For hundreds of years, generations of the Klosler family worked off the land in Transylvania, Romania; growing fruit, making wine and raising livestock. In 1921, shortly after the end of WWI, George Klosler’s grandfather came to Canada to earn money for his family. He always planned to return home, but the onset of the Great Depression and WWII prevented him from making the trip he longed for. He continued to work on a tobacco farm in Norfolk County, Ontario with his family a continent away.
Early in the war, Romania was forced to concede northern Transylvania to Hungary. Many families fled the country leaving their homes and land behind. After George’s father died as a soldier, his mother brought him and his two brothers to Canada to join their grandfather in 1951. They landed at the famous Pier 21 in Halifax when George was just 11 years old.
George and his brothers started working alongside their grandfather and in three years the grandsons bought the tobacco farm. Over the next decade they continued to expand, buying more and more neighbouring farms and at one point their business represented the largest tobacco operation in the county.
From 1959 to 1962, George attended the Ontario Agricultural College, obtaining a degree in Economics, while still working on the farm. Thinking back to that time George recalls “Guelph had the greatest impact in changing my life. They challenged me and opened my eyes to the world.”
Like many OAC students, George had multiple responsibilities at school but also at home on the farm. “I was always at home working, and missed a number of days to go back to the farm. OAC was very understanding of this,” shares George. From 1963-64 he pursued his Masters, earning his degree from the newly created University of Guelph (UofG). He stayed on for a third year as an Assistant Professor and discovered a passion for teaching.
After graduation and returning to the farm full time, George diversified his business by buying land in Oxford County. He and his wife Gerri moved into the original farmhouse in 1965 where they still reside today. Ironically, Gerri had grown up in the same part of Romania and made the trip overseas three years earlier than George. They met as children in Canada and were married in 1962.
George began cash cropping on the new land purchased in Oxford County and then started raising hogs. Over the years he continued to expand and by the late seventies he had built the largest hog operation in Oxford County. He had also started the Ingersoll Elevator Company taking in all of the county’s grain, soy, beans and wheat to dry and store, and then sell to the marketplace.
Shortly after leaving UofG George recognized that many young men in Oxford County could benefit from an OAC education, but they needed it closer to home. Partnering with Fanshawe College and borrowing curriculum from UofG, George facilitated the development of an agricultural school called Oxford College. He worked and taught farm business management at the school for 28 years ensuring that farmers in his community could obtain a similar education as the one that had influenced him as a young man, while still fulfilling their obligations to the their families.
His community engagement over the years has also included volunteering on the Township council and a 15 year run as a trustee for the local school board.
The University of Guelph was to become a family tradition for the Kloslers, with all three of George and Gerri’s sons attending. To this day George (jr.), Paul and David continue to work for the agricultural industry; at the Farm Credit Council, the University of Guelph and as an accountant for farmers, respectively. When asked why George decided to donate to UofG he replies, “look at what it did for me. Look at what it has done for my sons who are all very successful. Look at how it has helped our community. Why wouldn’t I give?”
George’s first gift was part of a class project to support the Arboretum. Their class later raised money to name a room in the Food Science building and, more recently, to help the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre. In 2014, the Klosler family personally donated another $250,000 to support OAC. “Giving makes you a lot happier than taking. Giving makes me feel good; it’s a responsibility you take to help people,” explains George.
George and Gerri’s journey as immigrant farmers is a common story for many families in Canada. When asked why they decided to make such a significant gift to the University of Guelph, George’s answer was simple:
"When we came to Ontario there was land ready to farm. I could purchase, expand and grow my business. The University of Guelph was already established for me to attend and gain the education I needed. I have a commitment to do the same for the next generation. To ensure the things they need are available, established and strong."
For George, retirement doesn’t seem to be in the game plan. Although he vacations more, and spends time in Florida with his family whenever he gets the chance, he is still cropping on his 1,000 acres in Oxford County. It seems there are three resounding themes to George’s life. No matter what he continues to do, he will remain committed to his family, to his agricultural heritage and to giving back to higher education.
For more information on how to join donors like the Kloslers, visit the "Giving" section of our website [1].