University is a time for learning, for growth and quite often a time for finding your life partner. Like so many young men and women who attended the University of Guelph during the late 1950s, George and Lorna Roberts found each other.

George was enrolled in the Ontario Agricultural College, while Lorna studied in the Macdonald Institute. With five boys for every girl on campus at the time, George considers himself quite fortunate. Back then the boys from Mills Hall would call the front desk at Macdonald Hall requesting two, four, or even six girls to meet them for a coffee. The front desk would let the girls know and whoever was interested be escorted by the boys  to The Dive in Massey Hall. Coffee sold for five cents and freshly baked donuts went for 10c. Lorna met George during one of these blind dates. The next time George called for a coffee date he asked for Lorna by name.

George graduated from OAC in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA), while Lorna completed a Bachelor Home Sciences in 1962. When they got married that same year, Lorna wore the wedding dress she had made as part of a school project. Three children and seven grandchildren later, the rest is history.

George’s parents emigrated from the British Isles in 1929, working for other farmers and renting land until after WWII when they bought their first farm in Oxford County. They knew as George tells it, “That it was the best land in the world.” 

After graduating from OAC, George and his parents decided it was time for expansion. They incorporated the farm business and started buying land. George and Lorna still reside on the 100 acres they bought in 1961, living in a bungalow once built for his parents. After getting married, Lorna began teaching Home Economics at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute and later at Fanshawe College. 

Over the years they farmed dairy, chickens and hogs, grew corn, and then switched to a beef finishing operation and cash crops. As early adaptors they built a four stall milking parlour in 1959 to milk the cows. By 1979 they owned 600 acres and did custom work for other farmers on an additional 1,500 acres. In the early 1980s George and Lorna separated their farm business from his parents and scaled back to just two farms with 300 acres total.

At this time, the Roberts decided to grow produce as they were committed to growing local food and hiring local labour. After building greenhouse space they also began experimenting with geraniums as a strong off season product to sell. By 2008 they gave up produce but continued growing flowers until 2011. Today they are living the semi-retired life of farmers, still growing corn.

All throughout their careers the Roberts have volunteered and helped the community. George worked with the Ontario Crop Improvement Association, Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and 4-H. He has been on the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture Board of Directors for 20 years and played a role in laying the groundwork for the Nutrition Management Act. Lorna volunteered with the Women’s Institute, 4-H and Scouts Canada. As part of their ongoing commitment to their community they established two entrance scholarship funds for University of Guelph (UofG) students at local foundations with annual grants of $2,000 in perpetuity.

In 2013, they decided to sell Lorna’s farm and faced a significant capital gains tax bill. The Roberts wanted that money to do more.

“I wanted to ensure the money went to something productive and useful,” shares Lorna. The local county warden was working with the University of Guelph to raise funds to invest and research Southwestern Ontario economic development. The Roberts knew this was their opportunity.

Attending the University of Guelph had become something of a family tradition, their son Owen most recently, and both George’s brother and sister were all alumni. Lorna and George had given to the University of Guelph in the past for their respective 50th anniversary class projects, but they felt they could have more impact if they gave as a family. “With our farm career winding down, the donations we make today will become a part of our family’s legacy,” explains George.

When asked, why they gave such a significant gift, George looks across the table at Lorna and explains, “Our experience at Guelph was life-changing. We’ve been blessed. We met each other and we started a life for ourselves. Now we can help students start their lives.”

For more information on how to join donors like the Roberts, visit the "Giving" section of our website [1].