ECFA inducts four into hall

By Fred Groves

When he was a young boy, Joe Colasanti would help his family on the farm, and as he grew, would admit to his high school teacher that he would rather be in the field working than in school studying.

“Back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, I remember being out in the fields growing corn and tobacco,” recalls Colasanti.

He, along with Mark Balkwill, Harold Hall and the late Joe Malenfant, were all inducted into the Essex County Federation of Agriculture’s Hall of Fame Thursday night in Harrow.

For Colasanti, it’s much more than farming as he is the owner of one of the most popular tourism destinations in Ontario, Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens in Ruthven. And, as his presenter Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos noted, a true trendsetter when it comes to economic-tourist development.

ECFA Hall of Fame inductees Cecile Malenfont (for late husband Joseph), Harold Hall, Joe Colasanti and Mark Balkwill.

Fred Groves Photo

“I still get up every day and go to work. I enjoy what I do and I’m going to keep doing it as long as I can,” said the soon to be 89-year-old Colasanti.

When it was time for Hall to address the large crowd, he was gracious in his acceptance into the Hall of Fame and brought with him a unique piece of history. He held up an item that was a mystery to many, a husking pad that he used when he was very young to harvest one ear of corn at a time.

Hall was the Past President of the local wheat board, a former member of Essex Farmers, and active with the local ploughman’s association. However, it was his volunteer work with the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade for over 40 years that many people in the area remember.

Balkwill grew up on the family farm and followed the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were dairy farmers in Kingsville. From a young age, he was involved in the 4H, Junior Farmers and was the Past President of the ECFA. Like all of the recipients this year, he has spent countless hours dedicating his time and energy to his community.

He is one of several second-generation farmers to be inducted into the ECFA Hall of Fame, as his father Clifford is also an inductee.

“When I look up there,” said Balkwill, about other members of the hall, “it’s an impressive group of men and women. It’s a pleasure to be up there with my dad.”

Malenfant passed away in 2019 but he was very well represented by his family, including his wife Cecile who accepted his induction on behalf of the entire family. Malenfant and his brothers worked nearly 950 acres and he was a director with both the wheat and soybean boards.

“In his retirement he was a tireless worker with the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum,” said Gary Strubar, who was pleased to induct Malenfant into the Hall of Fame.