Young, Donald A.

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_A._Young
  • Wiki profile notes:
    • Donald A. Young CM (October 21, 1929 – December 7, 2015) was a Canadian scientist whose research greatly impacted potato production in North America, and the international French-fry industry. He is best known for developing the Shepody potato. Released in 1980, Shepody was the first potato developed specifically for the North American French fry market and quickly became popular with farmers. Young received many honours throughout his career, including the prestigious Order of Canada.
    • Young was born on October 21, 1929, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and grew up on the Experimental Farm that was later to become the Agriculture Canada Research Station.Young’s father, Lou C. Young, was the first head of the Potato Breeding Section, and was also recognized with an Honorary Life Membership in The Potato Association of America in 1966 Young studied at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (1950), Truro, NS, completed a Bachelor of Science at Macdonald College, McGill University, followed by a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin. He was granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Nova Scotia Agricultural College (Dalhousie University) in 1993
    • The Shepody potato that he is credited with developing was a 1967 cross between test variety, F58050 and Bake King from Cornell university – it matured earlier in the season and required 10 to 20 percent less nitrogen than other varieties. Shepody gained wide acceptance in North America, Europe, China and Australia and is still grown around the world in countries with a French frying industry. “Team Shepody” received several national awards including Agriculture Canada’s Certificate of Excellence in Research and Technology Transfer in 1992. In his 20 years as Project Leader more than a dozen new potato varieties were released including several with familiar names: Yukon Gold, Caribe and Raritan.
  • Fourth Great Grandson of Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=9411
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210283770/donald-alcoe-young