Inducted: November 19, 2024
Stephen J. Denys P.Ag. is a passionate agriculturalist who has been deeply involved with the farming community in crop production, protection, marketing and seed development for over 35 years.
Stephen was born in Chatham on January 17th, 1966 to George and Julia Denys and is married to E. Anne Allan-Denys. They have three children – Anna, Craig and Maggie.
He was educated at St. Joseph's Catholic School and CCI in Chatham, and graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and from the University of Windsor with a Masters of Business Administration which he achieved part-time while working.
Stephen was actively involved in industry organizations since his graduation from Guelph. This includes involvement and chairing the Southwest Chapter of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists, Board member and Chair of CropLife Ontario and Board member and Chair of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. In addition, Stephen was also a delegate for Chatham-Kent with the Grain Farmers of Ontario.
In addition to his industry efforts, Stephen coached travel basketball and assisted in coaching his son's teams in local baseball. The Chatham Wildcats woman's team he coached, achieved the highest finish for a local team in the Ontario Basketball Association provincial championships.
He also chaired the 2nd phase of the restoration of St. Joseph's Church in Chatham in 1998/1999 to ensure this historical building both inside and out was secure into the future. He also served on parish and diocese building and financial committees.
Stephen has been recognized over time for his efforts. In 1992, he received the Hoechst Canada Sales Achievement Award and in 1995 the ISK Biosciences Excel Award. In 1999, he received the Canadian Institute of Agrologist "Outstanding Young Agrologist" award and in 2013 was named the Chatham-Kent Rural/Urban Agriculturalist of the Year. In 2015, Stephen was the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association 'Agri-Marketer of the Year'.
Stephen has spent his career not only supporting farmers in adopting technology and increasing their yields, but as a staunch supporter and defender of modern agricultural technologies from crop protection to modern genetics and biotechnology. He advocated for the role these technologies play in not only our food and fibre supply but also in the protection of our environment. He has also promoted agriculture as a career choice to young people across the country.
He has given hundreds of presentations to numerous groups from Rotary to farm organizations, companies and schools to promote agriculture, food safety and environmental stewardship. Stephen has also been involved in federal and provincial seed policy and crop protection initiatives and approaches to technology use on the farm. His primary goal has always been to ensure Canadian farmers have access to the best technology available. This includes his own family farm where he put what he learned to work.
Stephen has increased sales of seed grown in Chatham-Kent to farmers across Canada, advocating for the benefits from seed grown here in his home community through his leadership roles at Pride Seeds and later Maizex Seeds, helping both brands build their presence across the country. This has helped to keep and build local jobs.
Stephen is a passionate agriculturalist and is recognized as an influential leader in agriculture, who provides direction in an ethical and legal manner. Promoting agriculture as one of the most important industries in this country is a priority to Stephen, and he has worked hard to ensure Canadian farmers are not only recognized for their stewardship efforts but importantly have the technology needed to succeed in this day and age of global food production.
In an interview with Agri Marketer, Stephen said that "I believe as a farmer and as someone who works within agriculture that we have an inherent responsibility to be stewards of not only our own operations and the environment around us, but stewards of the industry we work in. It is unbelievable what we have been able to do in agriculture in North America with such a small percentage of the population feeding a growing population with the safest food supply ever in the history of mankind."