The business of Kings County is business. And it’s good to see that someone – even if it’s mostly peers – recognizes accomplishment and excellence in our business communities.

Last month, the late Allister Marshall of Woodville was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro. His major contribution was in tree-fruit production; quite a leap for someone born in Trenton, the birthplace of steel in Canada.

Earlier this month, the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce presented barrister and volunteer Peter Muttart and educator, businessman and politician George Moody lifetime achievement awards.

ACE Insulators received recognition as the area’s most outstanding new business of the year and Park Street Dental Clinic was the most outstanding small business.

Celebrating its 50th year in the Valley, Scotian Gold Co-operative won the most outstanding large business award.

Our economy depends upon those who take financial risks. Everything else floats – or sinks – on their success or failure.

To illustrate the risks in agriculture, the agri-business community – and thereby the entire region – took a hit earlier this year with the loss of the Maple Leaf Canard Poultry processing plant and the 380 immediate jobs involved. This didn’t take into consideration producers and support jobs such as transportation and the like, as well as the positions held by those who sell things to the employees – the retail sector.

This didn’t come out of the blue, nor is it an isolated instance. The situation with the poultry sector was preceded by troubles in the pork and beef sectors.

Low prices and hog-wasting disease has had a long-term effect on pork producers, the numbers of whom have been declining in proportion to the increased hardships.

Beef was hit by the BSE scare in recent years and is recovering slowly, though always in danger of further border restrictions.

“Buy Local” is seen as one means to rebuild agriculture – a local business if ever there was one – but it’s long-term. We need much, much more.

As it stands, Kings County benefits from large industries such as Michelin Tire, which employs in excess of 1,000 people.

As well, the retail industry – including the unjustly maligned food services sector – are major economic drivers that many overlook, at our peril.

We’re fortunate our industrial sector has such a foundation in food production; at least we shouldn’t starve.

That would be the case if it were only that simple. The industry has to survive and be viable regardless of quality and quantity of its products.

There are international trade issues, currency fluctuations, border restrictions and constrictions, and world circumstances. It all represents a hostile situation at best.

In the midst of all of this, we have to remember one essential thing: without business and our support of it, we’re out of business as a community and society.