AHOF Members archive

Wayne Rempel grew up in a Mennonite farming family near Winkler, Manitoba, where a passion for agriculture—and for potatoes in particular—took root early. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he became a respected agricultural leader and innovator, guided by a simple conviction: the land is on loan to us, and our responsibility is to leave it better than we found it. Born May 16, 1959, Wayne studied agriculture at the University of North Dakota and never stopped learning, going on to earn an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago and the ICD.D designation through the Rotman School of Management. He began his career as an agronomist and crop consultant with Coulee Agro while also farming grain and...

Dr. Katherina (Karin) Wittenberg developed a lifelong passion for agriculture while growing up on a mixed farm near Woodlands, Manitoba. She completed her B.Sc. in Agriculture and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Animal Science at the University of Manitoba before joining the University as an Assistant Professor in 1985. In 2000, she was appointed the first female Department Head in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), and in 2014 became the first woman to hold the position of Dean in the 108-year history of the Faculty. In 2020, Karin retired from full-time academic work but has continued to contribute to the Faculty as Dean Emeritus. As Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, Karin’s research generated the first field-based greenhouse gas...

Dr. Wayne Lees grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta, where a high school summer job at a veterinary clinic sparked a lifelong passion for working with animals. After graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (University of Saskatchewan) in 1975, he established a mixed animal practice in central Alberta. During those years, he also taught animal health technology students at Olds College. Dr. Lees joined the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) at the Animal Diseases Research Institute in Lethbridge in 1986. As head of the Clinical Research section, he oversaw the health and welfare of the research beef herd, sheep flock, and mouse colony. During this time, he continued his education, earning a Master...

Lem Shuttleworth was born in September, 1910 on the farm homesteaded by his great grandfather. He attended school at Rookhurst and Moore Park Consolidated before joining his father in farm operations. He was married in 1935 and raised two children, Elaine and David, with his wife Charlotte May (Sedgwick). Following her death, he married his second wife, Mae (Johnson) in 1989. He was secretary of the Cordova local of the United Farmers of Manitoba at the age 18, served as Reeve of the R.M. of Odanah, worked with 4H Clubs, young peoples’ groups, the church and Sunday school, and helped with the development of the United Church Camp at Riding Mountain National Park. In 1949, he was elected to the...

Rollie Shipley was born in Epworth, England and came to Canada with his parents who settled in Birtle, Manitoba. After attending school in Birtle and Rossburn, he entered into partnership with his father in the Russell district. The father-son team engaged in several enterprises, including auctioneering, farming and the operation of a meat marketing business in the town of Russell. In 1942, Rollie Shipley’s knowledge of sheep, cattle and particularly farming was to be made available to many. He became an inspector for the Trust and Loan Company of Canada- a company that was later purchased by the Canada Permanent Trust Company. Mr. Shipley’s company work directly affected the lives and destinies of many people. He was a great humanitarian;...

Len Shebeski was born in Aubigny, Manitoba on August 5, 1914, moving to Arborg, Manitoba in 1917. He was educated in Arborg and at the University of Manitoba where he received an undergraduate degree in agriculture. Following graduation, Len served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as Observer and Pilot. After the war, he completed a Master’s Degree in Plant Science at the University of Manitoba. Following further graduate training at the University of Minnesota, he taught at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1953, he returned to the University of Manitoba as a professor and head of the Department of Plant Science, a position he held until 1965 when he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Home...

Alex was born in Indian Head, Saskatchewan on August 12, 1938 and Bette (Leask) was born in Lenore, Manitoba on October 5, 1939. Alex was raised on the family farm in Virden, Manitoba. Graduating from Virden Collegiate in 1956, he immediately assumed the role of operating the farm. Bette grew up on a farm in Lenore and graduated as a Registered Nurse from Brandon General Hospital in 1960. They have four daughters and two sons, Billy, Della, Lara, Christa and Mandy. Alex is a lifetime member of the Canadian Hereford Association, having successfully bred, raised, shown and sold purebred Hereford cattle from 1958-1988. The family hosted Hereford cattle producers from all parts of the world. In 1979, the Scott’s switched...

Waldie David Klassen was born December 9, 1940, in Steinbach, Manitoba. Waldie was raised on the family farm, and in 1961 he took over part of his parents’ chicken operation. In 1962, he married Levina Unger, and they raised their three children: Debora, Andrea, and Wesley. Realizing that chicken farmers were at the mercy and whim of processors, Waldie shortly set about to make the business more stable and profitable for farmers. After extensive discussions with other chicken farmers about the problem with processors, Waldie became a leading advocate for an orderly supply management marketing system that would guarantee farmers a decent return. In 1968, after six years of leading the movement, the Manitoba Chicken Producers Marketing Board was formed...