Richard E. Melanson was born April 9, 1923 in Moncton, N.B. Dick, as many people came to know him, was raised in Moncton, excelling at all levels of school. He had a dream to work in agriculture. He attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College graduating in 1941 and MacDonald College in Montreal graduating in Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy in 1943. Immediately Dick enlisted in the Canadian Army heading overseas to the War. His efforts there earned him the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

After the war, Dick worked in the farm machinery business with Cockshutt Tractors in Truro, NS until 1954 and Ontario until 1957 when he left to move back East. Dick was to be the Maritime’s presence of Farmer’s Supply and Equipment Ltd. Business flourished and in 1963 Dick took the plunge and formed his own company Maritime Farm Supply to represent the existing suppliers in the territory.

In the beginning, he sold Bolens Garden Equipment, Merry Tillers and Brillion Iron Works. Dick, always looking out for the small farmers, taught them how to irrigate their farms to improve their crops. He brought in new, innovative equipment like transplanters, mulch laying and specialized application equipment to help farmers improve ways of planting crops. Dick also had a keen interest in the farm woodlots and introduced Farmi winches and log loaders for the small operations.

One of Dick’s favorite accomplishments was to lay the foundation for the creation of the Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show. With several other engineers in the Atlantic Provinces, he organized the first show to be held in Moncton in 1975. It was a great success with some 40 exhibitors for a three day show. The show recently celebrated its 30th year of operation and has grown to five times the size. Dick was instrumental in the incorporation of the show in the mid 1980s. He always attended the hectic organizational meetings and strived to promote innovation.

Dick was an Agricultural Engineer by profession and a farm machinery man at heart and over his career acquired and provided special equipment lines to meet specific needs in the industry. He always said one of the special joys and responsibilities of being a part of a vital industry is to seek and demonstrate new solutions for that industry. To this end, Dick always consulted with others and through the Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association worked to make life for farmers better. Dick has returned to NSAC on occasion to be a guest lecturer, usually on the subject of irrigation.

Dick and his wife Jean (McQuat) Melanson (deceased) were very proud of their four children,11 grandchildren and his special great grand daughter. Dick always looked out for his staff and his customers who were all special to him. He has been a member of Saint Bernard’s Church all his life and a member of the Gyro club supporting many causes in the community financially and morally.

Nominated by the Agricultural Producers of New Brunswick for a lifetime of contribution to the agricultural industry, Richard E. Melanson is a worthy inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.