From presenter to recipient, Rob Cosby receives lifetime achievement award

Rob Cosby, winner of this year’s Niagara Federation of Agriculture lifetime achievement award, credited his family’s support during his years of volunteer work in the local ag community. From left: Steve, Kelly, Rob, Barb, Jaclyn and Adam Cosby. ~ Luke Edwards photo

By Luke Edwards

If anyone knows just how prestigious the Niagara Federation of Agriculture’s annual lifetime achievement award is, it’s Rob Cosby.

For more than 20 years the West Lincoln farmer has got up in front of the audience at the annual NALA banquet and waxed poetic about the farmers, ag advocates, volunteers and others who have made Niagara’s agricultural community the success it is. And while last month he was once again up at the podium, this time the roles were reversed, as Cosby was the 2026 recipient of the lifetime achievement award.

“It’s really different to be on this side of the presentation,” Cosby said after receiving recognition from local political and agricultural dignitaries.

“Thank you very much for this honour. I’ll cherish it greatly.”

Cosby grew up on the family farm in West Lincoln. He went straight to work under his parents Roy and Pauline after finishing high school in 1976. The farm had several iterations over Cosby’s life - at times selling weaner pigs in a small farrowing operation, growing hybrid and labrusca grapes, along with conventional crops like hay, winter wheat and spring grain. The family also had a trucking business that Cosby took over.

When he was 20 years old he bought a new combine and got into custom combining, helping his neighbouring farmers harvest up to 1,500 acres of crops each year.

That drive to innovate continued with his adoption of no-till practices for winter wheat and corn. From 1998 to 2024 he served as the custodian for the Niagara North Soil and Crop Association’s no-till drill and lime spreader that farmers could rent.

“Embracing conservation practices wasn’t just about efficiency, it was about stewardship and leaving the land in better condition for the next generation,” said Cathy Mous, who was tapped as the person to take up Cosby’s usual role as presenter.

In fact, Cosby said one of his first questions when he was approached about accepting the award was one of logistics.

“The first thing I said to Chris (Mullet-Koop, NFA president) was ‘who is going to present?’” Cosby said. He was pleased to hear Mous, a Niagara ag community stalwart in her own right, had volunteered.

In her presentation, Mous joked that Cosby was somewhat “voluntold” he was going to be the presenter of the award back in the early 2000s. However, Cosby said it was never forced.

“I felt like if I had time to contribute, I wanted to do that,” he said.

His involvement started young, when he joined the Niagara North Junior Farmers at 12 years old. He eventually became president of the organization in 1981. Throughout the years he was involved with the Smithville Agricultural Society, Lincoln Agricultural Society and the amalgamated West Niagara Agricultural Society.

Overall, his involvement with the Niagara North Federation of Agriculture and Ontario Federation of Agriculture - where he served as provincial director and policy advisory committee member - has lasted nearly 50 years. He also spent roughly 15 years with the Grape Growers of Ontario, including as a director from 2001 to 2003.

Cosby said a lot of the credit needs to go to his family, including wife Barb and sons Steve and Adam. Joining boards and committees often means evenings and weekends away from home, and Cosby said the support he received from his wife and kids allowed him to do the work.

Cosby gave up the trucking business, but still operates the remaining vineyards on his farm. Since 2008 he’s worked as a part-time crop insurance adjuster for Agricorp.

During her decade in municipal politics, West Lincoln Mayor Cheryl Ganann said Cosby’s name was one that frequently surfaced, as he was someone who was always willing to offer his thoughts on a municipal project or budget, especially when it affected the local farming community.

“He always offers well thought out opinions,” said Ganann, adding his rural voice gives township staff and councillors a new perspective to consider whenever they’re debating a topic.

Thinking back on some of the previous winners, Cosby said there’s a mix of people whose work garnered attention and others who worked more behind the scenes, preferring to stay in the background. But either way, the work of building up the ag community is an important one.

“When looking back over the years, what stands out most is not just the acres farmed or positions held, but the relationships built - with neighbours, fellow farmers, community members, and family,” Mous said.

“Agriculture is more than an occupation, it’s a way of life built on resilience, adaptation, stewardship and service.” 