Research Guide prepared by Ray Ambrosi, CPRC May-July 2000

I had read that the commission was large and had done good work well-grounded in academic research. The Conference Paper (reviewed below) did contain reports of scientists and agriculturalists regarding dryland farming but appeared to contain little (perhaps no) information on social change and adaptation.

• Early development of farming and settlement in south west Sask
• Reasons for the investigation
• History of the investigation
• Physical features of the area studies
• Soil and water supply
• Agriculture and livestock development 1901-1920
• Tillage methods
• Irrigation
• Recommendations re. Soil survey
• Recommendations re. Experimental agriculture

General Summary: seems like a good source of information on farming conditions in south-western Saskatchewan. Brief summary of the table of contents:

• Society dissolved. Letter from govnt Deputy Minister announcing dissolution of Cupar Society. Noted that "changes in agricultural methods in the economic and social structure of the farming community in this area as in other provinces have resulted in a decided lack of support for Agricultural Societies. …. Seems to be due rather to changed conditions than to neglect on the part of the Societies officers. The result is that in this province there is now only 60 active societies instead of the 170 there were 25 years ago"
• Letters from govnt reminding Cupar Society that they have not submitted annual reports, replies from Cupar regarding difficult conditions.
• Membership lists 1927 for formation of agricultural society

• List "Receipts and Expenditures 1927" shows total cash income for society, revenue from exhibitions, value of prizes awarded

General: I have examined the records of sections I and II.

• Rep’s newsletter 1949-50. Short note on junior clubs, field days, variety shows, technical reports for better farming, weed grasshopper control etc., farm rally in Kenosee 1950,
• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #1.

• Agenda for meeting 1947
• Various correspondence between district supervisor and Ag Rep..

• Rep’s newsletter 1951. Short note on junior clubs, field days, variety shows, technical reports for better farming

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #3.

• Agenda for meeting 1947
• Various correspondence
• Minutes of meeting 1949– on establishment of community pastures, irrigation projects

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #3.

• Various correspondence
• List of agricultural committees in RM 44,45,46, 72,73,74,75,76
• Agenda for board meeting: discussion of bangs disease, cereal crop problems, conservation, films,

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #4.

• Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues.
• Map of Agricultural District #4.
• Various correspondence

• List of agricultural committees in RMs

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #5

• Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues.
• Various correspondence

• List of agricultural committees in RMs

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #6

• Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues.
• Various correspondence

• List of agricultural committees in RMs
• Agricultural Representative’s Letter – about summerfallow, pastures, meetings of the various RM committees; clubs and dates of field days. Includes map showing RM 187, 157, 156, 155, 154, 126, 125, 124, 95, 92. Grasshopper forecast map 1950; water erosion, wind erosion; technical recommendations for better farming.
• Lot of correspondence and letters
• Agenda for Ag Extension Program Board Meeting, series of maps shows location of field days, agricultural short course, junior clubs, demonstration plots, held in the District
• RM appointees and committee membership lists.
• Reports from the RM Agricultural Committees.

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #7

• "Planned programs for Agricultural Conservation and Improvement District 7 1951-52" – planned projects including land use surveys, fodder projects, soil conservation, weed eradication, tree planting, meetings, exhibitions and fairs,
• Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues.
• Various correspondence

• List of agricultural committees in RMs
• Agricultural Representative’s Letter – 1949, Feb 1950, about pastures, meetings of the various RM committees; clubs and dates of field days. Includes map showing RM 37, 38, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 96, 97, 98, 127, 128. Number of occupied farms, number of grain and calf clubs, Grasshopper control; technical recommendations for better farming.
• Agenda for Ag Extension Program Board Meeting, 1949, 1950 tillage methods, moisture conservation, agricultural soils projects, junior club activities,

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #8)

• "Planned programs for Agricultural Conservation and Improvement District 7 1951-52" – planned projects including land use surveys, fodder projects, soil conservation, weed eradication, tree planting, meetings, exhibitions and fairs,
• Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues.
• Various correspondence

• List of agricultural committees in RMs
• Agricultural Representative’s Letter – 1950 (14 issues) soil erosion, fall tillage for control of weeds, crops, exchange grain for seed, new forage program for seed, calfhood vaccination. Tree planting, grasshopper control, Map showing RMs 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 160, 161, 162, 163, 191. Agricultural field days, grasshopper forecasts, new chemicals for insect control
• Horticultural Society news letters (7 isssues)
• Agenda for Ag Extension Program Board Meeting, 1950 tillage methods, moisture conservation, agricultural soils projects, junior club activities,
• 1949 grasshopper outbreak forecast report. Very detailed.

• Annual Report of Agricultural Representative District #9

• Agricultural Conservation and Improvement District Board 9. Agenda of many meetings. Agenda for Board meeting- community pastures and problems with grazing, other local issues. The district includes 11 RM and 3890 farms.
• Agricultural Conservation and Improvement District Board 9. Minutes of annual meeting.
• RM 134 report. On inauguration of community pasture, land tenancy map to be completed
• Various correspondence
• Ag Committee Handbook District 9 – on land use; crops; livestock; rural youth training courses, clubs, camps; community development, farm variety shows, field days, machinery field day, livestock field day, agricultural societies, orchard projects

• List of agricultural committees in RMs
• Agricultural Representative’s Letter – 1949-51 (6 issues)

Agricultural District 10 (includes RM 109-112, 138-142)

Agricultural District 11 (includes RM 142, 167-172, 229-232)

Agricultural District 12 (includes RM 152, 181, 183, 211, 213, 241, 243, 244, 245, 275)

Agricultural District 13 (includes RM 217, 184, 185, 186, 214, 215, 216, 246, 247)

Agricultural District 14 (includes RM 159, 159, 189, 218, 219, 220, 248, 249, 250)

Agricultural District 15 (includes RM 190, 221, 222, 251, 252, 253, 281, 282, 283)

