AHOF Members archive

Dr. F. Andrew (Andy) Hodge (B.S.A., D.V.M.) was born in Teulon, Manitoba on October 7, 1922. He received all of his early education there. In 1942, he graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and was awarded the “gold medal.” Hodge joined the RCAF and proudly served his country for the next three years, both at home and in Koggalla, Ceylon. In 1945 at the end of the war, he pursued his chosen career at the Ontario Veterinary College. A D.V.M. degree and a second “gold medal” were the fruits of his labor. He was the only double gold winner ever to have practised in Manitoba. In 1946, he married Marion, his lifelong...

Cora Hind was born in Toronto, Ontario and received her education in Flesherton and Orillia. She moved with her aunt to Winnipeg in 1882. Here her aunt was determined he would become a school teacher. However, Hind had other ideas. Her greatest dream was to become a newspaper reporter. In 1901, Hind was offered her first position on the staff of the Winnipeg Free press as market and agricultural reporter. Hind steadily built up a reputation as a crop and stock expert. It was no surprise to see her actively judging livestock at a local fair. Also when Hind totaled her reports on the size of the crop yield, grain exchanges waited nervously. Prices on the international market soared or...

Anna Hicks (nee Kennedy) was born in Flint, Michigan, moving to Winnipeg at an early age. She graduated as a home economist from the Manitoba Agricultural College in 1920 and went on to Columbia University, New York for post-graduate studies. Returning to Manitoba, she taught household arts at the Manitoba School for the Deaf and Domestic Science at Earl Grey in Winnipeg. She married Herb Hicks in 1926, leaving the city to live on a farm in the Souris area a century farm in 1980. Hicks joined the Women’s Institute in 1927, serving terms as president on all levels. She carried on her homemaking courses for young women. She inspired the Women’s Institute to take on responsibilities and perform services...

Ron Helwer was born and raised at Libau, Manitoba. He married Vera Katazinski in 1956 and together they raised three children, Sherry, Reg and Gail. Ron began his business career in 1952 as a partner with his father Fred and bother Harvey in Libau where they operated a Massey Harris dealership. In 1956 they expanded their business to include a dealership in Selkirk. In 1960, he purchased a bulk fuel dealership in East St. Paul; it operated until 1968. Since 1968, Ron, along with family members, has operated Shur-Gro Farm Services in Brandon. Munro Farm Supplies became part of Shur-Gro Farm Services in 1990. Another of Ron’s enterprises is Can-Pro Equipment, a sales and service business for field spraying equipment....

T.J. Harrison (B.S.A., L.L.D., F.A.I.C., R.A.) was born in Graysville, Manitoba and after his public schooling, in the fall of 1906, he became the first student to register at the new Manitoba Agricultural College. Following graduation, he was retained by the college as an instructor in field husbandry until 1913, when he was made superintendent of the Dominion Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Saskatchewan. In 1915, he returned to Winnipeg to accept the position of professor of field husbandry at the college, with the stipulation that he be permitted to undertake and expand experimental work in agronomy. His research concentrated on crossbreeding and selection of high yielding, six row barley suited to the malting industry. Professor Harrison designed and constructed the...

Wilfred Allen (Butch) Harder was born and raised at Lowe Farm, Manitoba. In 1977, he married Joyce Recksiedler.  They have one son, Dean Allen, married to Rose-Anne Harder, nee Nesbitt.  On their 5,000 acre farm at Lowe Farm, the Harder family produces wheat, barley, canola and specialty crops. Wilf has been involved in farm policy issues at the local, provincial and national levels for most of his life. Early in his farming career he became involved in the Lowe Farm Co-op, the Canadian Auctioneers’ Association and the Carman Co-op Implements Committee.  Wilf has been a member of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) for over 30 years. In 1987, Wilf was elected to the Advisory Committee of the Canadian Wheat...

Arthur Thomas (Tom) Hainsworth was born in a log house on N.W. 14-2-23 W. near Deloraine, Manitoba. On October 19, 1943, he and Lucy Jane Ketchum from Arcola, Saskatchewan were married. They raised children Arthur Tom, and Bernie Eileen. He attended Bayview and Grove Schools, and then he began farming. He was elected Councillor in the R.M. of Winchester in 1930 and served in that capacity for 17 years, and as Reeve for 23 years. Mr. Hainsworth was chosen to work on numerous boards: as President of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities, the Deloraine Agricultural Society, the Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the local United Grain Growers, the Manitoba Good Roads Association, (He was also made a life member of...

William (Bill) Gregor was born on January 1, 1926, to parents who emigrated from the Ukraine and settled on a farm north of Roblin, Manitoba. He received his education at the nearby Hillcrest School. In 1954, Bill married Loreen (nee McKinnon) and together they raised two children—a daughter, Carla, was born in 1956 and a son, Dean, in 1958. Bill and Loreen lived in Brandon until her death in 1982, following which he married Lila (Moore) Rookes. They continue to live in Brandon. Bill’s working life began in 1944 when he enlisted in the Canadian Infantry. Following the war and leaving with an honorable discharge, Bill trained at Brandon Vocational School as a welder, machinist and tractor mechanic. In 1947,...