Robert Chesley Peddle

Newfoundland & Labrador

Robert Chesley Peddle was born October 12, 1921 in Bloomfield, Newfoundland. Mr. Peddle is a resident of Lethbridge, one of the principle areas of good agricultural land in the province.

Mr. Peddle has operated Bayview Farms in Lethbridge for fifty-four years. Under his management skills, the enterprise has grown from 5 acres in 1941 to 548 acres in 1995. Bayview Farms produces root crops, vegetable transplants, strawberries and raspberries, livestock crops and beef cattle.

Mr. Peddle understood Newfoundlanders' most desired foods and catered to them. In 1945 Bayview Farms increased production to meet increased market demand created by American military bases in Newfoundland. Bob Peddle's motto for the military was: "We will supply the vegetables and beef if you'll finish the war."

Following Newfoundland's entry into Confederation in 1949, with farmer costs of production and produce prices increasing. Mr. Peddle cleared more land and harvested more crops to meet increased market opportunities.

In 1995 Bayview Farms introduced Bayview Gardens, a greenhouse operation to supply vegetable transplants to the local market.

Robert Peddle is a leader in agriculture and his community. Mr. Peddle is a member of the local Farmers' Association and promotes knowledge and appreciation of the agricultural industry to community groups, students, tourists and other visitors.

For two years Bayview Farms hosted members of Canada World Youth in an exchange visit to the Lethbridge area. Since 1982, Mr. Peddle has been involved in collecting daily farm weather information for the Department of Environment.

An exceptionally humorous conversationalist and eternal optimist. Robert Peddle has "rolled with the farming tide" for 54 years. While keeping up to date with modern farming, he has never lost sight of three important issues and has instilled them into the minds of his family, seasonal workers and agriculturists.

Those are: "cautious use of insecticides, keep pollution strictly under control, and cherish, preserve, nourish and love the environment". Robert Peddle's motto is to "leave his little spot on earth a better place than it was when he found it".

The Province of Newfoundland is proud to name her son, Robert Chesley Peddle, as inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame in appreciation of his commitment to the agricultural industry.