Four people were named to the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame on July 15.
The late Heinrich Holtmann emigrated from Germany to Rosser, Man., in 1928. Starting with a herd of purebred Holsteins, he earned various dairy honours including grand champion at the Toronto Royal Agricultural Fair and life memberships in the Manitoba Dairy Association, Winnipeg District Milk Producers’ Co-op and Holstein Association of Canada.
Gwen Parker trained as a home economist, receiving her degree in 1948. She married and moved to a farm near Ste. Agathe, raising four children and helping her husband Lorne farm. In 1966, she became secretary of the Manitoba Women’s Institute, a position she held for 26 years. She also helped develop programs such as Manitoba Farm Vacations, Rural Leadership Training, Agriculture in the Classroom and the Rural Stress Line.
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Soil specialist Ted Poyser of Winnipeg worked for the provincial agriculture department before being appointed co-ordinator in the 1960s of a fund comprising local, provincial and federal money to develop water and soil projects as well as parks. He served as chair of the Manitoba Heritage Corp. from 1989-2001 when it focused on conservation of fish and wildlife habitat while preserving soil and water for agriculture.
The late Eric Thompson Trotter emigrated from England to Manitoba with his parents in 1908. He gained an agricultural diploma and managed the Selkirk mental hospital farm from 1932-42, later moving to Belmont, Man., to farm. He was active in community clubs including Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, 4-H, the local senior’s lodge and his church. In 1973 he was awarded a Manitoba Agricultural Societies life membership.
To make hall of fame nominations for next year, contact Pat Bailey, 1129 Queens Avenue, Brandon, R7A 1L9; phone 204-728-3736 or e-mail agrifame@mts.net.
The Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame award ceremony is held every two years. The next will be in October 2006 in Edmonton.
