April 15, 2008
NEWS RELEASE
Ag Hall of Fame Announces Inductees for 2008
Brandon, Manitoba – The Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame Inc. today
officially announced its inductees for 2008. The seven individuals
judged to have made a significant and lasting contribution to agriculture
in Manitoba during their lifetime are:
Dr. Helgi Austman (deceased)
Eileen Brake
Wallace Fraser (deceased)
Dr. Margaret Newton (deceased)
Gordon Sinclair (deceased)
Fraser Stewart
Welland Stonehouse (deceased)
In making the announcement, outgoing President Bill Ransom stated that,
"the contribution made to our industry by these seven individuals is enormous.
The board of directors of the Manitoba Agriculture Hall of Fame Inc. is
pleased that their legacy is being officially recognized and will now be
memorialized in the agriculture industry’s hall of fame."
Bob Roehle, the incoming president, observed that, "we are indeed standing
on the shoulders of giants. It is most appropriate that these outstanding
individuals be given our industry’s highest honour."
Manitoba Agriculture Hall of Fame Inc. used the occasion to also announce
its board for 2008-09:
Bob Anderson, Treasurer (Dugald); Glenn Arnott (Portage la Prairie),
Julie Baird, Secretary (St. Andrews); Allan Chambers (Arnes), Trudy Hemstad,
Vice-President (Brandon); Randall James (Winnipeg), Crawford Jenkins (Carman),
Blaine Johnson (Killarney), Reid Lumbard (Brandon), Sylvia Mitchell (Douglas),
Robert (Bob) Roehle, President (St. Norbert); Garry Workman (Solsgirth).
Mrs. Pat Bailey is Office Manager.
The mandate of the Manitoba Agriculture Hall of Fame Inc. is to formally
and publicly recognize persons who, in the course of their residence in
Manitoba, have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of agriculture
and the betterment of rural living in the province.
Contact:
Pat Bailey (204) 728-3736
Bill Ransom (204) 534-6974 / (204) 534-7390
(cell)
Bob Roehle (204) 261-3795 / (204) 228-0528
(cell)
Backgrounder—Information
on the 2008 Inductees
Dr. Helgi Austman (Deceased)
Helgi Austman was widely recognized
and is remembered for his outstanding leadership in extension education.
His love and concern for his fellow man, and his deep conviction that development
of individuals was very important, coupled with his boundless energy and
enthusiasm, resulted in him making a significant contribution to human
development in rural Manitoba, throughout Canada and beyond. When
he was Director of the province’s Agriculture Extension Service, many considered
Manitoba to have one of the best extension services in Canada. As
Assistant Deputy Minister for rural development, Helgi played a major role
in reorganizing the Department into a regional delivery system. This
concept resulted in several provinces following Manitoba’s lead.
Rural Manitobans may remember him more for the Agriculture Advisory Councils
he helped develop, which gave them some say in program development.
Helgi cast a big shadow both literally and figuratively.
Family Contact:
Signy Holstin (Daughter), Markham ON L3P 1E1
Ph: 905-471-6183
Nominated By:
Mr. Oli Narfason, Gimli MB R0C 1B0
Ph: 204-642-7684
Eileen Brake
Eileen Brake has been a tireless, dedicated
worker in the Boissevain community for over 50 years. She has been
a loyal Women’s Institute member since 1955, serving on the executive at
both the local and national level. She has been the recipient of
a number of national awards for her involvement in, and contributions to
these organizations.
Eileen has been variously described as being resourceful, dependable,
energetic, enthusiastic, sincere, and a good friend and neighbour.
She is a volunteer who has made her rural community a happier, healthier
and more interesting place to live.
Family Contact:
Boissevain MB R0K 0E0
Ph: 204-534-6045
Nominated By:
Fran Dickinson, Southwest B Region Manitoba Women's Institute
Ph: 204-673-2468
Wallace Fraser (Deceased)
After serving in the RCAF for five
years, Wallace farmed in the Hamiota area from 1949 to 1978. He sat
on the board of directors of the Hamiota Co-operative Elevator Association,
the Hamiota Consumers Co-op and the Rivers Co-op Seed Plant.
Wallace was elected to the board of the Manitoba Pool Elevators (MPE)
in 1969. From 1974 to 1977 he was a member of the Executive of MPE.
In 1978, Wallace moved to Winnipeg to serve as a full time Vice President
and then President from 1980 to 1985.
Wallace also served as Trustee of the Wasagaming Foundation, President
of Manitoba Farm Bureau, Director of XCAN Grain Ltd., Pool Agencies and
Pool Insurance Co., Western Co-operative Fertilizers Ltd., Great Lakes
Waterways Association and executive member of the Canadian Federation of
Agriculture.
Family Contact:
Patricia Sheldon, Hamiota MB R0M 0T0
Ph: 204-764-2834
Nominated By:
Mr. Tom Mollard, RM of Hamiota, Hamiota MB R0M 0T0
Ph: 204-764-3050
Dr. Margaret Newton (Deceased)
Born in Montreal in 1887, Margaret
Newton grew up on a farm in western Quebec. After completing high
school she chose agriculture at Macdonald College, where she excelled,
becoming one of the first two women to receive an agriculture degree in
Canada. She followed this up with a Master of Science degree in 1919.
