Clare Geddes was born on April 10, 1919 and grew up in the
town of Pilot Mound, Manitoba. Dorothy McTaggart was born on September
3, 1924. Clare spent five years in the R.C.A.F. during WW II.
He returned home to farm and married Dorothy on June 26, 1947. They
raised a family of one daughter and four sons.
After reading about Charolais cattle, Clare went to Texas to see
this breed, purchasing ten females and one bull. In 1958 these animals
were the first Charolais in Manitoba. Clare was president of the
Canadian Charolais Association 1964-65, at which time the Import Program
for Canada was implemented. He and Dorothy travelled to France to
study the Great White Breed in its native habitat.
Clare and the Canadian Charolais Association pressed the government
to establish a quarantine station to guard against foot and mouth disease
and to allow the importation of French Charolais into Canada. The
Grosse Isle facilities enabled European breeds to enter Canada. Clare
was a founding director of the Beef Cattle Performance Test Station at
Douglas, Manitoba. He proved the efficiency of Charolais when some
of his bulls exceeded five pounds of gain per day of age. He exported
bulls all over North America and to Great Britain. The efforts of
Clare, Dorothy and other breeders have made the Charolais the top crossbreeding
cattle and have increased the efficiency of beef production in Canada.
Clare served as president of the provincial and national Charolais
organizations. He has been honoured in many countries and attended
conferences in Europe, South America, Mexico and across Canada and the
U.S.A. He organized an innovative sale of Charolais held in the Grand
Ballroom of the Winnipeg Inn. Dignitaries attended in tuxedos and
buyers came from all over North America.
The success of the Geddes Char-O-Clare purebred cattle operation
was not Clare’s alone. While he travelled extensively, Dorothy kept
records of registration and was active in their community. She taught
Sunday School in the United Church for twenty-seven years and was active
on other committees. Clare and Dorothy were involved with the Museum,
Foresters Lodge, the Horticultural Society, Meals on Wheels and Care Home
visiting. They were leaders in developing the Senior Citizens Home,
an office complex and the Christian Education Building. Dorothy was
involved in the Charolais Women’s Auxiliary. She met every challenge
with a positive attitude and her life is one of service to family and community.
In 1983 the Geddes were named Mr. and Mrs. Manitoba Farmer and have
received the Conservation Award. The contributions of Clare, Dorothy
and family are a tribute to all rural life in Canada.
Nominated by Victor Nelson of Pilot Mound
2002
