Martin P Howlett
Martin (Marty) Howlett was born in St. John鈥檚 Newfoundland in 1946. He attended local schools and then went to Truro to study at NSAC where he graduated with a diploma in Agricultural Business in 1969.
Marty has worked for the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of .Agriculture in a variety of positions for more than 30 years. While progressing from Assistant Agricultural Representative in a small agricultural region in 1969 to the role as Associate Deputy Minister, his support of the farm industry has been evident.
Close collaboration and effective partnerships with farmers, farm organization and commodity boards, as well as federal and provincial agencies have resulted in continuing industry growth. He initiated the Goulds Forage Project in 1975, in his role as Agricultural Representative. The project today success fully produces 1,000 acres of forage, grain and corn which is vital to the Dairy Industry. In his position as Associate Deputy Minister, he has initiated expansion of this project to include several hundred more acres of production.
In the early 1970鈥檚, Marty organized the first Farmers Barbecue to take place during the annual Farmers Field Day held at the Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada Research Station in St. John's. This event annually draws up 8000 people.
A strong promoter of the supply management system, Martin has negotiating millions of dollars in Federal and Provincial agreements for investment in the Newfoundland and Labrador Agricultural Industry, including the Safety Nets agreements. He represented Newfoundland and Labrador on the VanClief Task Force on Orderly Marketing;
Martin has representing the provincial government on agricultural industry trade missions to Ireland, Scandinavia, and Hong Kong and has been instrumental in introducing the Cranberry Industry to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Martin has forging a strong alliance with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture and other commodity organizations and he has worked endlessly to protect the province鈥檚 agricultural lands, particularly those in close proximity to major centers such as St. John's.
A strong believer in community involvement Martin has served in church, school, recreational and municipal organizations include the Town of Goulds Council, the St. Kevins PTA, Goulds Beavers and Cubs the Bay Roberts Lions Club and the Goulds minor Hockey Association. He and his wife Irene have children.
Over the years Marty has demonstrated a very strong commitment to the agriculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. He has worked long and hard in the interest of commodities in general and the ordinary farmer in particular. Often times he has had to work under very adverse conditions including significant economic restraint conditions.
He has had to maintain the department in the face of many structural changes throughout the 1990, which has demanded downsizing and relocation. At the same time, Martin has had to balance these changes with demands for more services from the farmer. New challenges brought on by technological changes, environmental concerns and new dynamics in the international market place has increased the pressure to perform on the department.
Nominated by the Newfoundland & Labrador Fur Breeders Association in recognition of his exceptional and outstanding effort in the service of agriculture and farm people in Newfoundland and Labrador Martin P. Howlett is a worthy candidate for induction into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.