Agricultural District 16 (includes RM 193-95, 223-26, 254, 255, 256, 284)

Agricultural District 17 (includes RM 228, 257-262, 288-292)

Agricultural District 18 (includes RM 271, 273, 301, 303, 331, 333)

Agricultural District 19 (includes RM 274, 304, 305, 334, 335, 336, 366)

Agricultural District 20 (includes RM 276-280, 306-310)

Agricultural District 21 (includes RM 337-340, 367-370)

Agricultural District 22 (includes RM 312, 313, 314, 341-344, 371-373)

Agricultural District 23 (includes RM 285 – 287, 315-317, 345, 346, 376, 377)

Agricultural District 24 (includes RM 318-322, 349-352, 382)

Agricultural District 25 (includes RM 395, 944)

Agricultural District 26 (includes RM 941, 397, 427, 426, 456)

Agricultural District 27 (398, 399, 428. 429, 458, 459)

Agricultural District 28 (400-402, 430, 431, 460-463)

Agricultural District 29 (374, 375, 403-405, 434, 435)

Agricultural District 30 (378-381, 408-411, 439-443)

Agricultural District 31 (486, 487, LID 485, 488, 515, 516, 517, 518)

Agricultural District 32 (489-491, 519-521, 549, 550, 579-581)

Agricultural District 33 ( 464, 465, 493-495, LID 523-525, 555)

Agricultural District 34 (406, 436, 437, 438, 496, 498, LID 526, 528)

Agricultural District 35 (469-72, 499-502, 529, 531, LID 971)

Agricultural District 36 (LID 557-562, 587-592)

• Newsletter (actually mentions treaty Indians and Metis in the population and makes suggestion for formation of committee for community development, solving community problems. Trapping in area has diminished and more people in need of relief (welfare). To help alleviate this problem it was thought there was some land in area good for farming, gardening and ranching. This area had only recently had an AG rep assigned to the district). Other letter encourages northern people to grow gardens, raise food and reduce food costs. Notes on how to grow a garden and yields that can be expected.

Agricultural District North Eastern District. (1 folder) I.3

1947-51

• Planned program for improvement 1951-52 including land surveys, fodder projects, community pastures, regrassing, soil conservation, perennial weed eradication, roadside tree planting, reports from LID 19-28, 31, 32, 37
• North East Area Conference. September 7,8,9 1948 Proceedings of the conference. Reports of the various ag reps from districts 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 25, 26, 27, 28. Includes reports on formation of Junior clubs, grain clubs, tree planting, field days, fairs, community pasture projects
• North East Area Conference. March 9, 10, 11 1948 agricultural product prices and policies, Agricultural committess, meetings, fairs, municipal projects, youth training.
• North East Area Conference. October 1, 2, 3, 1947
• Report of the Agricultural Representatives for the North Eastern Area. On agricultural societies,, weed control, field days.

Districts 18-22, 25-28, 31, 32 Report of committees and minutes of conferences.

• Report on Agricultural Improvement program for 1947; minutes of meetings 47-48; related correspondence; planned program for 1947

• Interesting because it contains a lot of correspondence from women who sat on the Agricultural Advisory Council or District Agricultural Boards in the districts.
• Correspondence and memoranda re establishment, composition and function of committees and boards.

• Proposed questionnaire 1949 to be filled out by Ag Committee members. Questions cover:

1. Land occupancy: of farmers working an area that’s too small, how much land owned, how many farmers interested in moving to larger parcels of land
2. Land Use: # of farmers trying to grow crops on land better suited for other crops or pasture; how many have sloughs or wasted areas that could be used for crops; drainage problems; # of farmers breaking land that should be left in trees; effects of fertilizer; crops in order of importance.
3. Soil Conservation – drifting soil problem; water erosion; burning of stubble; crop rotation; planting trees; shelter belts; manure use
4. Water Supply: # of farmers with good wells; average depth; dugouts; dams; # of wells dug; livestock production limited by water supply; irrigation; #of streams that could be dammed; encouragement of beavers to build dams
5. Livestock: # of farms with little or no livestock; reasons for this; most common kind of livestock; quality of stock; what is cause of poor quality livestock
6. Machinery: # of farmers handicapped by lack of efficient machinery; how many farms are large enough and have enough machinery to work 2 farms; type of machinery needed most; what types of machinery should a field day be arranged for.
7. Buildings: # of farms with satisfactory buildings; # of farmers considering construction of new buildings; # of farmers interested in demo of planning and construction of buildings.

Correspondence re various projects

1. JF Allan
2. Thos Orr
3. LM Ogilvie
4. LJ Hutchison
5. FC Latta
6. CE Beveridge
7. WH Boucher
8. Alex Hall
9. PR Pedersen
10. SA Hyrtsak
11. A Blackstock
12. WE Walker
13. OA Cooke
14. JH Maduke

1. Cooper
2. AM Crowle
3. McIntyre
4. Oddie
5. Ogilvie
6. Hutchison
7. Orr
8. Snell
9. Boucher
10. AE Ogilvie
11. Palmer
12. Shirkie
13. Clark
14. Blackstock
15. Bunn
16. Walker
17. Morrison
18. Cooke
19. Maduke
20. Allan
21. Cirek
22. Durrant
23. Sandall

1. Crowle
2. Palmer
3. McIntyre
4. Ostlund
5. Ogilvie
6. Hutchison
7. Orr
8. Snell
9. Boucher
10. AE Ogilvie
11. Durrant
12. Shirkie
13. Bunn
14. Clark
15. Blackstock
16. Walker
17. Cooke
18. Morrison
19. Maduke
20. Allan
21. Sandall
22. Duck

1945 map of the agricultural districts, constituent RMs (total 25 districts)

1950 map of agricultural districts (total 36 districts)

1. RH Cooper
2. D. Wilde
3. WL Oddie
4. GH Robinson
5. JE Smith
6. KB McRae
7. AM Crowle
8. T. Orr
9. ??
10. AF Shaw
11. V Rea
12. WH Boucher
13. EW McKenzie
14. AE Ogilvie
15. JW Kunkel
16. ??
17. OE Wyler
18. M Brounstein
19. D. Hluchaniuk
20. LJ Boyes
21. LM Stalwick
22. FE Payne
23. OR Mooney (maps list the # of occupied farms)
24. A Kirk
25. BJ Strilchuk
26. E Clarke
27. BK McDonald
28. BM Blacklock
29. JH Maduke
30. AJ Rugg
31. JB Durrant
32. R Duck
33. T Rowles
34. JF Allan
35. ??
36. OB Young

Jan 1944 to Sept 1946

Memoranda regarding the use of agricultural films.

