Quinte Agricultural Hall of Fame > William Niel Hanah
NIEL HANNAH
1950-2005
Niel spent his entire life at R.R. #2 Port Hope. Although he excelled at school he knew his career direction and began farming at the age of 15. He spent from 1966 to 2005 as a full time farmer at Sunhil Farms. Although initially a livestock farmer he farmed 3,200 acres of cash crops including peas, sweet corn, grain corn soybeans and wheat.
In 1985 he purchased TV Facts franchise and developed this advertising business while farming full time. His many contributions to agriculture included being on the Executive of the Northumberland Pork Producers, a member of the Hope Township Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Northumberland Agricultural Advisory Committee, a board member ofthe Ontario Vegetable Growers, a Director and member of the Eastern Ontario Vegetable Growers Co-op, and a representative for ACC Farmers Financial Program.
Niel's community activities included being a member and Chairman of the Bethesda United Church Board of Stewards, support for the Port Hope Agricultural Society and over 10 years of support for the Agricultural Education component of the Port Hope Fair. Niel was a strong advocate and early adapter of land stewardship practices including soil testing, conservation tillage, erosion-control and had tremendous "love for the land".
Nominated by Port Hope Fair Board
Inducted 2010