Franklin R. Johnson

New Brunswick

Franklin R. Johnson was born in New Jerusalem, Queens County, New Brunswick on August 3, 1929. He was raised on a small, mixed farming operation.

After high school graduation, he attended the Nova Scotia Agriculture College for two years and went on to study at MacDonald College in Montreal where he graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in animal husbandry.

After a short period of employment in Toronto, Franklin returned to New Brunswick to work for Agriculture Canada as a research officer. In 1956, he joined the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture where he spent the rest of his career working in the livestock sector. He retired in 1991 as director of the Animal Industry Branch. Mr. Johnson currently resides in Fredericton.

Franklin Johnson will be remembered for his contact with farmers and farm organizations during his time as livestock fieldman. His ability to communicate government policy and programs in ordinary language was unique.

He is well know for his contribution to the Maritime Stock Breeders Association. He worked closely with the New Brunswick Livestock Council and the New Brunswick Livestock Breeders Co-operative in assisting and supporting the New Brunswick Provincial Livestock Show. Johnson's expertise as a livestock judge is well known.

He worked in the early stages on committees to privatize milk recording in the Atlantic Region, which eventually led to the formation of the Atlantic Dairy Livestock Improvement Corporation (ADLIC).

He was also instrumental in amalgamating the New Brunswick Central Breeding Unit and Eastern Breeders Inc., providing livestock breeders with an excellent choice of genetic material at a fair price.

Nominated by the New Brunswick Shorthorn Association, it is an honour to welcome Franklin R. Johnson as an inductee in the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.