General: correspondence and memoranda re the establishment of and changes in the service.

• "Development and Plans for the Agricultural Representative Service" 1946 talks about how the expansion of the service will lead to greater service, shows effort/concern to link separated rural communities, improve the economic viability of farms, improve quality of life, promote a rural way of life
• "Publicity for the Ag Rep Service" plan for the dissemination of information Ag Service Reps

• "Foreword to Advisory Council District Board" by IC Nollet, Minister of agriculture. Plan for addressing problems faced by rural farmers ie loss of soil fertility; explains how the RMs are grouped into districts and their goal.
• Letter. To FH Auld, Deputy Minister of Agriculture 1935. Deals with settlers problems in area east of Saskatoon in RMs 372, 373 region area of rough land, poor soil, farmers receiving govnt relief. RM around Dundurn problems with poor land and families on relief. 8 to 10 farmers who haven’t paid taxes since 1926/7 and 20 families of "half-breed squatters".

1939-41

General: the annual reports will likely be a very useful resource in examining local conditions regarding weather, concerns of local people, the activities of clubs and societies, a general picture into rural life at the time. The annual reports in Agriculture Department Reports (bound series) are summaries/edited versions of the reports written by the district representatives. The versions in the archives (in the boxes outlined below) are far more detailed.

* mentioned very severe hailstorm in RM 8 and 9

All from 1943-44

For 1944 crop year *mention of severe hailstorms

1. I Clark
2. JI Clark
3. E Clarke
4. RH Cooper
5. AM Crowle
6. JB Durrant
7. TA Johnson
8. RN McIver
9. EW McKenzie
10. JH Maduke
11. WL Oddie
12. AE Ogilvie
13. T Orr
14. T Rowles
15. JE Smith
16. FA Snell
17. LM Stalwick

II.7a-II.7m

General: conferences. Discussion of agricultural policy; transcript on the benefits and drawbacks of various wheat varieties; I don’t’ think that this box has much of value to our study. There is very little local-level data, it all seems to deal with provincial level problems and issues, plans for conferences, and correspondence about how to organize, what should be in conference etc. Some local level data can be found ie) re problems in local areas regarding soils etc but this data is better found by going through reports of Ag Reps. The "Proceedings of the Ag Reps Conference Saskatoon, Sask" is a good overview of agriculture in the province, contains some coverage of local issues.

Conference on Summerfallow and Soil Drifting 1934. Report on soil drifting in Swift Current district

• Correspondence from the Agricultural Representatives to the Deputy Minister. Useful because they report on current activities and issues in their district. Covers years 1936-48, majority of the weekly reports from 1942
• 2^nd folder 1912-1916. Correspondence. Does not look useful for our project
• 3^rd folder correspondence looks more relevant. Very scattered content but is mainly local people writing to the Ag Dept to complain or report on some local happening, grasshopper or weed infestation, some crop reports
• Re-Organization of the Ag-Reg Service (1 folder) II.9

• Reports from 1935 by the ag-reps from various districts provide suggestions on how to improve the Agricultural Extension program/services. They talk about local concerns, issues affecting their communities, some comments on relief and rural poverty as a result of farming on marginal land. Also includes a SUMMARY of the suggestions made in reports by:

• 43^rd Annual Convention Sask Agricultural Societies. January 11-12, 1951 "Moosomin Fall Fair". activities of the ag society at the fall fair.
• 43^rd Annual Convention Sask Agricultural Societies. January 11-12, 1951. "The effect of electrification on rural living". On how electricity is changing the rural society, improving rural life, uses of electricity, problems with access/installation.
• 43^rd Annual Convention Sask Agricultural Societies. January 11-12, 1951. "Annual report of work participated in by Sask Agricultural socieites during 1950". Comments on social change, how mechanization has affected rural life, rural migration to towns results in depopulation and lack of leaders. List of districtg conferences in 1950, work (ie # of exhibitions, misc community fairs, general field days, seed fairs, poultry shows etc) accomoplished in 1950 compared to other years. On ag fairs, field days, summerfallow competitions, seed and poultry shows, boys and girls camps, youth training.
• Regional seed fair and other programs for crop improvement. Address to Ag Societies Convention Jan 12, 1950
• Discusses ag fairs, competitions, shows since the 1930s. How to hold a seed fair, generate interest
• Are farm rallies the answer? Address to Ag Societies Convention Jan 12, 1950. Difficulties faces by societies, history of the Wilkie Farm Rally, its aims and objectives
• Aims and Philosophy of Women’s Extension. Address to Ag Societies Convention Jan 12, 1950. On the role of women in rural society. How the Dept of Women’s Work is concerned with women’s contribution to rural life

GENERAL: correspondence re Junior Club Work, newsletters, minutes of conferences

• Summary of Inter-Calf Club Show and Sale in Weyburn June 30, July 1 1950
• List of towns participating, # of calves, weight, highest dollar amount, average value of calves, total sold
• Rules and Regulations on Beef Clubs. Schedule of calf shows in various towns
• Summary of Calf Club Show and Sale in Weyburn, July 1 &2 1946

Includes the following reports:

1. Cooperation in Agricultural Production- its advantages and limitations
2. Suggested Requirements of Plans for Cooperative Farming in Sask
3. The Cooperative Use of Farm Machinery
4. Cooperative Principles Applied to Agricultural Production
5. Considerations with Respect to Economic and Farm Management Aspects

of Cooperative Farming Projects

6. Sask Wheat Pool’s Program for Cooperative Farming
7. Here’s how Sask farmers beat the high cost of machinery.

III.7a – III.7j Feed and Conservation Assistance Program

General: the following folders in the box do not appear relevant to our study

III.8 – III.18

General: List of total folders is given below. Only relevant folders have summary. Fertilizer Trials (III.8) and Field Crops Branch (III.9) are mainly about fertilizer use and tests. No local level data regarding social conditions, rural problems or issues.

List of field days for 1951 included: Total Number

Farm machinery and harvesting 160

Poultry 12

Horticulture 20

Soils fertility and land use 30

Farm Home Modernization 20

Beekeeping 20

Misc. ??

Includes guidelines, procedures to Ag-Reps for planning Field Days

III.19 – III.34

Memoranda and correspondence on water development, clearing of lands, community pastures.

1934—35, 1943

Correspondence and petitions from RM 32 for relief cancellation of their debt for wine and repairs.

Statistics on repair costs by RM, seed and feed grain distribution.

Correspondence on how to build homes for rural families. (NOT really relevant to our study)

III.35 – 38

• Annual report on Weed Control 1930-1935 - these reports are thick and show the results of testing chemicals for weed control. Fascinatingly primitive
• Technical report on experiments. Seeding experiments, fertilizers, sugar beet drills, strip farming, gopher control.

• Weed control programs
• World’s Grain show and Conference 1933
• Reports of 1^st Ag-Rep JG Rayner 1915-1916 reports on conditions in various farming districts, type of work done, farmers visited.
• WG Palmer Reports. Feb 1944 report on agricultural conditions in Ag Rep district #2. Mentions the various ethnic communities in the District, soil types,

II. Agricultural Societies

Records of the dept of agriculture extension division: agricultural societies

"List of files in office of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture JN 1, 1947"

• "Letter to SH Vigor Field Crops Commissioner January 25, 1940"
• Letter deals with problems in field. Mentions difficulties for extension workers to educate farmers owing to many settlers poor command of english. Mentions that several fieldworkers speak Ukrainian but there are no french or German speakers to reach those immigrant groups. Farm Education weeks – comments that the farmers who need the information the most are the ones who do not attend. Mentions the success of the Muenster field days in 1938-39.
• Outline of lectures to be taught to students a the agricultural college.
• "Memorandum for Dean Shaw re Extension services directed from the College of Agriculture. 1932" - on the activities and responsibilites of the extension dept. Reports that in 1932 there were 32 swine clubs, 27 grain clubs, 8 baby beef clubs, 1 sheep club. On Boys and Girls Clubs – camps held since 1915. Seven camps are now held annually and total enrolment has risen to 1000. Camp activities for girls include judging needlework, domestic products, etc. Major prizes for boys are scholarships at the College of Agriculture.
• Various corresponsence with the Dept regarding locating multi-lingual people knowledgeable about agriculture to speak at conferences.
• Map of Russian-German communities – letter "to FH Auld May 8, 1925" comments that they don’t join agricultural societies and do not come to public meetings.

• Letter Feb 19, 1944. Ag-Rep Jack McIntyre comments on problems of dormant AIAs (Ag Improvement Associations) in his district which he ascribes to recent years of good crops, and shortage of labour. When land was dry, crops were poor and faced insect infestations, more people were interested.
• Letter Mar 14, 1944. Ag-Rep JF Allan comments that the AIAs in his district are all defunct apparently merged with Ag Societies

• Letter Feb 17, 1944. JH Maduke. Reports that AIAs in is districts are "dead, and dead, it seems to me, beyond revival"
• Letter Feb 17, 1944. Blackstock on AIAs
• Letter Feb 17, 1944. JR Bunn on AIAs
• Letter Feb 15, 1944. LM Ogilvie on AIAs
• Letter Feb 14, 1944. Ostlund on AIAs
• Letter Feb 14, 1944. T Orr on AIAs
• Letter Feb 14, 1944. AM Crowle on AIAs
• Letter Feb 12, 1944. WE Walker on AIAs
• Letter Feb 12, 1944. L Hutchison on AIAs

• "Agricultural Improvement Associations in Indian Head Territory by RM 1940"
• "Agricultural Improvement Associations in Scott Territory by RM 1939, 1940"
• "Agricultural Improvement Associations in Swift Current Territory by RM 1938, 1939"
• "Agricultural Improvement Associations in Scott Territory by RM 1939"
• "Reclamation Work under supervision of Experimental Farm, Indian Head by RM 1936-39" list by RM and Latitude-Longitude, land owner, and area.
• "Letter to Minister of Dept of Ag Feb 3, 1937" regarding soil-drift problems in the Primate area.
• List of Agricultural Improvement Associations 1937.
• Members of the Beechy, Macrorie, Lucky Lake, Kenaston AIA (name, location latitude and longitude, post office)
• "Conquest Report. January 23, 1935. Letter to N Ross, Chief of Tree Planting Division, Indian Head" on the Conquest districts plans to plant shelterbelts. Indicates social conditions in Conquest, shows local initiative and organization at grassroots level.

