The newest inductees to the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame have more than agriculture in common.
Three of the five new members were on hand for the announcement at Canadian Western Agribition Nov. 20 and all used the word “humbling” to describe the experience.
“When I think of the great accomplishments of the other members I feel a little unworthy,” said Brad Wildeman, president of Pound-Maker Agventures at Lanigan and a beef industry spokesperson throughout the BSE crisis.
“I guess people appreciate the fact you’re in there swinging.”
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_____ CORRECTION _____
A story on page 54 of the Nov. 29 issue about new members inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame stated that Bill and Alma Copeland are the first couple to be inducted into the hall. In fact, Wallace Thomson of Pense, Sask., and his wife, Euphemia, were inducted in 1978 and 1989 respectively. |
Wildeman, Elrose seed grower Bill Copeland, organic farmer Elmer Laird of Davidson, Nokomis horse breeder Clayton Hobman and Otto Radostits, a founding professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, will be inducted at a ceremony next August.
Wildeman said he’s received much more from his opportunity to serve on boards and committees than he believes he contributed.
He singled out his time on the provincial government’s Action Committee on the Rural Economy, saying he learned more about the province in those three years than he did in the time before that.
Copeland was mystified at his selection.
His wife, Alma, was inducted in 2007, making them the first couple to be in the hall.
“I can see hers (selection) but I don’t know about mine,” he said, shaking his head.
Copeland, for whom CDC Copeland barley is named, is a strong supporter of agricultural research and was among the first lentil growers. The University of Saskatchewan has been growing variety test plots on his land for 35 years, he said.
“We’re in the middle of the two-row malting area of Western Canada so it was complementary,” he said of barley development on his land.
Hobman said he always believed that if he wanted something to be done or changed, he had to get involved to make it happen.
He was president of many organizations, including the Saskatchewan Horse Breeders Association, the Saskatchewan Livestock Association and the Canadian Percheron Association.
He also served on the Agribition committee, where his family was still showing Percherons this year.
At 69, he’s been the reeve for the Rural Municipality of Wreford for more than 20 years. The family has a 1,000-head horse feedlot and 250 commercial cows, but Hobman said he mostly runs the tractor or swather to stay involved.
“I’ve always had a lot of health problems,” he said. “You’ve got to always have faith and look on the positive side of things.”
Laird is considered the grandfather of organic farming in Saskatchewan. He began farming organically in 1969, and established the Back to the Farm Research Foundation in 1973. Laird leased his land to the foundation several years ago, and it is now a demonstration farm.
Radostits, who died last December, was knowledgeable about livestock diseases and contributed to textbooks on diseases and herd health.
