AHOF Members archive

Percy Beachell was born February 2, 1874 in Yorkshire, England, one of 15 children. The family immigrated to Canada in 1889, coming to Portage la Prairie, then on to Rosser where Percy was to live the rest of his life. He married Stella Briggs in 1918, raising daughter Joy and son Alan, who still lives on the home farm. His love for hunting kept his family well supplied with meat in those early days. Mr. Beachell was elected to the RM of Rosser in 1914 and held office until 1921. He was elected Reeve in 1922 and remained in office until 1953. Percy was also a member of the Good Roads Association for 40 years, 20 of these as President....

John Barron was born and educated at Elora, Ontario. He moved to Manitoba in 1878 and homesteaded near Carberry, having been one of the first settlers in this area. In 1882, Mr. Barron established one of the best Shorthorn herds in Canada. His farm was known as the “Fairview Stock Farm” and the quality of his breeding stock was the finest. The men that came after Mr. Barron had the advantage of obtaining excellent foundation stock from his herd in exhibitions all over Canada. Mr. Barron’s name topped the prize list. In 1897 he swept the field at the Industrial Exhibition in Winnipeg. Mr. Barron’s achievements were recognized by the Manitoba Shorthorn Breeder’s Association at a banquet held in his...

In 1952 Massey Ferguson of Switzerland encouraged Swiss born Charles Balmer to visit Winnipeg for training. He stayed and went on to influence the agriculture industry in many positive ways as an inventor, innovator, designer and entrepreneur. From 1953 to 1977 he worked as an ag-mechanic for Elie Motors, a J.I. Case dealer. Here his talent and passion for equipment blossomed. Following his identification and rectification of the engineering faults on a customer’s combine in 1955, the J.I. Case Company hired him to develop similar retrofit kits for 200 combines in Canada. By 1961 he had acquired his pilot’s license and became one of Manitoba’s pioneer aerial applicators. He established Elie Airspray, a custom ground and aerial application company serving...

Clarence Baker was born to Anton and Pauline Baker on July 7, 1928 in Cromwell, Manitoba. Anton immigrated to Canada with his parents from Beckersdorf, Austria in 1896. In 1951 Clarence and his new bride, Ilene Weidman, took over the third generation family farm which included the 240 acres of land that his grandfather had purchased shortly after arriving in Manitoba. Working as a team, the Bakers expanded their farm operation while raising their five children: Corrine, Debbie, Andy, Curtis and Terry. In 1998 the farm was recognized as a Century Farm. Clarence and Ilene’s grandsons, Drew, Reid and Riley Baker are the fifth generation to work the land alongside their parents, Andy and Jan. Clarence was an innovative, progressive...

T. Roy Bailey was born on their now Centennial Farm near Carberry on September 5, 1915. He was married to Nora Froom for 45 years. They had three sons, Alan, Brian and Douglas. He was married to Edith Ranson for 14 years before she, too, predeceased him. Roy operated a successful cattle operation before switching to potato growing. He was one of several who were instrumental in the events that led to J.R. Simplot building the potato processing plant at Carberry in 1962. At that time he started to contract potatoes for this plant. Today his son, Alan, along with grandson, Terry, continue this practice. T. Roy was involved in the Save the Soil program. He also served as chairman...

Helgi Halldor Austman (Ph.D.) was born in Vidir, Manitoba, the only child of Anna and Halldor Austman. His grade schooling, including two years by correspondence, was completed in Arborg and Teulon. In 1948, after three years at the University of Manitoba, Helgi graduated with a BSA, receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Gold Medal. While in university Helgi married Lillian Arnason, who became his partner, support and companion for life. They had three children, Signe, Larry and Brian. Helgi’s career began as the district Ag Rep for Teulon during difficult times for Interlake farmers. Working hard to improve conditions, he quickly saw the potential for the 4-H movement to develop young people. Recognizing his ability, the Manitoba Department of Agriculture promoted Helgi...

Allan and Edythe Arnott (nee Rex) were raised and obtained their early education at Darlingford, Manitoba. They graduated from Morden High School. From 1942 to 1945, Allan served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal British Navy. After obtaining a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba, Allan returned to the family farm at Darlingford. Following her training at Success Business College, Edythe worked as an administrative assistant in the Corps of Army Engineers at Fort Osborne Barracks. Allan and Edythe were married in 1945. They raised four children: Valerie, Diane, Vicki and Tom. For over 50 years the Arnotts worked side by side managing and operating a large-scale farm. Edythe handled the day-to-day administrative details related...

Alfred Edwin (Eddy) Arnold was born in Toronto in 1898 and received his education in Shoal Lake, Manitoba. Mr. Arnold began his career in the heavy horse business in 1918, introducing the “Croydon” line in 1923 and has continued to use this name for his line of fine Clydesdale horses. He was to show his Clydesdales to the Toronto Royal Winter Fair for forty years. Always striving to breed superior animals with endurance, Mr. Arnold won prizes with his horses wherever he went. He has been a much sought after heavy horse judge for many years, and has no doubt influenced the breeding and selection of others in the horse business during the past 60 years. Mr. Arnold not only...