1. JF Allan,
2. JH Maduke,
3. CE Beveridge,
4. E. Waddington (comments on local conditions),
5. H. Child,
6. A Blackstock,
7. JH Coles,
8. LM Ogilvie,
9. FC Latta,
10. LJ Hutchison,
11. CL Hodgkins

• Reports by Ag Reps May 23, 1942. Some information on local conditions, lack of education among farmers leading high mortality rate among pigs (AM Crowle May2, 1942).
• Maps of Ag-Rep districts 1938
• Letter to FH, Auld, Deputy Minister of Agriculture from Mr. Newfield 1937. On successes and problems of farming conditions in Codette Region. Talks about actions taken to solve problems and on expertise provided by Ag-Rep.
• Letter to FH Auld, Deputy Minister of Agriculture from Raynmer, UofS 1937. On success of 2 day farm course for women at Wilkie, men’s courses also successful.
• Ag-Reps, year they joined the extension service, current salary. 1935

• Ag-Rep reports but they seem to be a repeat of the reports contained in folder Ag-Representatives. Re: Ag Field Service Activities Jan 16 1935 to Mar 8 1935 I.11

• Ag Rep report by J. McIntyre RM of Sherwood #159. Nov 15, 1955. History of Sherwood RM, current conditions, changes in cereal varieties and farming methods 1882-1955, excellent description of the changes undergone by the area. Lists issues in Sherwood region including drainage problems, wild oats, weeds. Statistics include: Population of RM, size of farms, residence on farm, # of boys and girls on farm, use of 2,4d, power, burning stubble, insect losses, crop rotation, fertilizer use

• "Coop Ag-Extension Program. Monthly reports by Ag-Reg" Month by month summary (12) of the activities of Ag-Reps for 1946, 47, 48. Includes days in office, days in field, farms visited, interviews, crop report completed, articles published, radio broadcasts made etc.

• folder contains proceedings of conferences 1947, 48. This is duplicate material reviewed in earlier folders.

• "Minutes of Provincial Advisory Council Meeting May 19, 1947" duplicate of info in the folder Supervisors Conference (1 folder) II.7n

• Ag-Rep Newsletter District 9 April 1947. Reflects local concerns with crops, irrigation, recreation, young farmer training, women’s issues, junior clubs,

War Measure board – correspondence re agicultural products/production during the war.

NOTHING. Files of the Canadian Produce Association.

• Map shows Electoral Districts and corresponding chart shows pop of each district, occupied dwellings, proportion of owner occupied dwellings, rooms per dwelling, persons per dwelling, external repair needed, furnace heating, electric lights, refrigeration (ice or mechanical), radio, automobile.
• Newspaper articles show concern with decreasing population
• List of Census divisions 1922 and # of farms in each division.
• Letter to AF Mantle Dep Minister of Ag April 29, 1915. Useful information about history and farming conditions in Bradwell trading district, Sask. Includes # of homesteaders who arrived, # who stayed, mechanization. Written by RJ Moffat from RM Blucher 343.

Grants paid to agricultural societies 1906- 1916 Includes seed fairs, stallion shows

Contains diplomas/certificates for winners (in various towns) of various cattle and horse shows. 1908-1910

• Reports from the directors of various ag societies. 1910 Reports are standardized and contain info in the following categories:
• Name, post office address, occupation of each member and amount paid for subscription to society
• Detailed financial statement of Society’s receipts and expenditures
• Statements of liabilities and assets
• Statement of the annual exhibition showing amount of prized offered, amount awarded for agriculture, livestock, domestic, manufactured articles, and number of entries in each category.
• Report of each meeting discussing agricultural subjects, the topic of the discussion, name of speaker, # of attendees
• Report on co-operative ag demonstrations
• Report on spring stallion show
• Report on stock judging competition
• Report on plowing match
• Report on good farming competition
• Report on competition in fields of standing grain
• Report on seed grain fair and poultry show

General: subject matter is very scattered. file contains instructions to Ag Societies, reports and comments by director of Extension concerning individual societies, penalties, deficiencies in accounting etc. Some comments on individual socieities & members/membership which may be useful in reconstructing a history of the region’s ag society and its activities.

• Letter to FH Auld Mar 23, 1917. Regarding poor and incomplete annual reports of ag societies from Aneroid, Colgate, Hanley, Maryfield, Mortlach, Shaunavon.

• Letter to VA Cathro, Recorder of Ag Societies. From dept director re the letters send in by socieites in 1938 to report they are inactive. These letters are used in liu of the society’s annual reports.

1. Arcola
2. Churchbridge
3. Fort QuAppelle
4. Hillsburgh and District
5. Lanigan
6. Lipton
7. Shaunavon
8. Watrous
9. Zealandia

• South East Area Flyer. August 1950. Refers to Regina, Indian head, Davidson, Yorkton, Estevan, Moosomin region. Talk at Carlyle includes lecture re the evolution of agricultural societies, why some have disappeared. Claims Carlyle society failed to keep up with ag mechanization and so died out. Recommendations on how to run a more successful show.

• Letter to MC Williams April 1950. List of societies organized prior to 1911. Those which did not have a ag fair in 1949 are noted. This might help show which societies began to fade around this time, shows which ones have remained active since 1911.

• "Report of Survey of Agricultural Societies in Saskatchewan 1949" by JG Rayner, Director of Extension, U of S. Presented to 42nd annual convention of Sask Agricultural Societies, Jan 1950. Very useful, 7 page survey examining how economic stresses and discouragement affecting rural leaders caused many ag societies to cease their function during 1930s. Need to look at archives of Ag Extension to see if there is archived data, transcripts etc. After the war, it was expected that the ag societies would revitalize, but this didn’t happen. Survey allows Societies to express their opinions, discuss dificulties, 10 meetings arranged in towns with several societies present:

1. Carlyle 7 (# of societies present)
2. Kerrobert 3
3. Lanigan 5
4. Melfort 8
5. North Battleford 11
6. Ogema 2
7. Outlook 9
8. Regina 5
9. Swift Current 5
10. Yorkton 10

1. Mechanization of crop production and decline in interest in livestock
2. Mechanization of livestock not at same pace with mech of crop production
3. Lack of diversification – dependence on crop production only
4. Trend towards bigger farms- resulted in lower rural pop, lack of interest in livestock crippled Ag societies
5. Declining pop resulted in lack of leadership, more responsibility for those remaining, greater distances to travel
6. Movement of people to towns for better services, less isolation- also resulted in lower livestock production
7. Mechanization- automobiles, ability to travel great distances quickly has changed the trading and marketing networks, greatly affected rural society.

