The name is immortalized at Kemptville Campus of the University of Guelph, A.M. Barr as in A.M. Barr Arena.
And now that name has been lifted to even greater heights with induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The decision to welcome Barr into the prestigious H of F ranks was announced recently; the ceremonial induction will take place in June. Barr will be welcomed into the Hall alongside Ken Knox of Blackstock and John Benham of Rockwood, the two other 2011 inductees.
In its 32nd year, the Milton-based H of F recognizes visionary leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in Ontario agriculture.
Barr (1904-1979), a past principal of Kemptville Agricultural School now Kemptville Campus, left a "legacy of research and extension work that led the way to great advances in agricultural productivity in Ontario."
An early advocate of the importance of tile drainage in farm fields, Barr was lauded for having a vision for agriculture as an industry both prosperous and challenging enough to attract the well-trained students he graduated.
He was also a particularly astute judge of cattle and in 1943 was selected as an official judge of the Holstein-Friesian breed. He went on to use the skill at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto and, in 1950, as the coach of the Junior Farmers Judging Team in England and Scotland.
In 1948, as assistant director of extension for the Ontario Department of Agriculture, he supervised development of rural boys and girls clubs now known as 4-H. Before he retired from Kemptville in 1966, he had overseen establishment of facilities for engineering, poultry science, home economics, the regional veterinary services lab, dairy herd and research, bull performance testing, and additional field crop trials.
From 1945 to 1965, Barr served as moderator of Farm Radio Forum, and after his retirement, he became a CIDA advisor in animal husbandry in Uganda and Trinidad.
The Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, which manages a mini Eastern Ontario "Wall of Fame" on Kemptville Campus, joined with the alumni association in covering Barr’s $750 nomination fee.
The Barr nomination was put forward by OVSGA director and Kemptville alumnus John Joynt in collaboration with Robert Aumell; it was supported by Seed Growers president Jim Arbuckle and by director Garnet Ralph, himself a Hall of Fame member.
Speaking for the family, daughter-in-law Margaret Barr thanked the Seed Growers and the alumni for their efforts in the successful nomination.
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