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"This farm boy from Bow Island is deeply honoured and humbled to stand before you today as an inductee into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame,” says Blair Roth. “This recognition really is a testament to the collective efforts of many individuals who supported and inspired me throughout my career. I would never have dreamed that this was possible, or even warranted.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my family. Their unwavering support and encouragement have been the foundation of any success I’ve ever had. And to my friends, colleagues, customers and mentors, thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom and pushing me to strive for excellence in everything I do. They saw more in me than I did myself, and I’m eternally grateful for that.”
Blair Roth has been a tireless advocate for special crops, significantly advancing opportunities for Alberta and Canadian farmers. Born in Medicine Hat and raised on a farm near Bow Island, Blair began his career as an assistant district agriculturalist in 1976. By 1979, he became Southern Alberta’s Special Crops Specialist, leading trials and market assessments for various crops, including mint, safflower, dry beans, peas, lentils and mustard. He played a critical role in developing pulse crops as a dryland farming option, shaping early agronomics, variety selection and marketing strategies.
Blair was instrumental in establishing the Alberta Pulse Growers Association and Alberta Safflower Growers Association. In 1990, he joined Alberta Wheat Pool (later Viterra), where, as Director of Special Crops, he oversaw procurement, processing and marketing of pulses and other crops. His initiatives included acquiring Demeter Agro, developing specialty oat and pea processing plants, and advancing Alberta’s dry bean industry through collaborative research.
Recognizing the need for pest management solutions for minor crops, Blair co-founded the Prairie Pesticide Minor Use Consortium (PPMUC) in 2000, serving as Chair for 15 years. PPMUC facilitated critical pesticide registrations for pulses, forages, vegetables and spices, ensuring Canadian farmers had access to these essential tools.
Though he retired in 2022, Blair continues to contribute as a consultant and mentor, sharing his expertise with the next generation. His lifelong dedication to innovation, marketing and collaboration in agriculture has had a lasting influence, making him a driving force in Canada’s special crops and pulse industries.
Blair Roth joins the late Manfred Kanehl, advocate for the Canadian poultry industry, and Dr. Kee Jim, cattle feedlot health specialist, as the 2024 inductees into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame. Profiles of the late Manfred Kanehl and Dr. Kee Jim will be published in the editions to come, so stay tuned.
For more information, see:
Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame
Contact
Connect with Susan Lacombe for more information:
Phone: 780-554-3780
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