• Letter to FH Auld Feb 19, 1944. Attached is "BRIEF for the Sask Reconstruction Council. Submitted by Sask Agricultural Societies Association.

• Letters from the Ag-Reps 1942. On the condition and role of Ag Societies in their districts. Letters from

• Letters from the Ag-Reps 1939. On the condition and role of Ag Societies in their districts. Letters from

• "Tighten up country fairs, 1933" – on the need to tighten rules on country fairs which in the 1930s were experiencing greater attendance from ‘outsider’ professional exhibitors with greater financial means and able to win top prizes at shows.

• Correspondence to the Minister of Agriculture re this issue

• Letter- memo to Mr Buckle June 1930. Correspondence re whether or not to grant official ‘status’ to towns wishing to establish Ag societies. Towns of Laura, Rosetown, Dinsmore, Kisbey, Neville want to establish new exhibitions in 1930. But this will conflict with existing exhibitions. Conflict among towns Laura-Delisle, Rosetown-Zealandia, Dinsmore-Bounty, Kisbey-Arcola, Neville-Vanguard and Cadillac.

• Letter to FH Auld February 1931. Letter re financial problems with Cut Knife Ag Society’s returns.

• Document "What part has been played by …" (1952? 3 pages) on the history of Ag Societies, the link between economic conditions and the level of activity of Ag societies, why many have dissolved and the current state of Ag Societies.

• Document "Our Radio audience will …" (1956 3 pages) transcript of a radio program broadcast. On history of Ag Societies, settlement, importance of Boys and Girls Clubs, the abandonment of some work by Ag-Societies due to changing economic & technological conditions, annual summer fairs decreased drastically in 1930s but recovered somewhat, impact of depression on ag societies, Horticultural Societies and their relationship to Ag Societies, role of Ag Society in improving agricultural conditions and gaining public support and improving quality standars.

• Document "The Agricultural Fair is probably the oldest … " (1946 2 pages) mentions the social importance of Ag fairs – opportunity for city people to meet rural people, way for producers to be recognized for their achievements, place where farmers could learn about new methods and improve. Notes that recreational activities (baseball games, midways, races) are drawing attention away from agricultural activities.

• "Agricultural Societies in Saskatchwan 1907" List of societies, name of president, secretary, address

• Letter feb 14, 1907 "I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14^th…" letter from the superintendent of Fairs and Institutes to advise that the establishment of an Ag Society at Marshall would be a poor idea given the close geographic proximity of other Societies (Lloydminster 13 miles to the west and Lashburn 8 miles east). Recommends waiting until the country is more densely settled. (Ray’s note Interesting because it shows the expectation that rural sask would be a thriving, densely settled area.)

• Agricultural Societies 1910. List of societies
• Agricultural Societies 1911. List of societies
• Agricultural Societies 1912. List of societies

• Minutes of meeting of Purdue Agricultural Society July 15 1911. Handwritten document listing members attending, date of annual fair.

• Letter to SE Greenway, Director of Ag Extension January 8, 1913. Re: details of how herbert agricultural Society was established and how it secured grounds and a building for their exhibition.

• "Reorganization of Agricultural Societies" (date unknown perhaps 1915 or so? 3 pages) lists some of the problems faced by Ag Societies – ag societies currently benefit town people more than rural people, lack of good leadership,

• Letter to FH Auld July 6 1916. "I have your letter of July 5 …" Re: problems with Ogema Ag Society and local conflicts.

• Letter and Ag-Rep Report. Letter August 30, 1922 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your weekly …" Ag-Rep Report Aug 19, 1922. Robsart district. Heavy rains, visiting communities, bad hailstorm 2 miles wide, 5 miles long near Clayton district. Clayton district in need of a community organization like an Agricultural Society,

• Various correspondence – requesting organization of Ag Societies in various small towns, Climax or Bracken, Rosetown,

Exhibition Returns 1912-1914 bundle; 1915-1916 bundle; 1916-1918 bundle

All the forms are the same. From the U of S College of Agriculture. Sample form as follows:

Assorted correspondence regarding the open house, costs, estimates of #s of attendees etc.

Indian Head Experimental Farm Poster for 1920.

Assorted correspondence regarding the open house, costs, estimates of #s of attendees etc.

Rosthern Open house 1920-21 Correspondence on the Experiemental Farm Open House

Letter Aug 6 1909. "I wish you would send me …" Re the success of the Arcola Fair held Aug 5 1909.

Sask Summer Fairs 1917- list of summer fairs, dates and location.

• Original hand-written document and typewritten draft from the Supreme Court of Sask – rough draft of the questions to be asked of machinery dealers regarding business practices. Source of the questions sent to the various dealers. 81 questions.

• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Rumley Products Comapany of Illinois, USA. Document "The following numbered questions have been submitted to RUMELY PRODUCTS COMPANY Ltd for answers thereto by the Royal Commission …" Appears to be a document from the Royal Commission on Farm Implements investigating the practices of farm implement dealers. Asks detailed questions about company agents, travelling salesment and collectors; security; repossessed machinery; notes; sales & interest rates charged; questions trying to learn about fair business practices (to which the company gives the standard fluff replies avoiding implicating themselves in any negative fashion)

• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Hart-Parr Company of Iowa, USA
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Waterloo Manufacturing Company.
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Cockshutt Plow Company Ltd.
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Massey-Harris Company
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Sawyer-Massey Company
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Nichols and Shepard Company, Michigan, USA. Includes price lists and other detailed info supplied by company.
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Emerson Brantingham Implement Company. "no two horses are of the same strength any more than two men wearing the same sized hat are of the same mental ability"
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by International Harvester
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Petrie Manufacturing Company
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co.
• Affidavit (answers to questions) by John Deere Plow Co.

