John Cameron (Cam) Brown was born and raised on a farm in the St. Vital/St. Boniface area where his family produced cereal crops, vegetables and livestock. He attended Provencher School in St. Boniface. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the University of Manitoba where he obtained a BSA (‘52) and an MSc (‘55) in Swine Nutrition.
Cam had a varied career in government, the non-profits, and the co-operative and private sectors. He was a provincial Agricultural Representative in Roblin and a District Agriculturist in Hanna, Alberta, a Field Supervisor in Virden with Manitoba Pool Elevators and a Livestock Nutritionist in Winnipeg with Manitoba Agriculture. Cam was instrumental in the establishment of the Provincial Feed Analysis Laboratory. Cam went on to become Director of Research for the Rapeseed Association of Canada where he administered industry funding for canola research. In 1972, he was appointed Director of Market Development at the Canadian Wheat Board where he was involved in product and market development of new varieties of malting barley and different quality wheat for emerging markets in the US, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. In 1981, Cam became Vice President of Marketing for Feed-Rite Ltd. where he expanded the company’s market reach into Asia, the USA and other regions of Canada. Upon retirement, Cam was appointed to the board of Ridley Inc., the Australian company that purchased Feed-Rite.
Cam has acted as a valuable liaison between the University of Manitoba and the profession of Agrology. Besides serving as Chair of the 100th Anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Cam was involved in the “Gateway to the Future” campaign to raise capital for the new Agriculture Building on campus. He also provided energetic leadership in the campaign to establish the Stan T.K. Cheung Centre for Animal Research and an endowment fund to cover its operating expenses, thereby helping to establish the Faculty’s reputation of having one of the best large animal research facilities in Canada. Cam has been influential in establishing several awards, scholarships and fellowships in the Faculty.
Cam has been widely recognized by his peers for over 50 years of service to his profession: Distinguished Service Award from the University of Manitoba; H. Douglas McCrorie Award from the MIA as well as Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada; Life Membership in the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists; Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Seed Growers Association; and the Golden Award from the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada.
Cam and spouse Maxine (nee Cumming of Lenore) have two sons, Brock and Martin, and four grandchildren. Always active, Cam is currently assisting Brock, a teacher, with his High School Garden Project at the St. Norbert Community Garden.