Taylor inducted into Hall of Fame

The 2nd Annual Salt Water Classic Elite Sale, hosted by the Maritime Simmental Association, was held at the Provincial Exhibition grounds in Truro, N.S., on Aug. 22. Twenty-eight head of cattle sold for an average of $1,260. The high seller was a bred female cow owned by Lobster Point Properties, which sold to Wayne Crosby of Havenview Farms, P.E.I., for $3,700. There was a five-way tie for volume buyer ­ Ammon Simmentals (N.B.), Havenview Farms (P.E.I.), Jason Tuttie (N.S.), Meadowvale Simmentals (N.S.), and Tryon Simmentals (P.E.I.) ­ all buying three head.
This was also the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Simmental Association (CSA) and Ralph Taylor of Truro, N.S., was inducted into the Canadian Simmental Hall of Fame. He was presented with a plaque by CSA Industry/Member Liason Bruce Holmquist and his photo will hang in the CSA office in Calgary, Alta.
Holmquist made the following remarks concerning Ralph:

"To say Ralph Taylor was a pioneer in the Simmental industry in the Maritimes would be an understatement. Ralph's involvement in the breed started in November 1982 when he and Lawrence Nason, a long-time friend, colleague, and business partner, traveled to Agribition and returned home proud owners of five head of Simmentals. As a result of this partnership they became members of the Canadian Simmental Association and T & N Simmentals was born.
"Lawrence and Ralph, new to the breed and full of the vigor that comes with a new adventure immediately began showing their herd of Simmental cattle and traveling to shows across the province at Bridgewater, Lawrencetown, the Maritime Winter Fair, and the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition, at which Ralph has been a fixture for many years.
"As more people noticed the Simmental cattle shown by T & N and other breeders from across the region began to get involved, and regional breed organization came into being. Ralph became more involved in the Simmental breed. He served as a member of the Nova Scotia Simmental Association and the current Maritime Simmental Association from their inception. He has served as Secretary/Treasurer and one of the most active Directors of the MSA for the better part of two decades, working tirelessly to promote the breed in the Maritimes. He has promoted the breed through his association with Atlantic Beef, working to organize the Maritime Simmental Classic Sale each year and now helping to create the Maritime Salt Water Classic Sale, that is just now enjoying its second successful year. Whatever Simmental promotional activity has happened in the Maritimes in the last 20 years, you could be sure that Ralph was in some way involved.
"The height of Ralph's involvement in the breed was his election to the Canadian Simmental Association Board of Directors where he represented the interest of the Association on a national scale, but always ensuring his region was included in policy discussions including hosting annual general meetings. He was instrumental in organizing and hosting the AGMs in Moncton, 1990, Charlottetown, 1997, and Chester, 2004. The CSA Board members with whom that Ralph served speak highly of his enthusiasm, positive energy and his willingness to work on the many issues that faced the breed and the Association during his six years as a member of the Board.
"After Ralph's term on the CSA Board his involvement with the breed certainly did not diminish as he continued to work in his capacity on the Maritime Simmental Association and can be credited for his commitment to ensure quality Simmental genetics were promoted through sales, shows, local auction marts, all-breed bull sales, and in recognition that the commercial breeders are the breed's ultimate customer. To this day, the 40th anniversary celebrated here tonight, and the sale that is about to commence, have Ralph's fingerprints all over them and his enthusiasm for the breed is unparalleled. In fact, rumor has it that Ralph's wife, Eleanor, has hidden the Simmental Country upon its arrival in the mail on several occasions so that she could spend time with him before he would undoubtedly find it and read it from cover to cover for hours on end. Stacks of the Country magazines dating back many years are still kept at Ralph and Eleanor's residence with specific instructions, issued by Ralph, to never throw any of them out.
"For all these reasons and on behalf of the CSA membership, the Board of Directors is proud to make this induction into the Simmental Hall of Fame. You are truly an asset to the breed, the beef industry, and we thank you for all your involvement and dedication."