Blair Roth reflects on hall of fame worthy career in agriculture

“What I’ve done is I listened to what people had to say – farmers, processors, end users, and I’ve tried to help develop crop options over the last 35-40 years that would give them more opportunities to grow crops that give them a cash return and gave them marketing opportunities,” says Roth.

At the start of his career, Roth says there were not a lot of crops that were suitable for dryland farming, and farmers were looking for more rotational crops and opportunities for cash crops.

Many of his efforts revolved around making more options available.

“As we got into pulse crops, so peas, lentils, dry beans, I helped to develop those opportunities. Certainly didn’t invent anything, just tried to make sure things got better as we went.”

Roth grew up on a farm new Bow Island and studied agriculture at the University of Alberta. Given his background, he told LNN that much of what he does “comes naturally” to him.

Agriculture is a field that he is passionate about because “everybody needs to eat,” and his efforts could help in that regard.

Feeding people is also part of why he joined the board of directors at the Interfaith Food Bank, as Roth says he wants to give back to the community in any way that he can.

Two other people were inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame alongside Roth:

Dr. Kee Jim (Okotoks)
- For his innovative, data-driven approach to feedlot cattle health, effective disease protocols and strengthening Alberta’s cattle industry.
Manfred Kanehl – posthumous induction (Parkland County)
- For his outstanding contributions and advancements to animal welfare and food safety within the Canadian egg industry and for pioneering the Start Clean – Stay Clean on-farm food safety program launched nationally and still in use today.

by David Opinko

Blair Roth reflects on hall of fame worthy career in agriculture

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