Inducted: November 29, 1989
Harold (Pete) Huffman was known to his friends and his associates in many farm organizations as a man who was tireless when working for the best interests of farmers.
Mr. Huffman was born in south Harwich Township, and like others in Kent County, an early convert to the great potential for corn production. This interest was instrumental in his work in founding the Ontario Seed Corn Growers' Marketing Board, in serving as its first Chairman, and as a Director for many years.
He was the charter President of the Kent County Federation of Agriculture in 1941, and later a Director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Mr. Huffman was committed to the production of quality beef, and a founder and Director of the Ontario Red Triangle Baby Beef Association, a group that marketed some of the highest quality beef Ontario has ever seen. He was a founding member of the Ontario Beef Improvement Association, a forerunner of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association.
Mr. Huffman was named a Robertson Associate of the Canadian Seed Growers' Association; and received a 1978 Meritorious Award from the Kent Federation of Agriculture. He was a recipient of a 1967 Centennial Medal from the Canadian government for his service to agriculture.
Mr. Huffman was an active and interested member of the Ontario Research Council. In 1983, the Blenheim and District Chamber of Commerce chose him as Agriculturalist of the Year, an acknowledgement of the respect and admiration of his home community.
Mr. Huffman was a Director of the Howard Mutual Fire Insurance Company and a Past President. He was Project Chairman for the Senior Citizens' Residence in Blenheim in 1974.
One of his former associates said his outstanding quality was a dogged determination. "It might look as though he was losing a battle for something he wanted, but he never gave up."
"He was voluble in his support for a revolution in corn production; and in his efforts to persuade beef producers to concentrate on quality."
"He was a very persuasive man."