That Mack James at Carleton Place is a "smart lad"... just ask his wife, Lois.

When the Canadian Hereford Association decided to recognize Mack’s contribution by naming him to its Honour Roll, Mack insisted Lois be included because Spring Valley Farm has always been a team effort.

Due in part to that strategic move, Lois says she’ll let Mack, 76, keep some Herefords around the place as long as he wants.

Both Mack and Lois were present at the association’s annual meeting in Saskatoon June 23 when their names were officially entered on the roll. The honour has previously been bestowed upon 115 other "Breeders of Distinction".

President Allan Fenton also presented Mack with a 75-year pin in recognition that the Spring Valley Polled Hereford herd - now reduced to about 20 - has been in continuous operation for at least that length of time.

For Mack, the outpouring has been heightened by the fact his late father W. T. James was also named to the Honour Roll in 1978. There are very few other father-son combinations on the list.

Both Lois and Mack are particularly proud of the fact they were nominated by the Ottawa Valley Hereford Club: "It’s very gratifying to be sponsored by your local peers," Lois said.

And what led the James’ to the inner circle they find themselves in today? Mainly a lot of hard work going back to the days of old W. T. more than eight decades ago; he purchased his first Herefords in 1915 and registered his first ones the following year.

"The James family has registered Hereford cattle every year since that time," Lois pointed out.

Mack and Lois have been so busy with mainly agricultural related activities, it’s a wonder they found time to have their three children, Glenn, Sheila and Steve, all of whom have been involved with Herefords. How could they not be?

Mack has been a charter member, director and past president of the Ottawa Valley club, director and past president of the Ontario association, director and past president of the Eastern Ontario ROP Association, director and past president of the Lanark County Cattlemen’s Association, and director and past president of the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association. Both Mack and Lois have volunteered countless hours to help organize the livestock division of the annual Ottawa Valley Farm Show. Mack has also served as director and president of the Almonte Fair and director and president of Lanark Soil and Crop.

Word of Mack’s Hereford sense spread to the point he was asked to judge major shows in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. The couple’s travels have often revolved around Hereford shows in Canada and the United States, with a memorable trip to the 1980 World Hereford Conference in Uruguay.

If all that didn’t hogtie him enough, Mack has veered from agriculture to serve as trustee and chairman of the local school board as well as committee chairman of the local Boy Scouts.

Meanwhile, Lois, a retired high school teacher, has kept busy as a 4-H leader for homemaking and garden clubs, and as president at different levels of the Women’s Institute.

Promoting 4-H has been a passion for both of the James’, with Spring Valley making judging classes of Herefords available to area clubs; the three James children distinguished themselves by winning 4-H showmanship and conformation championships.

As the Hereford association said of their new Honour Roll members: "It takes a certain dedication and a personal attachment for a business to last decade after decade."

That, a lot of team work, and some well-timed strategy. Right, Mack?