December 2010 - 4-H Ontario

4-H ONTARIO LEADERSHIP IN ACTION • DECEMBER 2010 • PAGE 15
The formal induction ceremony took place at the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame awards banquet on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at the
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. Pictured here are (left to right) Hazel and Betram Stewart, Lyle and Sharon Vanclief.
Bertram Stewart
Nominated by: Ontario 4-H Council
Bertram “Bert” Graham Hunter Stewart
is the seventh child of eight children born to
Ernie and Jennie Stewart, Albion Township
of Peel County. When he was 12 years
old, Bert joined the Bolton 4-H Dairy Calf
Club, the beginning of a very successful
4-H affiliation. This, combined with strong
family support and values, as well as
provide in his rural and agricultural roots,
launched him on a brilliant career in the
dairy cattle industry and passionate work
for his community – especially its youth.
A world renowned judge of all breeds
of dairy cattle, Bertram has worked in
over 18 countries and has been honoured
with many awards. Judging at the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair five times and
seven times at the World Dairy Expo were
certainly highlights. Among the impressive
list of his accomplishments: showman of
16 Royal Winter Fair Grand Champions;
farm manager and consultant for the famed
Agro Bros. Herd; breeding consultant to
what became some of the best herds in
Ontario, Brazil, USA and Mexico; assisted
for over 40 years with the famous Sale of
Stars; served as director and president
of the Halton County Holstein Club; and
is a 50 year active member of Holstein
Canada.
Bertram is credited with promoting
Canada’s world leading dairy genetics
and has been called on of the pioneers
in preparing and exhibiting dairy cattle
– culminating in winning the prestigious
Klussendorf Trophy in the United States
and being made an Honourary Lifetime
Governor of the Royal Agricultural Winter
Fair. On the home front, his dedication
to youth has been exemplary. Every
year Bertram and his wife Hazel of 55
years, chaperoned Team Ontario to the
National 4-H Dairy Judging Competition
in Madison, Wisconsin. He has coached
all 21 4-H Ontario judging teams at World
Dairy Expo.
It would take an entire book to list
and describe all of Bertram Stewart’s
interests and achievements. High on
that list would be his over 40 years of
involvement in 4-H clubs, serving as
leaders and supporter, teaching and
impacting innumerable young lives. The
climax of these was being the President
of the Canadian 4-H Council in 2005.
Bertram has also served in leadership
capacities for his church and other rural
and urban organizations. In 1997, he was
nominated for Citizen of the Year by the
Milton Chamber of Commerce, and in 2009,
Bert was inducted into the Milton Walk of
Fame – recognizing over three decades of
service to the Milton community. Beyond
his agricultural contributions, he has been
active coaching local softball, winning an
amazing seven Ontario Championships –
five with the boys’ teams and two with the
girls’ teams. For over eight years he was
involved with the Milton District Hospital
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