Alberta will induct three people into its Agriculture Hall of Fame Oct. 8, in recognition of their contributions to Alberta’s agriculture industry and rural community life.
Chris Mills of Okotoks, Alta., worked as a market and policy analyst with Alberta and Canadian beef organizations for more than 30 years, helping defeat many international trade challenges to the country’s beef industry. He also worked to eliminate the Crow Rate, which led to the expansion of the western livestock industry.
During his tenure, Mills helped transform the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association into a federation of provincial associations and helped to design the Canfax cattle market information service.
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Herman Schwenk of Coronation, Alta., worked to bring electricity to rural Alberta when power companies refused to do so.
Schwenk worked with government, rural electrification associations and power companies. Under his leadership, the Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations grew into an active organization.
Schwenk also expanded the family farm from a half section of rented land to more than 10 sections as well as developing a 300 head cow-calf operation and a 1,000 head feedlot.
Henry James Tomlinson of Spruce Grove, Alta., will be recognized for his work bringing rural gas service to Alberta.
Under his leadership, the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops became a rural advocacy organization in the province and one of the largest rural gas organizations in the world, serving 100,000 residences, farms and businesses.
By working with the government he was instrumental in replacing 4,600 kilometres of leaking plastic pipe and helped remove the federal excise tax on natural gas.
