AHOF Members archive

John Richard (Jack) Simplot was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1909. He was brought to Idaho at an early age, grew up along the Snake River and through hard work, diligence, and perhaps some good luck, gained an international reputation as a self-made billionaire industrialist. Mr. Simplot’s contribution to the agriculture industry is well known world wide, and his contribution to Manitoba’s agriculture industry and to our communities over the past four decades has been noteworthy. He first learned about phosphate as an essential nutrient for his potato crops in the 1930’s. This was the start of the J.R. Simplot Company’s Minerals and Chemicals Group, which grew to become the largest phosphate fertilizer producer in western North America. Under his...

Jacob John Siemens, born on the family farm near Altona, Manitoba, devoted most of his adult life to the advancement of farming. After taking over the family farm in 1929, Siemens distinguished himself as a progressive farmer and community leader. Siemens played a leading role in the organization and development of such organizations as: Rhineland Agricultural Society, Rhineland Consumer’s Co-operative Ltd., Federation of Southern Manitoba Co-operatives; Manitoba Co-op Wholesale Ltd., Manitoba Co-operative Ltd. and the Manitoba Beet Growers Association. In addition he was a director of the Co-operative Union of Canada and an active member of the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture and Co-operation. Recognizing the importance of education in the agricultural community, Siemens organized the Rhineland Agricultural institute. This youth...

Dr. Alfred Savage (B.S.A., D.V.M., M.R.C.U.S., F.R.C.V.S.) was born in Montreal in 1889. He graduated from McGill University, B.S.A. in 1911, Cornell University, D.V.M. in 1914 and Edinburgh Royal Dick, M.R.C.U.S. in 1928. Joining the staff of the Manitoba Agricultural College in 1921, he served the university as professor of animal pathology and bacteriology from 1930 to 1945, a dean of agriculture from 1933 to 1937 and as professor emeritus from 1964 to 1970. Dr. Savage also served as provincial animal pathologist from 1938 to 1957. Dr. Savage served as dean of agriculture from 1933 to 1937; due to the great depression, these were disastrous years for the university. The Board of Governors seriously considered closing the faculty of agriculture...

John Sanderson holds the distinction of being the first homesteader to file his claim in Western Canada. Born at Prestopans, East Lothian, Scotland, he came to Canada in 1867. He settled first at Fergus, Ontario and moved to Manitoba in 1872. Sanderson arrived in Winnipeg with $30 worldly wealth, $10 of which he paid for his homestead entry located northwest of Portage la Prairie. Here he pitched his tent and with sturdy oxen commenced breaking the virgin soil. He sowed this land by hand to Golden Drop wheat; his first crop was harvested with an old reaper, sheaves were tied by hand, some of the crop was threshed by flail and the rest was taken to a small mill powered...

Thomas Albert (Bert) Sandercock was born and educated at Morden, Manitoba. He completed his BSA and MSc in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. In his undergraduate years he worked at the Morden Research Centre where he acquired a keen interest in horticulture. In 1950, Bert married Ella Eriksson. They raised three children: Shelley, Blair and Garth. After a short stint with the Canadian Forestry Association, Bert moved to Manitoba Agriculture where he served as Agricultural Representative at Selkirk for six years. He then became a Vegetable Specialist and eventually Chief of the Horticultural Division. Bert’s leadership and diplomacy led to the formation of the Manitoba Vegetable Commission. In 1968, he became part of its management team. Bert understood the...

Marie was born to Dr. and Mrs. A.A. Alford on November 28, 1926, in Oakville, Manitoba. She earned her Home Economics Degree from the University of Manitoba in 1947 and her Masters Degree in Public Health Education from the University of North Carolina in 1949. In 1951, Marie married Edgar Salway and they had two children, Gordon and Margaret. Her maternal grandmother, Janet Wood, is also a member of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. Marie worked with the Manitoba Department of Health as a nutritionist in Steinbach and later as a public health educator in Neepawa, where she served a broad agricultural area and helped people to develop family life skills. She initiated much needed rural community programs, which...

Alexander McInnes (Mac) Runciman was born in Invergordon, Ross-shire, Scotland, on October 8, 1914. Mr. Runciman’s family immigrated to Canada in 1928 and settled on a farm near Balcarres, Saskatchewan. Mr. Runciman farmed until 1940 when he joined the Canadian Army; he served overseas until the spring of 1945, rising to the rank of Subconductor of Ordnance (Acting), which at the time was among the highest ranks of non-commissioned officers in the army. After the war, Mr. Runciman returned to farming near Abernethy, Saskatchewan. He married Marjorie Dick in 1949 and they have two daughters, Dorothy and Cathy. In 1955, Mr. Runciman was elected a director of United Grain Growers (UGG) and served as President of UGG from 1961 to...

Born at Deleau, Manitoba, Les Robson was a graduate of the Manitoba Agricultural College in 1915. He started his farming career in 1917 near his father’s farm following his marriage to Edna Chapman. Robson was very active in farm organizations and the development of the co-operative movement. He was a member of many of the boards such as the Hartney Co-operative Elevator Association, Hartney Consumer Association, Manitoba Poultry and Dairy Association, Manitoba Co-operative Livestock Producers, Deleau and Hartney Credit Union and the co-operative Credit Society of Manitoba. Robson specialized in raising purebred polled Herefords which were exhibited at fairs in the province, at the Commonwealth Show in Regina in 1955 and the Toronto Royal. His breeding stock were sold all...