Awards
Award of Merit
The Bruce County Federation of Agriculture Award of Merit began in 1979 to be given to an outstanding farmer in Bruce County. A trophy was donated by Brian and Giselle Ireland to be used in perpetuity and BCFA provides a keeper trophy to each winner annually.
Criteria
Tommy Cooper recipients are not eligible
The person nominated should be a Bruce County OFA member, but an exception can be made by the BCFA Executive Committee
The committee shall look for examples of significant contributions to the agricultural industry
Past Award of Merit Winners
2019 – present no winner (due to Covid)
2018 – Patrick Jilesen
2017 – Chris Cossitt
2016 – Peter Jilesen
2015 - Allan Smith
2014 - Neils Munk
2013 - Don & Cathy Farrell
2012 - George Holm
2011 - Jenny Amy
2010 - Donna Spitzig
2009 - Dennis Watson
2008 - Jim Algie
2007 - Charlie Bagnato
2006 - Dr. David Biesenthal
2005 - Lloyd Graham
2004 - Elaine Lang
2003 - William (Bill) Goetz
2002 - David Walter Hellyer
2001 - Allan Smith
2000 - Stan Eby
1999 - Calvin McConnell
1998 - Tony Morris
1997 - Linda Freiburger
1996 - Byron Monk
1995 - Roy Pennington
1994 - Jayne Dietrich
1993 - Jack Cumming
1992 - Bill & Marlene Davis
1991 - Robert A. Bregman
1990 - Bert Caslick
1989 - Ted Zettel
1988 - Dr. Gary Gurbin
1987 - Beth Slumskie
1986 - John Mccauley
1985 - Harold Poechman
1984 - Jim Powers
1983 - Allen Wilford
1982 - Borden Fenton
1981 - Arnold Misch
1980 - No Award
1979 - Keith Weedon
TOMMY COOPER AWARD
The Tommy Cooper award is presented annually by Bayshore Broadcasting and The Sun Times to the person making the greatest contribution to agriculture and rural living in Grey and Bruce Counties.
Tommy Cooper was the Grey County agricultural representative from 1920 - 1959 and dedicated his life to agriculture. He played a major role in shaping agriculture in Grey County, and his influence continues today. He had a direct role in establishing the Federation of Agriculture. Tommy used newspapers and the radio to bring his message to the farm community. When Tommy retired in 1959, 700 people attended his retirement party highlighted by Grey County presenting him with a new car.
Current Tommy Cooper Winner
2021 joint winners - Simon DeBoer and Linda Freiburger
The 2021 Tommy Cooper Award winners are Simon DeBoer and Linda Freiburger
DeBoer has been a member of the Arran Tara Agricultural Society since 1993. He has also been involved in several other agriculture organizations and initiatives, including as a director with the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, Christian Farmers, and the Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week organizing committee.
Freiburger is a long-time farm safety advocate. She’s been involved in Bruce County Farm Safety since 1972, as well as a director on the Ontario Farm Safety Board. She’s been a 4H leader, and serves as executive director of Saugeen Valley Children’s Safety Village.
Previous Tommy Cooper Winners
Lorie Smith - 2020 winner
Joan McKinley 2019 Tommy Cooper winner
Catharine Campbell receiving the Tommy Cooper Award in 2018
Henry Reinders 2017 Tommy Cooper award winner
Les Nichols was the winner of The Tommy Cooper Award in 2016
Winner of The Tommy Cooper Award in 2015 was Dennis Watson, above, with one of the piglets being raised in the Chesley District Community School’s specialist agricultural program. (Special to Postmedia)
John Gillespie (left) receiving Tommy Cooper Award from Manny Paiva (right) – Bayshore Broadcasting; 2014
2021 - Simon DeBoer/Linda Freiburger
2020 - Lorie Smith
2019 - Joan McKinley
2018 - Catharine Campbell
2017 - Henry Reinders
2016 - Les Nichols
2015 - Dennis Watson
2014 - John Gillespie
2013 - Brian Gilroy
2012 - Bruce Saunders
2011 - Barb Klages
2010 - Paul & Dorien DeJong
2009 - Jack Riley
2008 - Robert Emerson
2007 - Robert Pringle
2006 - Ruth Hamill
2005 - Doug Eadie
2004 - Kenneth Bridge
2003 - Karl Chittka
2002 - Roger Thorne
2001 - Bev Fry
2000 - Heather Parkin
1999 - Wayne Mccausland and Jack Westlake
1998 - Jayne Dietrich
1997 - Fran Farrell
1996 - Ray Robertson
1995 - Carman Hamill
1994 - Ken Furlong
1993 - Karl Braeker and
Jack Cumming
1992 - Gerald Poechman
1991 - Ralph Dietrich
1990 - Agnes Diemert
1989 - Grant Collins
1988 - David Inglis
1987 - Don Hill
1986 - Roy Pennington
1985 - James Mckinlay
1984 - Ron Wolfe
1983 - Ray Robertson
1982 - Borden Fenton and Lloyd Harris
1981 - Keith Davenport
1980 - Brian Ireland
1979 - Robert Taylor
1978 - Grant Preston
1977 - Bill Wolfe
1976 - Alfred Brunton
1975 - Dawn Brunton
1974 - Ronald Oswald
1973 - Barbara Riddell
1972 -Sherry Pollock
1971 - Harvey Davis
1970 - Linda Shouldice
1969 - Carolyn Riddell
1968 - Gordon Weeden
1967 - Dianne Mannerow
1966 - Louis Emke
1965 - Mrs. George Arthur
1964 - Mary Reid
1963 - Douglas Lemon
1962 - James Richardson
1961 - Frank Coulter
1960 - J.M. Hanbridge
1959 - Jaffrey Rutherford