AHOF Members archive

Gordon Leonard Church, son of George and Margaret Church of Lena, Manitoba, was born July 27, 1913. He married Audrey Colter on July 18, 1953 they had two sons; Ronald and Garry. Ron lives on the farm in Lena, with his mother Audrey, Garry married Wendy Bracken and they reside in Clandeboye, Manitoba with children Rosalyn and Gordon. Gordon completed grade 8 at Plum Hollow school, he remained at home to farm with his father. Their farm was the typical mixed farm with an acreage of grain, hay and pasture land, as well as a variety of livestock such as beef cattle, a few milking cows, some poultry and swine, and, of course, horses. Gordon and Audrey continued farming with...

Anthony R. (Anton) Chorney was born in the R.M. of Brokenhead and spent his early years in Walkleyburg. He attended Lilydale School in the R.M. of St. Clements where he and wife Adeline later established their farm. Adeline (nee Zaborniak) was born and raised in Highland Glen, a region settled in the mid 1890s by Eastern European immigrants. Anton grew up on a diversified livestock and grain operation which eventually grew to some 2300 acres and required 40 horses and one tractor to do the farm work. In his teens, Anton displayed his determination to be the best at everything he did by winning plowing competitions at the district and regional level. He was always motivated to seek the best...

Wilf Chegwin was born and raised in Rossburn, Manitoba. In 1945, he married Thelma Menzies. The Chegwins lived at Shoal Lake where they farmed and raised two children, Betty Anne and Wayne. With one gravel truck, Wilf started a construction business. When he sold the business in 1967, he had 40 employees. Wilf then expanded his farming operation by buying 300 Hereford cows and some farm machinery. In 1969, Wilf agreed to use his cows for experimental purposes for the Foreign Breeds Evaluation Program in cooperation with the Brandon Research Station. Wilf was one of the first people in Manitoba to import Simmental cattle from France. He set up a quarantine station close to his farm for the use of...

Albert Thomas (Ab) Chapman was born on February 3, 1918 and raised on a farm southeast of Rivers, Manitoba. He served as Councillor in the RM of Daly and as Reeve for forty-two years. His leadership was recognized by other rural councils who elected him for several terms as president of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities. He was also appointed to the Manitoba Municipal Board. For twelve years Ab served on the local school board. He was instrumental in the construction of the Riverdale Hospital in Rivers where he organized and served on the board for thirty-four years. Ab was chairman of the West-Man Regional Development Corporation for ten years. He was one of the original directors of the Wheat...

The Honourable Douglas Lloyd Campbell, son of John Howard and Mary Campbell, was born in Portage la Prairie. He attended elementary school at Flee Island, high school at the Portage Collegiate Institute, and university at Brandon College. Mr. Campbell took over the operation of the family farm in 1917. In December 1920, he married Gladys Crampton, and they raised seven children, three boys and four girls, who have all had distinguished careers, and are a credit to their parents. In 1922, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature from the constituency of Lakeside, serving in this capacity until 1969. His 47 years of continuous service is the longest public service tenure in the British Empire. Mr. Campbell was appointed Minister...

Bruce Campbell was born June 25, 1936 to Duncan and Kathleen Campbell, growing up on the family farm at Chater, Manitoba. He attended Clinton School, Brandon Collegiate and graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Agriculture in 1958 with a major in Animal Science. Upon graduation he joined Feed Rite Mills. In 1963 Bruce married Lesley Lorraine Gay. They have two children, Brock and Nancy. In 1968, fuelled by vision and his entrepreneurial spirit, Bruce purchased 50% interest in a rural feed business in Landmark, Manitoba becoming sole owner nine years later. From that point he quarterbacked a team of partners and outstanding employees in turning Landmark Feeds Inc. into one of Western Canada’s leading agribusiness companies. At the...

Colin H. Burnell was born in 1880 on a farm in Westbourne, Manitoba. He received his early education in Birtle, Manitoba and Medicine Hat, Alberta. He started farming at the age of 18 at Oakville, Manitoba. He devoted practically the whole of his life to farmer organizational work and service in the co-operative movement. He joined the Manitoba Grain Growers Association in 1904, the year following its foundation, and later assisted in the organization of the Grain Growers Grain Company. He played an active part in the famous ‘Siege of Ottawa’ and in 1921 had charge of the campaign which resulted in the election of Progressive Candidates in all rural constituencies of his province. Burnell was made president of the...

John Cameron (Cam) Brown was born and raised on a farm in the St. Vital/St. Boniface area where his family produced cereal crops, vegetables and livestock. He attended Provencher School in St. Boniface. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the University of Manitoba where he obtained a BSA (‘52) and an MSc (‘55) in Swine Nutrition. Cam had a varied career in government, the non-profits, and the co-operative and private sectors. He was a provincial Agricultural Representative in Roblin and a District Agriculturist in Hanna, Alberta, a Field Supervisor in Virden with Manitoba Pool Elevators and a Livestock Nutritionist in Winnipeg with Manitoba Agriculture. Cam was instrumental in the establishment of the Provincial Feed Analysis Laboratory. Cam went on to become...