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Robert English has worked tirelessly as an advocate for New Brunswick producers and helped support new entrants into farming. As both an active member of the agriculture sector and a policy advisor, Rob has helped to transform the culture of the industry and advance agriculture across the province.

Rob was born in 1951 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. At the age of 19 he immigrated to Canada, settling in British Columbia as a Holstein herdsman. In 1998, Rob became the Vice President of Jolly Farmer in the Saint John River Valley.  This farm includes a mix farming operation of livestock, crops and over 10 acres of greenhouses producing 3,000 varieties of young plants. During his 13 years with this operation he served with many agricultural organizations, including the Maritime Certified Organic Growers Co-op as its chair, the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick, and as the chair of the Atlantic Federations of Agriculture. 

In 2003, Rob became a Director of the Agricultural Alliance of NB.  He was part of a three-person team that negotiated the merger of the two provincial federations of agriculture into one bilingual organization serving all New Brunswickers. During his two years as President of the Alliance, he initiated the Agricultural Summit, which served to unite the agricultural community and define a vision for the future. As part of the post-summit Minister’s Round Table, Rob helped develop a multi-year strategy to transform the province’s agriculture sector. Through his work with the Alliance he would also assist in the development of the Stable Funding Act, advance land use policies, lobby to keep fuel tax exemptions at point of sale, and several other important initiatives.

Since 2011, Rob has been a Senior Policy Advisor in the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries. His work assists not only existing farmers, but is opening doors for entrants into agriculture. He was the principal author of Farming in NB…A Road Map for New Entrants. This guide is a valuable resource to new farmers beginning a career in agriculture. He also co-developed the SPADE/Sunrise Farm Gateway to Farming program, which provides on-farm training to transition New Brunswickers on social assistance to full-time employment. Rob strives, through team work and consensus building, to make the industry more integrated and encourages collaboration amongst government and producers.

Rob’s devoted and passionate service was recognized in 2006 when he received the Agricultural Leadership Award from the New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists. In 2016 he was again recognized with the Hospitality Ambassador Award from the Agricultural Alliance of NB.

Rob is a committed advocate for the international community. For 11 years, Rob and his wife Rebekah have taken part in mission work in the Philippines, Columbia, and Haiti, working in orphanages, prisons, and feeding programs. Rob has helped recruit temporary foreign workers and assists their families during their immigration to Canada. He and his wife also enjoy outdoor activities with their four children and seven grand-children.

Nominated by the NB Soil and Crop Improvement Association for his steadfast commitment to advancing the agriculture sector and supporting producer-centred initiatives, Rob English is a worthy inductee to the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.