John Kennelly was inducted in the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame for his influence on the province's agriculture industry. His accomplishments include improving the dairy industry in the province and dramatically increasing research funding and enrolment while serving as dean of the Faculty of ALES for two terms between 2004 and 2014.
An Irish proverb particularly apt for John Kennelly: "you'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind."
Not a dreamer, but a doer, is the Irishman who came to Canada on a cold and snowy winter night in 1977 to earn his PhD in dairy research. After almost four decades of influence on the province's agriculture industry, Kennelly's accomplishments were laid out as he was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame on Oct. 7.
"John's success as a research scientist and his commitment to improving Alberta's dairy industry was acknowledged by the gathering of agricultural leaders from across Alberta," said Stan Blade, the faculty's current dean.
"It was a great pleasure to see my friend, colleague and mentor be awarded this prestigious and very well-deserved award."
Kennelly, one of the faculty's most distinguished alumni, began his lifelong relationship with agriculture at the young age of 13, when he left school to work on the family farm. He returned to his studies at 22 and in just two years completed the equivalent of a secondary education, while working full time. He then went on to university and graduated with first-class honours. Kennelly selected the University of Alberta as his preferred PhD site and went on to become the only faculty member conducting dairy research. He applied for and received several research grants and built the dairy program into a vibrant, leading-edge, world-renowned agricultural research program.
Kennelly served two terms as dean, from 2004 to 2014. Some notable achievements that he stewarded included the opening of the Swine and Research Technology Centre and the Agri-Food Discovery Place on South Campus. While he was dean, the faculty acquired important research land with the donation of 800 acres of farm land by the Bocock family that became the St Alberta Research Station, and the gift of 12,000 acres from Edwin and Ruth Mattheis, which paved the way for the creation of the Rangeland Research Institute and the doubling in size of the Kinsella Ranch.
Under his leadership, the number of undergraduate students rose 58 per cent, while graduate student enrolment increased by half. During that same time, external research funding for the faculty increased by a staggering 250 per cent; from $14.2 million to $49.8 million.
"The Hall of Fame is a tribute to the ongoing legacy of agriculture innovation in this province," said Oneil Carlier, minister of agriculture and forestry.
"This year's inductees are pioneers in their fields who have worked hard for decades to improve agricultural practices, support growth in the industry and educate the next generation of Alberta famers and ranchers."
Kennelly spent much of his career examining feeding systems, with a view to optimize components of milk proteins and fats that give the highest economic returns to producers. He spent a significant amount of time researching Alberta-grown crops and how they could best be utilized for dairy (and beef) cattle feed. In co-operation with other researchers around the world, he improved dairy nutrition, which has resulted in better milk quality, better reproduction practices and better overall animal health.
Kennelly is widely recognized for his leadership in establishing the annual Western Canada Dairy Seminar, which brings dairy experts from around the world to Alberta. The dairy seminar is regarded as the best of its kind in North America and among the top three globally. Kennelly served as the seminar's director of programming for 25 years.
Kennelly is currently the president of the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA), a confederation of 16 different university associations representing more than 900 universities from around the world. The Association of Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (CFAVM), of which the University of Alberta and 12 other Canadian universities are members, is one of the GCHERA's 16 member-associations.
"It is a great honour for me to accept this prestigious award," said Kennelly. "I am accepting it on behalf of all the students, colleagues, government and industry partners who are the foundation of any success that I have had in my career."
The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame was created to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the agriculture and food industry and to the development and sustainability of rural life in Alberta. The men and women named to the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1951 exemplify agricultural leadership and accomplishment.