Three men who contributed to the dairy, tillage and greenhouse sectors were inducted Oct. 3 into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.
The late Curtis Clark of Carstairs, Gordon Hilton of Strathmore and Mohyuddin Mirza of Edmonton were recognized for advancing agriculture in their respective sectors.
Clark worked for almost five decades in the dairy industry as a breeder, judge and exhibitor.
“He was known for laying the groundwork to develop purebred breeders and superior cattle in Alberta,” said an Alberta Agriculture news release announcing the inductions.
Read Also
Farm cash receipts rise in first half of 2025 on livestock gains
Farm cash receipts in the first half of the year were up 3.3 per cent over the same period last year buoyed by livestock receipts. Overall receipts between January and June totalled $49.6 billion, up $1.6 billion from the same period last year, Statistics Canada reported.
Clark and partner Lloyd Pickard, and later Clark’s son, Jim, established and expanded Acme Holsteins, the dairy operation that became recognized across Western Canada.
The Curtis Clark Achievement Award is presented annually at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to recognize his efforts to promote the Holstein breed and the dairy industry. The winner is chosen for exemplifying dairy ability, sportsmanship and dedication to the industry.
Clark died in 1997 at the age of 86.
Hilton is considered a pioneer of conservation tillage in the province. He brought one of the first no-till drills to Western Canada in 1980, when the concepts of low and zero tillage were just becoming better understood.
He was the first farmer inducted into the Soil Conservation of Canada hall of fame in 1990. He is said to have worked tirelessly to educate other farmers about conservation tillage and encourage them to adopt its tenets.
“His legacy will be one where soil degradation and wind erosion have been greatly reduced throughout Alberta and beyond,” said the news release.
Mirza, a scientist with extensive studies in hydroponic production, is a founding member of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association.
He has spent almost 30 years as an educator, researcher and writer in areas surrounding the greenhouse industry and is credited with building that industry to its current stature.
Mirza has received many awards during his work with Alberta Agriculture. He is an adjunct professor with the University of Alberta and has encouraged many new entrants to the greenhouse industry.
The Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame inducts up to three people every two years.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to these three exceptional individuals who have devoted a lifetime to improving agricultural practices in our province,” Alberta agriculture minister Verlyn Olson said.
