Rings didn’t show up, but still a Barley Party at Dal AC
Joy Galloway-jones is honorary recipient
BIBLE HILL Themed “we barley made it,” the spirit of the Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus did not waver during its special party after two years of COVID – even when the prestigious rings did not arrive by courier.
However, recipients were still called up one by one to receive a gifted ornament from the dean, who extended a humble ‘thank you’ to the Aggies for understanding, despite knowing some would be disappointed.
“I have not heard one moment, not one whinge or one criticism, not one complaint,” said agriculture dean David Gray. “And there is nowhere else we could be (where) that could happen.”
The occasion that started in 2010, to present the ring handmade by jeweller Donna Hiebert, is a tradition for agriculture students. For some, it is more important than the convocation. In 2021, recipients took part in a sociallydistant outdoor celebration.
“I think you can all agree that the last few years have been an extreme test in resiliency for everyone, but uniquely for you all, for university students,” said alumni association chair Colette Wyllie. “The fact that you’re here tonight is proof of your drive and dedication.”
Graduands Codie O’neil and Allyson Briggs had another achievement to celebrate – making Joy Galloway-jones, the 2022 honorary recipient of the Barley Ring, cry.
“Joy spends much of her free time giving back to the community and the AC and often tells her athletes her personal slogan of ‘running makes you smarter,’” said Briggs, surprising the instructor. “She is an all-around encouraging, supportive and caring person with a passion for agriculture and student success.”
Galloway-jones is Truro Fire Service’s first female officer and was recently awarded the Community Perseverance ACE Award by the Fundy Female Leadership Network. She has been a Dal AC athletics coach for 13 years and started working there later, now as the instructor and manager of work-integrated learning.
The ring was something Galloway-jones knew she wanted “for a long time.”
“I was always kind of, you know, doing my best, but I wanted to be a member of the family,” said Gallowayjones, with a smile. “And I always joked that I would have to take a two-year diploma program so that I could get myself a barley ring.”
The party is not just for graduands, but for any alumni, and is often an opportunity for family to receive together.
Nicole Porter (1994, landscape) and her sons, Coleman Porter (2019, environmental) and Weston Porter (2021, industrial engineering), are the first trio to get their rings together. (Engineering diplomas are taken for two years, and then the degree is completed in Halifax.) The family from Debert has a history with agriculture.
“It was an easier transition from high school to university,” said Nicole. “Just made sense to start here, close to home.”
Gray referenced a book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum. It suggests that all the lessons people learn through their formative years are what they need to know how to live, what to do and how to be – such as sharing everything, playing fair, not hitting people, putting things back where you found them, cleaning up your messes, not taking things that are not yours, saying sorry when you hurt somebody and so forth.
“Think what a better world it would be if we all everybody had cookies and milk at about three o’clock and then lay down for a nap. Or if all governments have the basic policy to always put things back where they found them, to not take things that were not theirs,” said Gray, referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“University education is not about learning facts and figures,” he continued. “It’s not about filling your head full of interesting statistics and quotes. It’s about life skills, the opportunity to learn, practice and develop skills which will be useful for you in the real world, both in work and in life.”
Ask any Aggie, and the spirit of the community comes to mind.
“Nice and small and community-minded,” said Porter. “Personal, you get to know your instructors.”
“It’s a community,” said Galloway-jones. “It’s special. It’s really special.”