Four regional farmers inducted into Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame

Four regional farmers inducted into Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame

by Essex Free Press Staff  

For 32-years, the Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame has annually highlighted the significant contribution outstanding individuals have committed to the development of local agriculture.

  The newest batch of honourees was inducted into this prestigious program last Thursday evening at the annual ceremony hosted inside the Harrow Agriculture Exhibit Hall. This is where the photos of past inductees decorate the back wall. That display is a constant reminder to those passionate about the ag industry – and every resident of Essex County – about the dedication, commitment, and hard work those honoured with an induction have contributed throughout their careers as farmers or through ag-related support.

  The 2026 program inducted four individuals into the program: Leo Guilbeault of Lakeshore, Neil McBeth of Colchester North in Essex, Walter Murray McLean of Harrow in Essex, and Rochelle Deslippe of Amherstburg. They were sponsored by the Essex County Grain Farmers, Colchester Farms, the Colchester South & Harrow Agricultural Society, and the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum, respectively.

  With Guilbeault hanging up his leadership roles in County and Provincial farm organizations recently, the Essex County Grain Farmers believed it was the perfect time to nominate him for the recognition. He was involved in many organizations locally and provincially for over 30-years, including helping with the formation of Grain Farmers of Ontario.

  Guilbeault was born in 1960 and raised in the Stoney Point area. He graduated from Ridgetown College in 1980, purchased the family farm in 1987, where he grew corn, wheat, and soybeans, as well as some canola. He also worked at the Essex Hybrid Seed Company in 1980, and moved to the Stoney Point Co-Op in 1983, eventually becoming the Essex North Manager. Over that time, his farm operation grew from 100 to 600 acres, and he decided to leave the Co-Op in 1995 to farm full-time. He farms over 2000-acres today.

  He has held many roles on ag-related  boards over the years, such as with the Essex County Soil & Crop Improvement Association, the Essex County Conservation Club, Ontario Soybean Growers. He was also the OSG Provincial Director representing Essex County, a role he had for four-years. He was later elected as Chairperson in 2007-2009, becoming the only Chairperson in OSG history to serve for three consecutive years.

  In addition, he also sat on the OFA policy advisory committee, the Ontario–Quebec Grain Farmers Coalition, the Ontario Agri-Business Association, and represented Canadian soybean growers on the American Soybean Association Board. He was also a member of the GFO transition board. He sat as a provincial director on the GFO Board, and was appointed to the National Policy Advisory Committee and the Ontario Oversight Committee.       

  Guilbeault said being inducted into the Hall of Fame was humbling. He knows “agriculture was the right and only path for me.”

  All he accomplished could not have been done without support from friends in the industry and family.

  In ag, people help each other to learn and grow, Guilbeault added, who was recognized as a leader in developing new farm practices, including no-till and strip-till.

  In addition, Guilbeault was a community volunteer and leader in St. Joachim and Belle River athletics.  

  “Agriculture is a great career. When you love what you do – and you do what you love – it is really not work. It is a way of life, and there is no better way to spend your life than on a farm,” Guilbeault said, while also thanking a long-list of family members and friends for their unwavering support over the years.

  McBeth was born in 1952 and raised on the family farm in Colchester North, now a part of Essex. He learned about ag and conservation from his dad and uncle, and was mentored in both dairy and caged layer poultry.

  He is a graduate from the University of Windsor with an Honour Human Kinetics Degree, and went on to teach high school for 33-years, while farming and volunteering for a long-list of groups, such as Scouts, 4-H, and the Rotary Club of Essex.

  “It is indeed an honour to be recognized by the Agricultural Hall of Fame,” McBeth said, noting he was humbled by the recognition and having the opportunity to join his father on the Wall of Honour, in addition to past honourees.

  Growing up, he said he was fortunate to have parents who embraced farm life. His dad taught him to be community-minded and give back to the community.

  When he was offered the opportunity to purchase the family farm, he jumped at it. McBeth said that allowed him to be a full-time farmer with a hobby of teaching high school.

  His father passed away when McBeth was quite young, leaving him to make a lot of decisions without the help of his mentor. He was grateful to his uncle, who would provide a lot of insight into farming.

  He thanked his wife and three children for all their support.

   McLean was recognized posthumously. He was nominated for his many years of service to the Colchester South & Harrow Agricultural Society.

  Born in 1957, McLean grew up on the family farm on the Gore Road in Harrow. He learned about farming from his father, who started as a dairy farmer and grew tomatoes for Heinz. Eventually, they moved into cash crops and seed corn.

  After his father’s passing, McLean continued farming with his son. He also worked at the Harrow Research Station for 36-years. He was also Director of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture, Past President for the Harrow Fair Board, General Manager of the Fair Board, and a member of Grain Farmers of Ontario.

  He also serves on the Board for Harrow United Church.

  Though there are hundreds of volunteers for the Harrow Fair, McLean was known as the glue that kept everyone together.

  It was noted his main expertise on all the boards was farm safety.

  His wife, Colette, thanked the Colchester South & Harrow Agricultural Society for the nomination, noting it gave her husband another way to be present. The opportunity reminded everyone of his “legacy, commitment, and all the wonderful memories tied to his love of community, farming, friends, and family.”

  His son, Cole, spoke of how his dad was a people person, who truly loved helping to organize the Harrow Fair and was fun to work with.

  Deslippe was born in 1965 and was raised on a family turkey farm in Malden, now part of Amherstburg. She attended both the University of Guelph and Ridgetown College of Agriculture where she obtained a diploma in Co-op. She worked on the family farm with her father, Jerome, raising heavy Tom turkeys.

  Throughout her life, she has worked in agri-business throughout Ontario. She has also been a 4-H leader and administrator, and continues to be involved in the Essex County Plowmen’s Association, and won Queen of the Furrow in her youth a couple times. She has served on the Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame Board since 2007 in various roles, and with the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum for many years.

  Also active in many community groups, Deslippe also volunteers with Scouting and is a second-degree black belt instructor.   

  To be honoured with the recognition was something Deslippe accepted with great gratitude. She noted her family was involved with the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum since its inception. Her entire family volunteered as they could to support the museum and encourage history in the area.

  Throughout her life – in her ups and downs – Deslippe said she had amazing support from her family, children, and community. She is grateful and thankful for that support.

  The service she offered the community also brought her many opportunities. Mentoring is really important, she added. She was able to embark on many opportunities because of those who took the time to teach her throughout her life.

  Without family support, she would not have been able to travel to participate on various boards, as they required her to travel.

  “We need to encourage people to continue to grow, innovate,” she said.  

This is a hard time in agriculture, Deslippe said. “We are all strong people and we need to stick to our roots.

  “I’ve enjoyed learning all throughout my life. I loved every aspect of learning in agriculture,” she said.

  Deslippe, who is also Chairperson of the Essex County Agricultural of Fame, encouraged young people to reach out, grow, and take leadership roles, and other ag-groups to reach out if they would like to be involved.

  In recognizing past winners who attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony to celebrate this year’s honourees, Deslippe said they all have stories about what they love about agriculture, what they have learned, and have grown from.  

  In addition to having their photos placed in the Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame, each of the recipients received a certificate from Chatham–Kent–Leamington MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness, Trevor Jones, Essex MP Chris Lewis, the Municipality of Lakeshore, the Town of Essex, and a certificate and goody-bag from Essex MPP Anthony Leardi.