Leonard Ruby
Leonard Ruby has a connection to history, tradition, the land and what it can provide. He knows that patience and perseverance can overcome much. These beliefs have shepherded the Ruby family through many agricultural challenges, but have made success all the sweeter.
Born in 1925, Leonard was raised with his two brothers on Westvale Farm, a Holstein dairy operation in Goulds, Newfoundland. With 40 head of cattle, the family sold cart-loads of milk to the Newfoundland Butter Company in St. John’s. When Leonard was only ten years old, his father Allan passed away, leaving Leonard’s mother Janet to assume responsibilities on the farm. After completing school at fifteen years of age, Leonard started work on the farm, and six years later he partnered with his brothers. Together they had an average of 150 acres and grew the herd to 70 head of full-bred Holstein cattle.
One of Leonard’s proudest accomplishments is a commitment to maintaining the family farm. In 2006, in recognition of its rich history, Westvale Farm received the Century Farm Award from the Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Century Farm Award honours family farmland that has been worked for one hundred years or more. Leonard’s farm was established 163 years ago by his great grandfather William Ruby. Each successive generation since 1850 has improved the facilities and expanded the operation. Leonard’s grandfather and father both worked the land and cattle, passing the farm down the line through their sons.
Farming in early and mid-1900s Newfoundland had its challenges. Only a year after his father’s passing the herd was nearly decimated by an outbreak of Bangs Disease, which causes cows to abort their calves at five months gestation. This terribly contagious disease almost eliminated the Ruby herd. While it took years to recover, Westvale Farm did come back. The location of the farm also proved challenging for milk transportation. The Ruby Line was difficult to access, especially during the winter months. The only way to get milk off the farm was to transport it by horse and slide in five-gallon jugs. Leonard credits the introduction of bulk milk tanks as a critical agricultural innovation, making milk collection much easier. He continued to adopt innovative technology, renovated the barns, and survived another less damaging outbreak of Bangs Disease.
Leonard’s dedication to farming evolved into a mission to promote responsible breeding and registration of Holstein cattle. Westvale Farm began using purebred registered sires in 1937, and there was a time when the only 100% purebred and registered Holstein herd in Newfoundland was owned in part by Leonard. Much of the past seven decades of Leonard’s life have been spent educating Newfoundland and Labrador farmers on the benefits of using purebred cattle in their production. Leonard’s own young registered stock were sold to farmers to improve their herds, and Leonard acted as advisor to many producers interested in increasing milk production and type. Leonard provided valuable leadership with several organizations that contribute to responsible dairy farming. He has served as chair and committee member to Sunshine Dairy and the Dairymen’s Association, and was a member of the Holstein-Friesian Association of Canada for 37 years.
Leonard found great success operating the Westvale Farm for over 40 years, and in 1987, he retired from dairy production. He retained two acres for vegetable production and leased the rest. On these two acres, Leonard and his wife Lena produce 15 to 18 different vegetables, including bestsellers turnip, potato, and carrot. Lena markets the vegetables by providing recipes for breads, jams, and pickles, and this value-added approach is very popular with customers. The Rubys use little herbicides and pesticides, and perhaps that’s what makes their high quality produce so attractive. The Rubys sell their vegetables at the farm gate and local grocery stores. When retail demand is high, Leonard is known for restocking shelves from his own cold storage. This sense of community flows into Leonard’s volunteer life, where he has fundraised for town members who have fallen on hard times. He has also served on church committees and contributed to school activities. Leonard enjoys spending time with his two children, Robert and Heather.
Nominated by the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador for his tireless commitment to improving Holstein production in his province, Leonard Ruby is a most deserving inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.