“I’ve been involved in agriculture all my life. I’ve had a good time working with all the farm organizations and I’ve been treated very well by all of them. I thought, ‘Surely a guy can return something.’”
That’s Jack Riddell, explaining why he chose to establish the Jack Riddell Family Fund within the South Huron Community Fund.
Riddell completed his degree at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, Ontario, and worked for a time as a high school teacher and livestock sales owner and operator. He was elected to represent Huron County in the Ontario legislature in 1973, and re-elected five times. He was a voice for rural Ontario throughout his time in politics, serving as Minister of Agriculture and Food from 1985 to 1989. After politics, he continued to be involved in several agricultural organizations. He was inducted into the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2017.
In late 2018, Riddell donated $10,000 to launch the fund, which will provide a scholarship for a Grade 12 student in the Avon Maitland School Board who is pursuing post-secondary education in the field of agriculture. “I want to see young people take an interest in agriculture because we need the best people we can get for the greatest industry in this country,” he says. “And I know how difficult it can be to find the funds to go to university.”
A number of Riddell’s friends and colleagues have added to the Fund, which now stands at $25,000. Permanently invested, it will produce a scholarship of approximately $850 per year for many years to come.
“Jack has a special place in the community and the Riddell Fund sets a great example,” says Tom Prout, Chair of the South Huron Community Fund. “Any family can start a fund like this and grow it over time. It’s a wonderful way to make a difference, now and forever.”