In 1922 Margaret became the first Canadian woman to earn a Ph.D. in agriculture.
Following graduation, she continued with research in rust disease in cereal
grains, a problem costing prairie farmers millions of dollars a year.
After a short time with the University of Saskatchewan, Margaret was appointed
a founding scientist at the Dominion Rust Research Laboratory in Winnipeg,
where she spent the next twenty years researching rust. Margaret
was a world renowned researcher. She published more than forty papers
on rust, identified numerous strains of rust and helped breeders to produce
resistant strains of wheat. Her research helped save prairie farmers
millions of dollars.
Family Contact:
Craig Newton, Comox BC V9M 4B9
Ph: 604-224-4331
Nominated By:
Dawn Bronson, Superintendent, Parks Canada, Winnipeg MB
R3C 4S8
Ph: 204-984-1111
Gordon Sinclair (Deceased)
Gordon Sinclair was born and raised
in Strathclair, Manitoba, and received his primary and secondary education
at the Strathclair Consolidated School. He enrolled in the Faculty
of Agriculture, University of Manitoba from which he graduated with a BSA
in 1952. Gordon started farming in 1953 producing elite seed and
special crops.
Throughout his life, Gordon was active in the co-operative movement
and is recognized provincially, nationally and internationally for his
leadership. His career, which began as a director of the Strathclair
Consumers Co-op, included memberships on many co-op related boards.
He was elected president of Federated Co-operatives Ltd., a position he
held for three years. Gordon’s significant contribution to the co-op
movement was recognized most formally when he was awarded an Honourary
Doctor of Laws by St. Francis University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
He was also honoured posthumously with the 2003 Distinguished Co-operator
Award by the Manitoba Co-operative Council.
Gordon was an active member of the Flying Farmers Organization and was
recognized in 1986 by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association for his
outstanding contribution to private flying.
Family Contact:
Sam Sinclair (Son), Strathclair MB R0J 2C0
Ph: 204-365-2779
Nominated By:
Brian Tolton, President, Strathclair Consumers Co-operative Ltd.,
Strathclair MB R0J 2C0
Ph: 204-849-2146
Fraser Stewart
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Fraser
Stewart attended St. John’s-Ravenscourt School and the University of
Manitoba, where he obtained his BSA in Animal Science in 1961. He
obtained a Masters of Science in Animal Nutrition from North Dakota State
University in 1963.
During his 40 year career with Manitoba Department of Agriculture (now
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives), Fraser Stewart became
known as “Mr. Grassland Specialist.” Formerly the Grassland Specialist
in the Eastern Region of Manitoba and currently the volunteer Executive
Director and Project Coordinator of the Manitoba Forage Council, Fraser
has distinguished himself as a nationally and internationally recognized
expert on grassland research and extension. His knowledge, enthusiasm,
innovative thinking and ability to communicate with farmers, researchers
and professional colleagues has been recognized with prestigious awards
from numerous industry and professional organizations. Fraser is
the recipient of a Life Member Award and a Distinguished Agrologist Award
from the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, a Certificate of Merit from
the University of Manitoba and the Fellowship Award from the Agriculture
Institute of Canada.
Fraser has also been active in his community. Living in
Selkirk, Fraser has been involved in, and served on the executives of the
Kinsmen, Rotary, the local Agricultural Society, the St. Clements Historic
Advisory Committee, Chief Peguis Park Historic Committee and the Selkirk
Marine Museum.
Family Contact:
Mrs. Beverly Stewart (Wife). Selkirk MB R1A 2A8
Ph: 204-482-5547
Nominated By:
Glenn Friesen, Manitoba Forage Council, Selkirk MB R1A
2A8
Ph: 204-745-5672
Welland Stonehouse (Deceased)
Welland (Stoney) Stonehouse was born
and raised in McAuley, Manitoba. His career in agriculture began
with an interest in the local Boys and Girls Poultry Club, which led to
his being hired as the manager of the poultry barns at the University of
Manitoba. While working, he completed his secondary education at
night school and then enrolled in the Faculty of Agriculture, University
of Manitoba. He graduated with a BSA in 1952.
Welland's professional career began as an Ag. Rep. at Shoal Lake and
later at Carberry. His extension programs in these districts were
many and varied, but his work with 4-H clubs and Junior Farmer Organizations
was most significant. He was instrumental in getting the potato industry
started in Carberry. He promoted production related experiments and
test plots for many crops. He formed a development corporation, which
purchased the old wartime RCAF base at Carberry, which was later sold to
J.R. Simplot Company, which developed it into a potato processing plant.
Welland left Manitoba Agriculture in the early 1960's to begin work
in the agriculture chemical industry. He pioneered the use of chemicals
in potato production and storage, the control of powdery mildew in irrigated
wheat, chemical fallow, reduced tillage and direct seeding. Some
of the concepts developed by Welland are still being used around the world.
Welland was known as a man of honesty, integrity and a wealth of knowledge,
which he was willing to share with young farmers and beginning agrologists.
He left an enduring imprint on many individuals, communities, business
interests and the agriculture industry.
Family Contact:
Judy Morrow (Daughter), Allanford ON N0H 1A0
Ph: 519-797-5604
Nominated By:
Former Friends, 4-H Members and Business Associates
Ph: 204-365-0009
or
204-759-2498
