AHOF Members archive

After being raised on the family farm, Weldon attended the University of Manitoba where he obtained his degree in Agriculture majoring in soil science. Weldon and his brother Murray took over the farm, a farrow to finish hog operation as well as a grain operation growing cereal grains, canola, pulse crops and forage seed, in 1984 when their parents retired. Weldon along with his brother Murray and sister-in-law Donna were named the 2002 Red River Exhibition Farm Family of Year. Weldon joined the Manitoba Hog Producers Marketing Board in 1973 and served for 20 years. In 1984, as the Manitoba representative on the Canadian Pork Council, Weldon was part of the committee that developed the first “Recommended code of practice...

For most of his career, Gordon has played a major role in preserving one of our most precious resources, the soil and working with the agricultural industry towards sustainable development.   Together with his wife Mary, Gordon has always been able to look at what was happening on farms and then be quick to acknowledge that there had to be a better way. He saw that farms were getting so big that he realized he needed to get his work done with less effort. Renowned for his determination, he also realized the significant responsibility he had in ensuring soil conservation. As one of the pioneers of zero-tillage in Manitoba, Gordon was a believer in the economic benefits of working with nature...

Selma Maendel was the eighth daughter of Sarah (nee Wurtz) and Peter Maendel of Fairholme Hutterite Colony. Selma has been described as a staunchly proud member of the Hutterite community who exhibited all of the qualities often associated with this background – those being unique, distinctive, industrious, humble, caring, deeply religious and very private. Selma has been noted to combine these traditional characteristics with an enhanced leadership style, respectful nature, courage of conviction, tolerance of others and inquisitiveness, which made her stand out and allowed her influence to extend well beyond the borders of colony life. It was Selma’s hard work and determination that contributed to the colony and, as most are aware, it is these colonies that have contributed...

A.E. (Bert) Hall was born in 1920, and was raised on a farm near Manitou. In partnership with his brother, he established the first registered turkey hatchery in Manitoba, under the name Hall Bros.. During the war years, he served in the R.C.A.F., and was married to his wife, Clara. They raised three sons, Derryl, Walter, and Ray. Prior to the war, with his brother, there was the establishment of the first registered turkey hatchery in Manitoba under the name Hall Bros. In 1956, Bert assumed the position of General Manager and director of Manitou Broiler Farms Ltd.. He participated in the organization of the Manitoba Broiler Industry Association, and was chairman. During 1968, the Manitoba Government established the Manitoba...

Born near Neustadt, Grey County, Upper Canada, Valentine Winkler moved to southern Manitoba in 1879 following the death of his father. He worked in his brother’s lumberyard until opening his own grain and lumber operation at Morden in 1883. Winkler began farming in 1888 and was elected the first reeve of the Rural Municipality of Stanley, serving from 1890-92. In 1892, the village of Winkler was established, named for him. Here he owned and operated a grain elevator and lumber business. During that year, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature and was a member until his death, serving five years as the minister of agriculture and immigration from 1915-20. He was always interested in the improvement of farming and...

William Whitelock, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, emigrated to Manitoba in 1903. Following a brief stay at Minnedosa, Whitelock moved to the Roskeen district near Kelwood. He farmed in this area for nearly 60 years and during that time received worldwide recognition for his cereal grain crops. In 1919, Whitelock grew his first registered Marquis wheat and by 1922 it was chosen as the best Marquis wheat in Western Canada. From that time forward he received provincial, national and international acclaim. In his early years as a seed grower, Whitelock received orders for seed from Czechoslovakia, Germany and Russia, as well as throughout Canada. In total, Whitelock won eight world championships for his wheat, oats and barley. He served as...