Vermilion School of Agriculture - Yearbook (Vermilion, Alberta Canada)

Page 31 text:

Mr. William Barr Their Works Ye Shall Know Them T O GET a fair perspective of the results effected by a school such as ours, an impartial survey should be made of the lives and actions of our past students. At such a time as this, when the Vermilion School of Agriculture is celebrating its twenty-first birthday, the sight of farm homes such as that of Mr. William Barr, a member of the first graduating class at the school, gives one a justifiable glow o f pride. We can surely claim a small share in such a result, though of course the will to do and the imagination and industry to act were obviously there in the first place. Bill” and Mrs. Barr farm just across the road to the west of the school farm, and the whole layout—and the gracious, friendly and cosy home, so ably presided over by Mrs. Barr—gives one an inkling of the source of inspiration and incentive which have enabled Bill to get such grand results. Everything shows the effect of careful planning. The site of the steading is just south-east from a sharp knoll, partly covered with a poplar bluff. This breaks the cold north-west winter winds and lends a touch of as- symetry, into which is blended the shelter belts of spruce, poplar, caragana, etc., which shield the gardens and the house. All this tree planting and laying out of gardens has not been done in a day, as the different ages of the trees and shrubs will tell—a plan has obviously been followed, and a definite amount of progressive work undertaken and accomplished every year. The result now—a blending of beauty and utility—is an inspiration to the large number of students who make an annual outing in their Animal Hus¬ bandry, Farm Management, and Dairy classes, and enjoy Mr. and Mrs. Barr’s hospitality. Ur. J- w - Hopkins A word about the dairy herd. Bill has developed a first class herd of Holsteins, all but two old matrons being of his own raising. The barn, a modern and well planned one, houses twenty-four cows, every one of which is capable of beating 10,000 lbs. of milk per annum at maturity, having an average fat test of over 4%. Every animal is T.B. tested and the herd fully accredited. While he only shows locally, Bill has individual cows whose lines, capacity and type make them capable of holding their own in any show ring. He is one of those rather scarce individuals who really understand how to feed farm animals, as a glance at the rugged young colts he is raising, or the growthy and active heifers will show. An object lesson close to the school, such as Mr. and Mrs. Barr’s farm home, is a great inspiration to the students and staff alike. Such an object lesson at one ' s door lends force to the teachings of successful agriculture and home-making, which is not lost on any of us. While the majority of our ex-students, men and women alike, are found happily engaged on the land, a proportion carry their college education farther, and many are to be found as leaders of thought and learning, on the staffs of our universities, engaged in research work, in the political fields, and as leading administrators and economists. The still youthful Dr. J. W. Hopkins came to the school here a scant ten years ago, an alert, industrious and enthusiastic member of the class. Jack,” as he will always familiarly be known by his friends here, left the V.S.A. in a shower of glory, and proceeded to the University of Alberta in the fall of 1926. In 1929 he graduated as B.Sc. in Agriculture, getting first class honors and winning the coveted Governor General’s Gold Medal for highest standing in his year. He also won the Vallee French Prize. Engaging in research work, Jack was awarded his Master ' s degree in the spring of 1931, and won one of the famous 1851 scholarships enabling him to proceed to the Rothamstead Experimental Station, England, and carry on his work in biological research. Such ability was not allowed to be lost to Canada, and another year saw Jack back in Ottawa, as Biologist on the staff of the National Research Council, a position he still holds. Recogni¬ tion of his abilities and workwas shown by the conferring on him of the Ph.D. degree by the Faculty of Science, of the University of London, England. If genius is the capacity for taking infinite pains, surely we can claim to see such genius in the personality of Jack Hopkins. However, this brief article is not for the purpose of gloryifying him as an individual, so much as to indicate that the Vermilion School of Agriculture has good cause to be proud of many of her sons and daughters, and she has cause to believe that in helping to prepare some of Alberta’s young people for the game of life, she is doing her part. —E.W.C. [ Page twenty-seven ]

Page 30 text:

