The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, gratefully acknowledges the Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture industry’s recognition of the Honourable Derrick Bragg’s contributions to agriculture.
The Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador nominated Minister Bragg for the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture’s Outstanding Contribution to the Agriculture Industry Award. The honour was awarded posthumously during the federation’s annual Agriculture Industry Symposium in Grand-Falls Windsor on January 24 following the passing of Minister Bragg on January 22.
Minister Bragg was involved in Newfoundland and Labrador’s agriculture sector since 2018, first as Parliamentary Secretary to the department and, later, as Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
From his many conversations with farmers and his deep interest in their work, Minister Bragg was able to advocate strongly for the province’s agriculture sector at the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Policy Table. He valued the work of departmental agriculture staff, worked hard to ensure they had access to the resources required to support the agriculture industry more effectively, and was a proud supporter of Newfoundland and Labrador-produced agriculture products.
Quotes
“Minister Bragg’s keen interest in the agriculture sector, his empathy for the challenges our farmers and producers face, and his deep respect for the work they do ran very deep. His practical ability to solve problems and his can-do attitude have earned a great deal of respect from an industry that thrives on hard work and innovation. I know that this honour would have meant the world to him. On behalf of our department, our staff, and the Provincial Government, I join the agriculture industry in honouring our friend, Derrick Bragg.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“Minister Bragg was a fine gentleman and very good at putting people at ease in conversations. As a backyard farmer himself, he took every opportunity to highlight the hard work and resiliency farming requires, and never missed an opportunity to meet with farmers to learn what he could about their operations. The agriculture industry of Newfoundland and Labrador is much stronger today because of his influence.”
Lee Noel, Chair
Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Local farmers who knew Minister Bragg liked him because he listened to them. He spent time visiting farms and learning about their issues and challenges in order to be a strong advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador farmers. He was a vocal supporter of the agriculture sector and worked hard to provide opportunities to advance the industry. We are proud to recognize Minister Bragg for this award because he was a great agriculture minister and a great person, and he will be missed. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture would also like to express our condolences to Minister Bragg’s family at this difficult time.”
Wayne Simmons, President
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
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Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador