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

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Foreword I T IS A PLEASURE to write a few thoughts for the 1934-35 Year Book. It is particularly interesting to me on this occasion for the reason that this year’s magazine symbolizes the twenty-first anniversary of the opening of the Vermilion School of Agriculture. The growth and success of the work of the Schools has been far beyond the expecta¬ tions of anyone connected with the institution twenty-one years ago. The record of attendance has been away above what anyone anticipated, and the results of the instruction obtained have been most striking. The courses of study in the first calendar indicated that they were planned for the special benefit of those who were training for farming and home¬ making. That the objectives of the courses have been realized is abundantly demonstrated by a visit to the hundreds of farms of ex-students in various parts of Alberta. The graduates are farming in a way that is satisfactory to themselves, an inspiring example to their fellow citizens and a great compliment to the institution from which they graduated. We are proud of the record of the Schools of Agriculture. It shows tremendous achievement in bringing about a better form of Agriculture and a higher standard of citizenship. It is our convict ion that the record during the next twenty-one years will give as striking results as it has in the past. Today there are greater problems for agricultural institutions of training to face and solve than there has been at any time in the past. It will be the responsibility of the Schools of Agriculture to improve their courses of study so as to lay the founda¬ tion for this heavier task ahead. We feel confident it will be possible for the Schools of Agriculture, including students, ex-students, and staff, to meet the more serious situation. In the staffs there is a trained and experienced group of minds that will make it their responsibility to face and in a large measure solve the difficulties arising out of the new problems. The students who attend the institutions have a better background of training and a keener conception of their responsibilities than had those enrolled in the earlier years of their history. The institutions have a reputation for achievement which will add incentive for greater effort and materialize in accomplishments that will bring further credit to the Schools and their Alumni. Their future success rests not only in the hands of the staff but also with the large body of graduates and those who are now enrolled as students and about to assume the responsibilities of citizenship. We wish the staff and students a pleasant and fruitful year’s work and the best possible success in years to come. F. S. GRISDALE, Minister of Agriculture. t Page two ]

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I AM happy to avail myself of this opportunity to extend a message of greeting to the students of the Vermilion School of Agriculture. The Year Book in which this message is conveyed will be treasured by many of You as reminder of the happy and profitable times you have spent at the Vermilion School. In the days to come it will serve to refresh fond memories of associations you were privileged to make during your school terms. P will be a pleasure to be even remotely associated with those memories. Many of you will now be entering upon the more serious occupational pursuits of life for which I hope you have received helpful training and direction in the courses, facilities, and studies that have been made available in the institution you are about to leave. Some of you will be advancing to other schools for higher courses and more specialized work. Wherever you go and whatever field of endeavor you take up, I trust you may always be able to look back upon your experiences in this School as having taken a very worth while and influential place in the pattern of your life. During recent years the immediate outlook for young people has been uncertain, and in many cases disappointing. The future is still uncertain; but it is by no means without promise. The problems of today can be solved by the appropriate kind of social organization and a clearer understanding of what is involved. As young people now undertaking the responsibilities and accepting the privileges of citizenship it will be your duty to supplement your present training by giving careful thought and study to these social problems. It is you who will reap the rich rewards that must certainly accrue to society when we have learned how to make the fullest use of the technical equip¬ ment presently at our disposal. The future holds out to you a challenge that I believe you will accept with courage and resolu¬ tion. Changes are bound to come. In them wise leadership will be required. Our social heritage is great. If we build constructively using such ideas and materials inherited from the past as are sound, and sup¬ plement them with new ideas required to meet new con¬ ditions—the future is assured. I wish you all success, individ¬ ually and collectively. —R. G. REID, Premier A GAIN it is my privilege to to say a few words to the student body as the 1934-35 Session draws to its close. In spite of the fact that the school was not in operation a year ago, for economic reasons, the fall of 1934 saw the second largest enrolment in the history cf the school, with a total of 165 students drawn from all parts of Northern Alberta. An outstanding feature of the registration is the very large class of First Year boys. This class totals 91, and is by far the largest Freshman class in the history of the institution. Another striking fact is the registration of the Two- in-one boys and girls. There are 16 of the former and 17 of the latter, making a total of 33 which is also a record for the school. It would seem, from opinions expressed by the students of the First Year, that many are anticipating returning for the diploma year, and we hope this may be possible, so that with the incoming first year, we may equal or even exceed the splendid registration for 1934-35. As the tide seems to have turned toward improved economic conditions, given a reasonable crop return, we believe that students will more and more take advantage of such courses as are offered in Agriculture and FHouse- hold Science. To that end we would suggest a word of courage. Possibly all of us have talked too much about the depression. Possibly we have all dwelt too much upon that economic aspect of our life, and have not looked ahead to see what it might have to offer. We have hesitated and cringed before this Ogre “Depression, when we should have looked him level-eyed, in the face. The world needs men now just as the world has always needed men, but there never was a time where real preparation for work on the farm, work in the home, work in business or in the professions, would count for more than it does at the present time. And so let me suggest to each and all of you the taking on of a courage that will carry you through. Let not petty things distract or disturb you. It is said that a man is just as big as the things that annoy him, so to the V.S.A. Students I would say: Go forward with couarge in your heart, attack courageously the problems ahead of you, and to you will come a measure of success that may surprise even yourself. W. J. ELLIOTT, Principal. [ Page four ]