(President Ed Parkinson, Assistant Governor Kirk Riehl, Scott Graham)
The Rotary Club of St. Marys was proud to recognize Scott Graham with a Paul Harris Fellow award, one of Rotary’s highest honours.
Named after Rotary founder Paul Harris, the award is presented to individuals whose lives and contributions reflect Rotary’s ideals of service, goodwill, and community leadership. Paul Harris Fellows join a distinguished group of recipients around the world who have demonstrated a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
During the presentation, Rotarians noted that Paul Harris Fellows are recognized for their devotion to goodwill, peace, and understanding. Recipients join an international group of honourees that includes notable figures such as Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.
Scott was selected in recognition of his lifelong contributions to agriculture, rural leadership, and the St. Marys community.
A lifelong resident of St. Marys, Scott was recently inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Over the years, he served on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture board for 13 years, including eight years as chair. He has been a strong advocate for agriculture in Perth County and across Ontario.
Scott also comes from a family with deep roots in farming innovation. His father was a leader in the chicken and egg business and was among the first to introduce Red Angus cattle to Ontario. Scott continued that tradition of leadership through his own farming career and by helping shape the future of agriculture in the region.
Now retired, Scott has passed the family farm on to his son Brett, continuing a proud multi-generational farming tradition.
In accepting the award, Scott said he was both surprised and humbled by the recognition. He admitted that honours like this can feel uncomfortable because they place attention on one individual, when in reality accomplishments are always shared with many others.
He said he was very proud of the recognition, but that it was not something he would normally speak about publicly. Scott thanked the Rotary Club of St. Marys for the honour and said he had not fully appreciated the significance of the Paul Harris Fellow award until learning more about it.
Scott reflected on the many changes he has seen in agriculture over the years. Growing up on the family farm and later taking on leadership roles in the agricultural sector, he witnessed firsthand how dramatically farming has evolved. He noted that most people in the room could likely relate to the changes they have seen in their own lives and industries over the decades.
Scott also reflected on the importance of teamwork throughout his career. He noted that whether it was on the farm, in agricultural organizations, or in provincial leadership roles, none of the accomplishments he was associated with were ever achieved alone. He emphasized that everything was done as part of a team and that he had been fortunate to work with strong people throughout his life.
He spoke about the challenges that come with taking on leadership positions in agriculture, particularly the amount of time spent away from home. Scott said that to be able to devote time to organizations and broader agricultural issues, it is essential to have people at home who can keep things running and give you the confidence to focus on the work at hand.
Scott paid special tribute to his son Brett, who took over more responsibility on the family farm and allowed him the time to serve in leadership roles away from home. He also mentioned the many people involved in the family’s poultry and cattle operations, including long-time working relationships that helped sustain the business over many years.
Most of all, Scott recognized the support of his wife, Gloria. He said she had been there for him through it all and credited her as an essential part of any success he may have had. He noted that when you know things are being looked after at home, it allows you to focus on the responsibilities in front of you and contribute in a meaningful way.
Scott concluded by saying that while he was proud of the recognition, he viewed it as a reflection of all the people who had supported him over the years rather than an honour earned by one person alone.
The Rotary Club of St. Marys congratulates Scott Graham on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his many years of service and leadership.