of Lloyd’s greatest passions has been training, breeding, and racing Standardbred horses. He played a significant role in the development of this industry in the Maritimes. His years of service were recognized in 1999 when he was awarded the Glen Kennedy Memorial Award. Alongside him throughout his career and journey in agriculture have been his wife Marion, and children Meredith, Lloyd Junior, Patricia, and Tammy.
Nominated by David Thompson in recognition of his decades of service to the potato industry and his long-standing commitment to producers, Lloyd Palmer is a worthy inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.