FIELD DAY CHAMPIONS E. Smith, Miss M. Rodash, .1 Lazaruk VERSATILE CLUB EXECUTIVE J. Higba ' , 8. Brimacombe, C. Kittle, H. Schultz (Continued from Page IS) portion of the whole number. In Canada the Club membership is ap¬ proximately 30,000, and is srowing every year. I believe it is the finest piece of work which is being done in connection with the improvement of rural life. Its progress is determined at the present time, not by the money available, but definitely by the extent to which leadership can be secured. Last year, in Alberta, there were 109 Grain Clubs with a membership of 1,500, and 79 Livestock Clubs with a membership of 1,600. This number could have been materially increased, and the Clubs operated could have been made much more effective, had there been competent local leadership. Some of these Clubs failed entirely because leadership was lacking. May I say that this is a challenge to the young men and young women who have attended the Schools of Agriculture and who are in a position to give some time and attention to a work that will not only benefit themselves, but which will supply a need, that up to the present time the Department has not been able to meet. The Provincial Department of Agriculture is proposing to develop along a new line in connection with The Women’s Home Bureau Service. Here again it has not been possible to meet the demand for demonstrations in Home Economics by expert demonstrators. The cost has been too great. It has been decided to try out a new system of Local Leadership Courses, through which local leaders will be trained in special schools, or Short Courses held throughout the country. At these school centres a number of of local leaders will be invited to attend from various districts. Experts in some particular line will be present, to give demonstrations and present an outline of the course. In turn these local leaders will be asked to conduct a similar course in their respective local districts. This system has been tried out elsewhere with excellent results. Finally, let me say that the future holds a splendid challenge to the young man and young woman of this country. Many of the old systems that served so well in the past, are fast becoming obsolete. We need the assistance of younger minds with the enthusiasm, energy and activity provided by youth, to join with those of adult years, with all that maturity gives in poise, balance and experience. This will help to bring about happier and more prosperous times. In that great task I feel confident that you will take your place creditably as ex-students of the Schools of Agriculture. —H. A. CRAIG. [ Page twenty-six }

Page 32 text:

