Rhonda Carol Thornley
Rhonda Carol Thornley was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on April 30, 1954. She attended Bishops College and other local schools and graduated from the College of Trades and Technology.
Rhonda and her husband Phillip operate Campbellton U-Pick which is one of the largest and most innovative strawberry and raspberry operations in the province. They started this farm operation in 1980 along with Rhonda’s father-in-law, the late Peter Thornley. Rhonda and her family are leaders in the agriculture community in Newfoundland and Labrador and are recognized for their outstanding environmental stewardship. In January 2007, they received the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture Environment Award and were one of the first farms in the province to complete an environmental farm plan.
Rhonda is an outstanding agricultural leader at both the national and provincial level. As Secretary of the Canadian Farm Business Management Council and a member for over ten years she has helped to ensure that Canadian farmers have access to the tools and resources needed to create successful farm businesses.
Rhonda has contributed significantly to developing the agriculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture where she has worked toward the development of a Stable Funding Committee. This initiative was undertaken to ensure long term financial support to achieve the Federation’s mandate of “Farmers Helping Farmers”. She strives to promote farm women’s issues in the province through her dedicated work as President of the Central Farm Women’s Association and as Secretary for the Provincial Farm Women’s Association.
She has also worked diligently to advance the horticultural industry in her role on the Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Council Board of Directors. She believes in supporting the needs of farmers and the importance of active participation in agricultural organizations to create a stronger and more vibrant agriculture industry.
Rhonda has contributed her skills and business knowledge to help other farmers and has served on numerous organizations throughout the years, including the Newfoundland Farm Products Board of Directors, Agricultural Products Marketing Board, Agriculture Awareness Committee, Greenhouse Gas Taking Charge Team and the Farm Debt Review Board.
Rhonda has also been a leader and volunteer in her community serving as a Guide and Pathfinder leader and secretary to the Guide Council. She served as a Sunday School teacher and treasurer for the Campbellton Fire Brigade, and has volunteered for many years as the coach for the local high school and junior high girls volleyball and basketball teams. Rhonda has contributed her time and tremendous business and agricultural knowledge in regional business development efforts including serving on the Board of Directors of the Kittiwake Coast Tourism Association.
Rhonda and her husband Philip have three beautiful children, Annette, Angela and Andrew.
Nominated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Council for her outstanding contributions to her community and the agricultural industry, Rhonda Carol Thornley is indeed a worthy inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.