Roy G. Snyder

Roy G. Snyder was born in Waterloo County in 1915. His achievements in the agricultural field brought him the honour of inclusion in the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame, Toronto, in July 1982 as well as several other honours.

Snyder was a pioneer of artificial insemination as the first full-time employee of the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association, and its manager from 1946 to 1963. He established the Association as the very early artificial insemination centres in Canada. He was instrumental in importing the first pure bred Charolais bull to Canada which was followed by his involvement with establishing many other exotic beef breeds. More important were the dairy breeds especially Holsteins. Under his management the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association became the first in the world to use 100% frozen semen in 1954.

Snyder served as secretary-manager and President of the Ontario Association of Animal Breeders from 1952 to 1977 and was secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Association of Animal Breeders in 1964. He also served as President of the Waterloo Cooperative Medical Services and the Comparative Health Services of Ontario, and as a member of the Board of Governors of Conrad Grebel College, University of Waterloo, as well as several other boards. At retirement Snyder was manager of Semex Canada.