W. H. McEwen
W. H. McEwen's major contribution to the development of Maritime Agriculture was the introduction of nutritionally-balanced, mixed feed for livestock. As the General Manager of Maritime Co-op Services, now Co-op Atlantic, he was instrumental in laying the foundation for the successful farmer-owned Feed Manufacturing and Wholesale-Retail Distribution System, supplying nearly 40 percent of the livestock feeds in the region. Under his management, the Co-op is also a major supplier of agricultural seeds, chemicals and dairy equipment.
McEwen' s knowledge of the grain trade, both East and West, placed him in a position where he was instrumental in the development of the Feed Freight Assistance Policy in 1941 and through his foresight and business management he created the grain trade as we know it today in the Atlantic Provinces.
In cooperation with Roy Grant, he was responsible for the operation of one desk selling and provided the business side of the hog marketing boards on behalf of local livestock shipping clubs. Through this one desk selling they established the Market Price of Hogs in Atlantic Canada.W. H. WcEwen was an educator concerned with human resource development. His support, guidance and leadership of educational programs dedicated to development of directors and managers, has encouraged young people to choose a career in the business world.
He was concerned not only with profits but with the primary producer and the increasing of the income of the primary producers in all rural conmuinities.
W. H. McEwen was a leader, a pioneer, a change agent who made it acceptable to be an agricultural producer who was actively involved in the marketing, processing and the ownership of his product directly to the consumer. He encourage farmers to be businessmen, to purchase direct from the manufacturer the supplies needed for their farming operation, encouraged farmers to take an active part in the business management of their farms, their community, manufacturing of machinery, fertilizer, feeds, insurance - a man whose leadership has been instrumental in helping to create today's modern agricultural framework in Atlantic Canada.
In recognition of these contributions to the agricultural community he is elected the appointment to the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.