Joseph G. Snyder

Joe Snyder, a life long resident of the Region of Waterloo, was born in 1928 at Oak Shade Farm in Waterloo. In 1949 the well-known Oak Shade herd of cattle, which Snyder co-managed as a teenager, was dispersed. Snyder then became one of the early pioneers of the artificial insemination (AI) industry as an Assistant Manager of the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association (WCBA). He was the first person involved in helping farmers to decide which bull to breed with a particular cow in order to achieve maximum herd improvement. Snyder was involved in the early experimental use of frozen semen at the farm level. He used his excellent communication skills to promote the benefits of AI to farmers, as well as the benefits of milk recording and type classification.

In 1961, Snyder joined the Holstein Association of Canada as the Fieldman for the West-Central Ontario district. He traveled thousands of miles making farm visits, answering requests for management and record keeping advice, and encouraging farmers to make use of milk recording, classification and corrective mating.

In 1980 Snyder became Secretary-Manager of the newly formed Ontario Branch of Holstein Canada, a position he held until retiring. Among his achievements while at the Ontario Branch was his leadership of 4-H and Junior Membership activities and Ontario’s Holstein success at the Madison World Dairy Expo in winning the State herd class twelve years in a row.

Snyder was also a booster of athletic activities in his community. He is a past president of the Woolwich Minor Hockey League and coached a church league hockey team for many years.

Snyder was always committed to his church. He was moderator of the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada for a number of years and was on the Board of Governors of Conrad Grebel College, Fairview Mennonite Home and President of the Ontario Mennonite Mission Board. For twenty years, fourteen as Chairman, Snyder served on the Ontario Mennonite Relief Heifer Sale that has raised millions of dollars for worldwide relief and development work. Snyder volunteered with Woolwich Community Care Concepts, House of Friendship, Woolwich Information Center and hosted The Meeting Place (Mennonite Heritage Centre) in St. Jacobs.