(gleanings (CLASS ' 1 5- ' 1 8) N. F. Bell, ' 15, we believe the first student to register at the V.S.A., is now in charge of Illustration Stations in the northern part of Alberta and Saskatchewan. S. Barnes, ' 17, is Assistant Superintendent, Dominion Ex¬ perimental Farm, Swift Current. J. G. Clark of the same year is a field supervisor with the Soldier Settlement Board. W. M. Fleming, ' 16, holds the position of Horticulturist at the Experimental Farm, Saanichton, B.C. W. Hawkins, ’17, is to be found farming at Strome. G. M. Williams, ' 17, farms near Ponoka where he is an agent for the U.F.A. His wife will be remembered by class ' 18 as Lola Richardson of Vegreville. Beth Wetherbe, ' 17, has for some years been secretary to Dr. Knoll of Vermilion, our present School Physician. Rose Connelly, ' 17, is now Mrs. Hudson of 116, 6th Ave. N.W., Calgary. Violet Gardiner of the same class lives at Long Beach, California. G. Thorne, married to Helen Mead of class ' 18, farms at Fort Saskatchewan. Art Hunter, ' 18, a partner in the firm of Dickson Hunter, Innisfree, has been nominated as Liberal candidate at the next election. Ethel Stibbard, who took her first year at the V.S.A. in 1917 and later graduated from the University of Alberta, is now Dietician at the Claresholm Mental Institute. Chas. A. Lewis, ' 18 , is a successful farmer at Bon Accord, where he has made a name for himself exhibiting grain. Incidentally, he is married to Bertha Stewart of the same class. Lucille Grey, ' 18, is married to Mr. Morrison, a government veterinarian at the Stockyards in Edmonton. T. W. G. Grindley, who took his first year here in 1917-18 now holds an important post in the Agricultural Statistics Branch, Ottawa. Miss L. Lewis, a graduate of ' 18, is a Mrs. Alvin Davis of Calmar, Alberta. A. S. Ward, ' 18, who received his M.Sc. from the University of Alberta in 1925, is at present with The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. (CLASSES ' 21-’25) Helen McKay, ' 22, recently married Clarence Barr of class ' 15, and lives in the well farmed Barr colony west of town. Agnes Irving, ’21-’22, is to be found at Auburndale where she lives with her husband, Mr. Alf. Green. Jack Cairns, also of ’21-’22, farms near Islay. Ken Prior, president of class ’22-’23, is now an Agricultural Missionary in Africa, where he is doing good work. From the first class of British boys, ' 24- 25, we have the fol¬ lowing news items: Jack Strathearn manages the U.F.A. Cooperative Store at Mannville, and is a frequent visitor, with his wife (nee Margaret Elliott), at the V.S.A. Jack Housez is associated with McDermids Studio in Ed¬ monton. Allan Hastings and F. Crease are well established farmers at Busby. Alex. Sherritt is married, and engaged in restaurant work in Calgary. Hal Woofindin is engaged in farming in the Alix-Mirror district. A. Mould has returned to England where he is engaged in journalistic work. F. Brooks-Bailey when last heard of was with the R.C.M.P. [ Page twenty-eight ] (CLASSES ’25-’27) Frank and Bill Mead are back on the farm near Vermilion, Bill with his B.Sc. and Governor General’s Medal; both are as active as ever in hockey and baseball Prominent among Shorthorn breeders is our old friend Lyle Robinson, a frequent visitor to the V.S.A. This class includes several University graduates among whom are: Jack Hopkins, Walter Stone, Harold Tarver, Fred Strashok, and Nick Strynadka. Many of the girls are married, in¬ cluding Clara and Dora Eyben, Gladys Johnson, Annie Terleski, Hazel Tatham, Irene Cunningham, Kathleen Hutton, and Zena Weaver. Another local farmer is Dale Williams, and Ronald Purkis operates land at Alix. George Garland and Lottie McKee are married and live in Vermilion with their little daughter. Godfrey P. Gower, the president of Class ’25- ' 26, is now Rector of Christ Church, Edmonton. Arnold Platt and Donna Oxford are married and live in Edmonton with their family, attending University. E. R. Gibson farms at Spruce Grove and is as active as ever with the Boy Scouts and the Alpine Club. Another graduate, Frank Wood, has special¬ ized in Dairying at the University of Alberta. (CLASS ’28) Bill Ross is now managing a ranch in B.C. Among local farmers are Jack McKenzie and A. Larcombe. Bill Brown and Edna Lang are both at Ponoka—on the staff, of course. Grace Shandruk is a graduate nurse. Pete Wyllie, president of the Alumni, another University graduate, is one of the V.S.A’s warmest supporters. Gunda Gunderson, for several years after graduating, on the V.S.A. domestic staff, is now cook at Hanna Hospital. Mabel Flaade, who lives at home at Rosyth, sent her little brother to the V.S.A. this winter. (CLASS ’29) Eric Hale and Inger Riis are married and live at Blackfalds where Eric is Principal. Les Lovell, another benedict, is on the farm staff here. Lexie McNaughton is with the Department of Vital Statistics in Edmonton and keeps a close eye on certain student activities. Anita Ricker, now Mrs. McNeilly, has recently come to Vermilion with her husband and opened a coffee shop. Norman Burch has varied interests and often visits the V.S.A., being as handsome as ever. Ed. Chandler has been busily occupied in build¬ ing himself a house near Ranfurly. How come, Ed.? Eva Wilson, now Mrs. Patrick, reigns supreme in the Black house with her little daughter Marion. Bob Johnson and Pearl Richardson have settled down in Ed¬ monton, Bob being active in the Department of Public Works. Archie McGillawee brought his little sister into the school this fall and frequently visits us from his elevator in Dewberry to see her—or somebody. Bud Kiernan, another elevator agent, now calls Streamstown his home. Charlie Finlay farms at Mannville near Jimmie Allanach and Ethel Walker, who have have a charming home and a small daughter. Another Mannville farmer is Harry Hamilton, also married. Marjorie McCleery, now B.A. of Cleveland, Ohio, is heading towards nursing.