Affidavit (answers to questions) by Emerson Brantingham Co.

• 1911 correspondence re the establishment of farmers clubs. One such club established in Wellington School District, Disley/Lumsden Sask

• Correspondence regarding the formation and activities of farmers institutes (Agricultural Associations) in early 1900s. Includes: Yorkton, Wolseley, Lorne Ag Society (Prince Albert), Arcola, Whitewood, Central Sask Ag Society, Indian Head, Saltcoats, Fort QuAppelle, Macleod Ag Society and their attendance of convention of Agricultural Societies in Calgary in 1902

• Institute meetings 1906-1909. Someone has made a note at the beginning of this file to say that this file "adds very little to the published reports of Agriculture Department" No local level data or info on specific conditions or social change.

• Several letters written 1909-1910 from Duck lake area. Request that the Superintendent of Fairs and Institutes, Regina, send a french speaking lecturer because most of the areas farmers are french and do not understand English.

• Poster advertising farmers meetings at:

• For exchanging "ideas about the best methods of conducting farming operations" "All farmers invited to be present and to take part in the discussion" Poster from Dept of Agriculture, Regina, May 21, 1909

• Letter from Royal Hotel, Howell, Sask 1909. Praises the lecture given by Mr Fraser on agricultural topics but mentions that locals only regret is that the lecture was not in French. Area is mainly French speaking. Also mentions formation of farmers Institute at Howell

• Letter March 18, 1909 "I beg to acknowldege recipt of your favor of …" on formation of Farmers Institute at Invermay.

• Various correspondence on formation of farmers’ institutes at Bruno,

• Letter Feb 9, 1910. Handwritten. To Dept of Ag "The meeting held at Kisby on the …" Letter praises the speakers at agricultural meetings in Kisby. States that the only regrettable thing was that the speech on home beautification would have been more effective if local women had been invited to the meeting – for " … It is the ladies who really make the home. I believe that had our ladies been present, the address of Mr Harvey at least would have been much more fruitful. I would suggest that an invitation be extended to the ladies on notices of these meetings."

• Other letters from Fillmore Feb 4 1910, Tyvan Feb 2, 1910 state that it was the general opinion of the town that had women been notified of the meeting, the audience would have been considerably larger.

• Poster advertising farmers meetings at:

Farmers meetings 1910 –1911 138

Extension Meetings 1911 139

Field Grain Competition 1911-1918 140

Field Husbandry Association 1940 141

Flour Milling and Gristing 142

Forms used by Ag Societies 143

Grants paid to Ag socieites.

Payment of Junior Ag Activities 1950

Davidson Junior Poultry Club

Herbert Junior Poultry

Piapot Grain Club

Redberry Junior Grain Club

Transportation records to inter club competitions 1945-1950

Assorted correspondence on the activities of Ag society grants

List of grants paid to exhibitions 1941. Listing by town name and amount paid

Assorted correspondence on the activities of Ag society grants

List of Grants paid in Connection with Class C Fairs 1951. Listing by town name and amount paid

List of various other grants paid to Ag Societies

1. Alsask
2. Asquith
3. Bethune
4. Biggar
5. Birch Hills
6. Bladworth
7. Bracken
8. Brownlee
9. Broadview
10. Carlton
11. Central Butte
12. Clinworth
13. Cupar
14. Cutknife
15. Cypress
16. Dinsmore
17. Delisle
18. Dubuc
19. Eaton
20. Fertile Belt
21. Fort QuAppelle
22. Grandview
23. Gull Lake
24. Hanley
25. Herbert
26. Hillsburgh and district
27. Hoosier Valley
28. Indian Head
29. Kelliher
30. Kinistino
31. Lake Chaplin
32. Lampman
33. Lanigan
34. Lashburn
35. Lipton
36. Long Lake valley
37. Lumsden
38. Luseland
39. Midale
40. Monet
41. Naseby
42. Mortlach
43. Oxbow
44. Piapot
45. Plenty
46. Quill Lake
47. Readlyn
48. Redberry
49. Semans
50. Shellbrook
51. Southey
52. Snipe Lake
53. Strasbourg
54. Tisdale
55. Vanguard
56. Viscount
57. Vonda
58. Wadena
59. Watson
60. Watrous
61. Windthorst
62. Willow bunch
63. Wolseley
64. Yellow grass
65. Zealandia

Other folders in this box which do not seem relevant include

List of homecraft clubs that received payment of grants for Junior Agricultural Activities 1951.

Blucher Busy Bees (Blucher)

Hi-Waw-Ken Club (Kennedy)

Hobbard Homecraft Club (Hubbard)

List of subsidised transportation costs for homeclub participants to travel to competitions.

• Letter January 17 1912 To WR Motherwell, Minister of Agriculture from FH Auld, U of S extension. "Mr Mantle advised me by …" States there are 27 homemakers clubs

1. Bladworth
2. Briarcliffe (regina)
3. Broadview
4. Carlyle
5. Cottonwood
6. Eden Grove
7. Fairlight
8. Glenavon
9. Glenrose (near N. Battleford)
10. Grenfell,
11. Indian Head
12. Kidd (Kenaston)
13. Kipling
14. Manor
15. Maryfield
16. Moosomin
17. Nolin (N. Battleford)
18. Pense
19. Percy
20. Poplar Park (Young)
21. Qu Appelle
22. Redvers
23. Sintaluta
24. Walpole
25. Whitewood
26. Windthorst
27. Wolseley

• "These places are mainly along the line of the CPR and CNR east of Regina, but others scattered here and there throughout the province indicate activities of one or more energetic women of those localities interested in the movement." Letter expounds upon the evolution of the Homemakers clubs in 1910 and 1911, their founders and how the clubs were modeled on the Women’s institutes of Ontario. Author notes their work is "of very great importance in connection with the improvement of rural life …" Makes suggestion that these groups receive grants similar to those given to Ag societies. Mr Auld adds that (though unlikely) if money paid to these groups ever equalled the 45 000 spent on Ag societies – it would be money well spent. (Ray’s note: Auld appears to be a ‘forward thinker’ in his support of women’s organisations and recognition of the interlinkages between social conditions and agricultural output)

• Other correspondence re the provision of financial assistance to rural Homemakers clubs.

