Atlantic Beef & Sheep Letters Winter 2017

Remembering Dwayne Black
    I had a lot of respect for Dwayne Black. The first time I met him was at an exhibition. He had just dropped down from the rafters of a cattle barn howling like a coyote. Known as a prankster and for his sense of humour, he’ll be better remembered for the passion for, and love and care that he showed to everyone he came in contact with — people and cattle alike.
    We received this tribute to Dwayne from his niece Meghan Black. HJ

    Dwayne Thompson Black of Oakville, New Brunswick, passed away suddenly on Aug. 10, 2017 at the age of 56. He is sadly missed by his family and friends. 
    Dwayne was born on Feb. 3, 1961 in Woodstock, N.B. He was blessed to be raised on the family’s potato and cattle farm, from where his great passion for agriculture and cattle – especially Herefords – grew. 
    Dwayne and his brother Dale bought their first Hereford in the late 1970s. They started out buying locally – then while in search of new genetics, headed west and bought cattle from Square D Polled Herefords and Bob Gordon. They worked hard all year and saved their money. When it came sale time, whatever they had saved they used to buy another Hereford to continue to build their herd. Black’s Polled Herefords and the “Notorious Black Brothers” were soon making their mark on the breed. Dwayne always considered winning Reserve Grand Champion Female at the Royal in 1984 his greatest show ring accomplishment.
    Dwayne attended every cattle show and sale that he could get to, far and wide. He enjoyed being part of the Carleton-Victoria Hereford Club. He was an active board member of the N.B. Hereford Association, Maritime Hereford Association, Carleton County Spring Show and Sale, Old Home Week, and was a proud 4-H leader. He had a great enthusiasm for being involved in several steer shows. He showed his first steer in 1978 at the Carleton County Spring Show and Sale and earned numerous banners for champions and reserves over the years. Dwayne was passionate about the cattle industry. He was keen on genetics, showing, fitting, and judging. He appreciated good cattle of any breed, but his heart stayed true to the Hereford breed. 4-H and junior shows held a special place in his heart too. He loved all kids and mentored many over the years.
    The careers Dwayne pursued throughout his lifetime always followed his passion for the agriculture industry. He was a herdsman for multiple farms, worked in a meat shop, and rarely missed a potato harvest from the time he was a young boy with his brothers up until a few years ago. For more than 20 years he helped get bulls ready at the Maritime Beef Test Station in Nappan, Nova Scotia. Dwayne started working as an A.I. Technician in the 1980s for Eastern Breeders, and in 2012 he joined the EastGen Inc. team. Dwayne started his own hoof trimming business in 1996, continuing until his death. 
    Dwayne met his wife Lisa while showing cattle in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They laughed, loved, and shared their passion for the cattle industry for many years. He was so proud to be Candace’s and Brock’s dad. He always put his children first, making time to attend all 4-H events, basketball games, hockey games, and baseball practices. Besides his love for cattle, Dwayne loved family gatherings and had a real talent for cooking and making preserves. He was famous for his salsa and fudge!
    Dwayne loved meeting people and making lifelong friends. He truly loved and cared for his entire family, friends, neighbours, church family, clients, and customers. He had a special gift for helping those in need; going out of his way to take care of those he loved as well as complete strangers. Dwayne had the ability to instantly uplift a room with his sense of humour and wit. He wanted to make everyone laugh; he was one of a kind! Dwayne will always be remembered for his mischievous ways – pulling pranks and keeping everyone on their toes! 
    Dwayne will be lovingly remembered by his wife Lisa Carter; daughter Candace (Petawawa, Ontario); son Brock (at home); two brothers Terry (Connie) of Bloomfield, N.B., Dale (Lisa) of Bloomfield, N.B.; nieces and nephews Pam, Shawn (Sarah), Meghan, Ashley; and great-nephew and great-niece Nathan and Allison Black. Dwayne was predeceased by his parents Ronald and Garnella (Bell) Black.
    If desired, memorial contributions can be made to the fund that has been put in place to help raise Dwayne’s young son.

Meghan Black
Crossfield, Alta.