Seven people were nominated for this year’s Tommy Cooper award, and the winner will be named this evening.
The Tommy Cooper award goes to the person who has made the greatest contribution to agriculture and rural living.
It commemorates the late Tommy Cooper, a well known provincial government agricultural representative in the area who was instrumental in founding the Grey Bruce Livestock co-operative.
Nominees this year are:
The Bruce county federation of Agriculture has nominated Jack Riley of Paisley. He has been a member of the Federation for 35 years, he is a past chair of the Bruce county plowmen’s association. Riley is also director on the Saugeen Conservation authority.
Carl Weber of RR 1 Ayton is nominated by the Normanby Plowmen’s Association. Weber was a member of the 2004 Grey county International Plowing match executive and he has worked for years with youth thru the Grey county and Ontario 4-H.
Allen Hughes of RR 2 Meaford has been nominated by the Grey county Federation of Agriculture. He is currently a director of the Federation and is a Past President. Allen was also chair of Marketing and promotion for the 2004 IPM.
Donald McNalty of RR 2 Singhampton. He is nominated by the Feversham Agricultural society. Don is currently the President of the Bluewater Angus Association, and he is 2nd Vice President of the Feversham Ag Society.
Other nominees:
Denise Edwards of RR 6 Markdale and Alex Leith of RR 4 Durham. They are co-nominees who have been an integral part of the rural leadership team in Grey county. Employed by OMAF they always went beyond the call of duty to work with the rural community.
The Egremont and Proton federation of agriculture nominated Conn area pork producer Wayne Caughill. He is a former chairman of Grey county pork producers and is currently an executive member of the Grey county federation of agriculture.
The award ceremony will be held tonight starting at 6:30 PM at the Elmwood Community Centre.