Gordon Patterson
Gordon has spent a lifetime dedicated to agriculture, community service, and leadership in Lanark County. A lifelong local beef and maple syrup producer in North Sherbrooke Township (now Lanark Highlands), Gordon established his farm with the support of his wife, Bev and their four children.
After being a 4-H member himself, Gordon gave back to the program by becoming a 4-H leader for the Maberly Community and Beef Calf Clubs, volunteering with the youth program for 36 years. He was a director of the Lanark County 4-H Leaders Association and past director and current member of the Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association. His involvement with the Maberly Agricultural Society began at age 18, and he currently holds the distinction of being the longest-serving board president in the fair’s history, with 14 years of leadership over four separate terms.
Gordon has played an active role in supporting local beef producers for over 50 years. He became a director of the Lanark Beef Improvement Association in 1971. He continued his involvement as the organization evolved to be Lanark County Cattlemen’s Association and then Lanark County Beef Farmers. He served as local president from 1979 to 1980, and as a provincial director on the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association from 1990 to 1994. He was an Eastern Ontario Stocker and Feeder Association representative for 10 years. He served as the president of the Lanark Beef Improvement Weigh Club when it formed in 1984. He also served on the Lanark County Agricultural Advisory Committee and is a longtime member of the Lanark Federation of Agriculture.
In 2012, Gordon played a key role in Hay East, a grassroots initiative to bring hay from Western Canada to drought-stricken farms in Lanark County. He helped organize local fundraisers and successfully lobbied all levels of local government for their support in managing transportation costs.
Beyond agricultural volunteer activities, Gordon was active in the Silver Lake and District Snowmobile Club, the Lanark Highlands Public Library Board, and remains a member of the Elphin Presbyterian Church. He gives his time to numerous organizations with the same willingness as he lends a hand to his neighbour. Gordon also dedicated 16 years to municipal politics, serving as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve of Lavant, Dalhousie, and North Sherbrooke from 1981 to 1997, and in his final year was elected by his peers as Warden of Lanark County.
Gordon received a “Heart of Gold” certificate in 1988 for outstanding contributions made to his community. His dedication and commitment to volunteerism, community service and agriculture were recognized with the Lanark County Award of Excellence in 2011.