Roy Grant
Roy Grant was born in Riverton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Following his military service in France, Belgium and Germany during World War I, he developed a dairy farm in Riverton. He later served as Livestock Services Fieldman with the Canada Department of Agriculture, Manager of Dakeyne Farm in Falmouth, and was in charge of the placement and supervision of British Boys with Nova Scotia farmers. He spent one year as Agricultural Representative in Annapolis County and then in 1937 became Assistant General Manager of Maritime Co-operative Services in Moncton.
He gave strong support and leadership in several farm organizations. In recognition of his fifteen years as their Treasurer and for overall leadership, the Canadian Guernsey Breeders' Association made him an Honourary Member. He served as Secretary of the Maritime Federation of Agriculture from 1937 to 1962 and for six of these years was Secretary of the Maritime Food Council as well. Roy Grant provided strong and wise leadership in the development of farm policy at both regional and national levels.
His interest in better organized marketing procedures led him into positions of heavy responsibility with marketing boards. He was Secretary-Manager of the Nova Scotia Potato Marketing Board and Secretary of the Export Potato Marketing Board in 1932 and 1933. His greatest contribution was in the development of organized hog marketing boards.
His successful efforts towards co-ordinating the functioning of the hog shipping clubs and eventual development of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Hog Marketing Boards, led to higher prices, equal or better than those paid in Central Canada. His patient and deliberate guidance in this development earned him the high respect of Maritime farmers and many others associated with the industry.
He was made an Honourary Member of the Agricultural Institute of Canada in 1966, and in 1967 received a Canadian Centennial Medal. The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture Senate Club made him an Honourary Member in 1960. Even since retirement, his keen interest and support of organized agriculture has not diminished or wavered.
Roy Grant is honoured as a wise manager, an effective farm leader, a marketing specialist and as a developer in Maritime agriculture.