Heffering Inducted To Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Along with Dr. Robb Gowe and Paul Roy King, Peter Heffering of Tara Hills Stud Farm was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Sunday, November 8 during an induction ceremony at the Direct Energy Centre at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ont.

Inaugurated in 1960, the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association both honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry, and publicizes the importance of their achievements to Canada.

Heffering achieved fame as a breeder of Holstein cattle and Standardbred horses. His Hanover Hill Holstein Herd was arguably one of the most famous Holstein herds in the world. Tara Hills Stud began operations in 1996 and is the leading stud farm for number of mares bred in Canada. With both businesses, Heffering's breeding judgment and business acumen sets him apart from his contemporaries.

Heffering, a son of Canadian parents, was born in New York in 1931 and went on to earn a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1951 at the State University of New York at SUNY Canton. In 2003, he accepted the Distinguished Alumnus Award from SUNY Canton College Council. In 2004, he received the first ever honourary doctorate awarded by SUNY Canton in Animal Science.

In 1962, Heffering formed a partnership known as Tara Hills Farm with James Houlihan, a New York advertising executive The herd became well known for its Canadian bloodlines and was dispersed in 1968 with one animal selling for a record $44,000. The trend continued with the establishment of the Hanover Hill Herd in Amenia, New York, and dispersed in 1972 with another record sale of $122,000. Hanover Hill Triple Threat was sold for $60,000, a World Record for a red and white Holstein.

In 1973, Heffering purchased Hanover Hill in Port Perry, Ont. As they say, the rest is history Hanover Hill proved 177 bulls in Canadian Al and became the only herd to have bred nine class extra sires. The most successful was Hanover Hill Starbuck with over 60,000 daughters in Canada alone. The influence of Hanover Hill bloodlines is obvious, as 92 per cent of all heifers born and raised in Canada over the last five years carry the pedigree. Hanover Hill was very successful in show rings throughout North America, including the only herd, including the only herd to six Supreme Champions at World Dairy Expo.

In 1968, Heffering and partners Steve Briggs and Dave Younger began Hanover Hill Sales and Service. The company managed many high profile consignment and dispersal sales. The Hanover Hill Herd dispersal in 1985 attracted more than 2,500 people who witnessed the sale of Charity for a World Record $1.45 million.

In 1988, a longtime friend gave Heffering his first Standardbred racehorse. To say that Heffering has since enjoyed much success in racing breeding horses is a vast understatement.

Heffering has campaigned many notable horses, including Precious Bunny, a winner of over $2.2 million and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame; Riyadh, a winner of over $2.7 million; Pacific Rocket, a winner of over $2.3 million; Strong Yankee, a winner of just under $1.5 million and Day In A Life, a winner of over $1.8 million.

Heffering has bred such top level horses as Bunny Lake, a winner of over $3 million and Precious Delight, a winner of over $1.3 million. Among other top horses currently on the track, Heffering is finding much success with recent Breeders Crown winning two-year-old Pilgrims Taj and the fantastic five-year-old son of Mach Three, Auckland Reactor.

Heffering has found his way to the winner’s circles throughout North America for many of the sport’s major stakes events including the North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Canadian Pacing Derby, Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering congratulations to Peter Heffering.

(With files from the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame)