The Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced its slate of inductees for 2014. The list includes leaders in areas ranging from soil conservation to sugar beet and potato production, as well as poultry marketing and crop input sales.
Five individuals will be recognized for their lasting contribution to agriculture in Manitoba at an induction ceremony in Portage on July 17th:
- Ron Helwer of Brandon
- Waldie Klassen of Steinbach
- Don Kroeker of Winnipeg (formerly of Winkler)
- Bob McNabb of Minnedosa
- WJ (Bill) Siemens of Winkler
The list of inductees was unveiled at the Ag Hall of Fame's annual meeting in Brandon on Thursday afternoon.
Inductee Bios (courtesy MB Ag Hall of Fame):
Ron Helwer, Brandon, Manitoba: Since 1968 Ron (and family members) have owned and operated Shur-Gro Farm Services in Brandon. Munro Farm Supplies was added in 1990 and Can-Pro Equipment whose prime business is selling and servicing field spraying equipment is part of Ron's enterprises. Ron and Shur-Gro are innovators and supporters of new technology and he was one of the first retailers to provide custom application, soil testing, field scouting and precision farming techniques. He has built an organization that has set the standard for service and innovation. Ron was voted the Brandon Business Person of the year in 1986 and has been presented with a lifetime membership in the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president of the Brandon University Foundation. He was a director of the Provincial Exhibition for ten years and coached both little league baseball and community club hockey for many years.
Waldie David Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba: Waldie started farming with his father in the Steinbach area, taking over his parents' chicken operation in 1961. Realizing that chicken farmers were at the mercy and whim of processors, Waldie set about to make the business more stable and profitable for farmers. He became a leading advocate for an orderly supply management marketing system that would guarantee farmers a decent return. In 1968 the Manitoba Chicken Producers Marketing Board was formed and Waldie was appointed chair of the Board. His work led to the formation of the Canadian Chicken Marketing Agency (CCMA). Waldie was a founding director of CCMA.
Locally Waldie found time to be municipal councillor, serve the Steinbach Housing Authority, Inter-Denominational Youth for Christ initiatives and the Mennonite Brethren Church.
A. Donald (Don) Kroeker, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Don was born in Winkler, attended the Faculty of Agriculture, U of M, graduating with a BSA in Agricultural Economics. Upon graduation in 1957 he became Manager of Farming Operations with the home farm, Kroeker Farms Limited. Under Don's leadership the farm grew from 600 acres to 6500 acres. Enterprises included potatoes, onions, sweet corn, hogs, cattle, laying hens and a machinery division. Don introduced organic potatoes and onions and was the first to grow sweet corn commercially. During Don's tenure Kroeker Farms became the largest potato producer in Canada. Don served on many boards including Peak of the Market, the Canadian Horticultural Council, the Manitoba Potato Council and the Seed Potato Growers Association of Manitoba. For his work he received an Honorary Life Membership in the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists in 2006 and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the University of Manitoba in 2010.
Robert (Bob) McNabb, Minnedosa, Manitoba: Bob currently operates a 1000 acre farm and has been committed to Zero Tillage farming for 36 years. In 2005 he moved from strictly zero till to a rotation with permanent grasses for custom grazing to determine what nutrients a pasture system would add to soil and how such a system would work under zero tillage. Bob has received many awards for his work in soil conservation including the L.B. Thomson Conservation Award, the Manitoba - North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association Award, the Agricultural Institute of Canada Recognition Award and the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District Farm Family of the Year Award. The McNabb family spent time in Zimbabwe, South Africa coordinating a CIDA funded project with the Organization of Collective Cooperatives. The goal was to introduce conservation strategies to a third world country and monitor results.
Willie (Bill) Jacob Siemens, Winkler, Manitoba: Bill lived on the family farm in Rhineland RM where he started farming with his father. After buying the farm, he increased acreage, producing seed, process and table potatoes, corn, canola, cereals, beans and sugar beets. He incorporated his farm in 1976 as WJ Siemens Farming Co. Ltd. He was a partner in Border Potato Co., Secretary from 1968 - 1988 and President from 1991 - 2008. Bill's business interests included Grandeur Housing producing mobile homes and houseboats, Berdick Windows and Doors, Valley Cable Vision and several hog production ventures. Bill provided leadership to the sugar beet industry, including service as President of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers. He was President of the Keystone Vegetable Producers Association for two
different terms. Bill was active in community economic development organizations and was named Winkler Citizen of the Year in 2011. Bill was an active 4-H member and leader and received a Canadian Council 4-H Leadership Award in 1970.
Source: PortageOnline