In the lush countryside of Leamington, Ontario, Joe (OAC ’51) and Barb Maxwell reflect on their legacy of supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders - one that’s deeply connected to the U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).
Joe reflects on long conversations with OAC deans around his family table, discussing how he and Barb can make the biggest impact through philanthropic gifts. The Maxwell’s round kitchen table speaks to their family’s values. With no obvious head of the table, he notes that “all good conversations happen around a round table” – a testament to his belief in community and equality.
As long-time supporters of OAC, the Maxwell’s have seen the returns of their investment in Canada’s future of agri-food. Their ongoing support of student scholarships has helped future leaders gain an edge.
Most recently, the Maxwell’s have supported OAC students with a generous gift that funds three new scholarships, in celebration of the College’s 150th anniversary campaign [1], underscoring their dedication to nurturing the next generation of agri-food leaders.
The gift, totaling $450,000, will create scholarships under the OAC 150 banner, including:
- Joe and Barbara Maxwell OAC 150th Scholarships: supporting students entering any undergraduate program at OAC.
- Maxwell OAC 150th Graduate Scholarships: supporting students enrolled in a course-based master’s program.
- Maxwell OAC 150th Poultry Graduate Scholarship: supporting graduate students conducting research in the area of poultry.
In 2023, the Maxwell’s also gave a substantial gift to OAC to support the community events for the College’s milestone anniversary.
“Joe and Barb’s continuous support of OAC has helped our community come together in a profound way,” says interim dean John Cranfield. “We are so fortunate to have such supportive and generous donors, like the Maxwell’s, who champion student success and help them thrive academically and professionally.”
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of his graduating class, Joe organized a competition for his classmates to donate to a student leadership fund. His classmates, and other OAC alumni, donated $153,000 to support OAC students. He hopes that his most recent gift serves again as a call to action for alumni to showcase their famous OAC spirit.
“My OAC class of ‘51 challenges other graduating classes to join me and give back to support the next generation,” says Joe. “I hope that my fellow alumni follow suit and support OAC’s 150th campaign.”
OAC played a critical role in Joe’s young life, helping him grow both professionally and personally. He says that OAC “provided me with an opportunity to pursue a better life for my family and helped us become a little bit more than what we were.”
He’s always quick to point out the transformative journey that higher education plays on a young person’s development. He jokingly says that students “shouldn’t let schooling get in the way of their education,” noting that the social side of university is just as important as the academics.
Foundational support for Canadian agriculture
After graduating from the Ontario Agricultural College in 1951, Joe embarked on a career at Ralston Purina, where he met his wife, Barb, in Belleville, Ontario. Their journey intertwined with the establishment of a successful turkey farming venture, which they later transitioned into their primary focus, expanding operations and weathering challenges like a devastating fire at their processing plant.
In 2014, they sold the business but maintained ties with the University of Guelph, epitomizing their commitment to education and leadership in agriculture.
When asked why he gives to OAC, Joe states that a gift to OAC is a gift to tomorrow’s leaders in agri-food.
“I like the idea of investing in people. When it comes to education, I want students to leave the OAC ready to contribute to the agricultural industry,” he shares. “The next generation face challenges that I didn’t have when I started my business. They’re going to need help.”