• Correspondence about the addresses made by Homemakers Clubs, conventions. This material mainly describes organisational processes, when clubs should meet, who should attend. Does not contain much on local condition or much discussion on social topics.

• Letters from rural women (Herbert, Kindersley, Rose Plain) requesting information on Womens Clubs in Sask and the report of the Homemaker’s Club Convention in Feb 1911, info on how to start a Club.

• Newspaper clipping. Leader Post April 29, 1911. "Saskatchewan Homemakers Clubs" lists activities of clubs, speakers and location & dates of lectures

• Letter from Auld. Reply to Mrs Robert Ovens, Ovenstown, Sask August 14, 1911. Shows his encouragement for the local Homemakers club and suggestions on organization. In response to the letter to Auld. from Mrs Ovens Ovenstown, Sask, August 6 1911. She mentions that the women of her district just saw the report of the 1^st convention of the Homemaker’s Club and they are interested in forming club. This letter is particularly interesting:

• similar requests for information on Club organization from Fairlight Sask. Aug 14 1911.

• Document "Dozens and dozens of young men who have taken up …" By Lillian Beynon. Discusses the effect of the Homemakder’s Club and how women in the north knew very little about it. First Convention had a strong effect – local Homemakers clubs are working to solve problems inside their own territories. The convention helped the work more than any other form of advertising. "…women will for the first time realize that housekeeping and homemaking is not mere drudgery but a science and they will as one woman expressed it, get out and realise that they are part of society, something they never knew before."

• Document. "Report of Summer’s Work Among the Homemakers Clubs of Sask along the Main Line". By Lillian Beynon. Her report on work to establish Homemaker’s Clubs. Valuable document shows the early days of organization, her visit to Pense was interupted by dyptheria outbreak. Pense was building a rest room where rural women and children could rest safely while waiting for husbands, escorts etc. Work in Pense had attracted the attention of women in nearby towns who also wanted to organize. Reports membership grew in other clubs along the railway line and old feuds (based on personal or religious differences) were disappearing as women worked together. Info on

• List of members of Homemaker’s Club in Sask. Date unknown (maybe 1911?)

• Assorted correspondence – requests from many towns for information on establishing Homemakers Clubs.
• Early (1910-12 ???) article/short lecture for rural people on Eugenics. "our girls are now trained in the schools with a view to fitting them for their natural duties as keepers of the home …." (And this next quote is even ‘better’) "It is quite right to demand that every boy should know something of the science of preparation for war by training him in drills….." Article deals with role of women, training of children in hygenics. Immensely sexist.

Activities of the homemakers club at a conference in Toronto.

Membership list of Sask Homemakers Club 1914. (121 members)

• 1910-1912 Early homemaker’s club. Minutes of the Wolseley Convention – topics appear mainly to be recipes, making pickles etc. Correspondence on activities of clubs, requests for info on how to hold meetings etc from representative / presidents of clubs. Recipes

• article on thriftiness and saving money in and around the home.

• Article "It gives me great pleasure to …" (1912, one year after Regina Homemakers Convention. I cannot identify the author but it appears to be a well-known person. 9 pages). Article shows the great enthusiasm of the women re the success and popularity of the Clubs. Author advises against Homemaker’s Clubs taking up "Women’s sufferage and the Dower law" because "…many women are not in sympathy with this work and would not join the Homemaker’s if these subjects were the chief ones discussed." (Ray’s note: "not in sympathy with this work …" is ideal example of the patriarchal nature of society). Author seems to suggest that she believes that this should be a part of the clubs but thinks that clubs should become well-established before taking on such controversial issues. On the importance of establishing "Rest Rooms" – a place for rural women to wait while men are shopping, an welcome alternative to the hotels and the "stares of the men who are found around hotels". Homemakers club serving an educational function. Responsibility of women to "… educate their husbands to an appreciation of the work of the Homemaker’s clubs …" Urges that Homemaker’s club works for childrens health and hygene

• Article "Saskatchewan Homemaker’s Clubs". (perhaps also 1912 same author? 11 pages). Defines the functions of Homemaker’s Club – to promote interests of home and the community". Addresses the question of why the clubs should meet – just as doctors or farmers have associations to discuss their needs, homemakers "are realizing that it is helpful…to meet together in their own interests". "It is now being recognized that no woman can know by instinct everything connected with her work simply by because she was born of the feminine persuasion." Cites other cases in east Canada where women united in women’s institutes. List of possible topics for discussion at women’s meetings. How to develop and advertise a club.

• Correspondence to women re the conference in Wolseley July 20, 21 1911. Asking various women to speak on certain topic etc.

• Correspondence 1911 – mainly on where to hold meetings, inviting speakers, organising. Correspondence to Rouleau club, Glenavon Correspondence between FH Auld and Mary Mantle, Lillian Beyton, Grace Armstrong, handwritten letters from Mary Mantle,

• Letter to FH Auld (Handwritten. 2 pages) "Dear Sir, Your letter awaited me on my return …" From Balgonie SK May 1 1911. On the propagation of the women’s movement in Sask.

• Letter by Mary S Mantle July 6 1911. Windthorst. "We reached windthorst on Sports Day and several ladies had a mental tussle to determine which was most attractive – the baseball game with tehir husbands or the Homemaker’s Club Meeting". On the topics discussed by the club.

• Letter by Mary S Mantle 1911. Kennedy. Meeting in July 5, the day after their annual sports day. Ladies were all very tired and had little interest in the Homemakers Club. "The only 2 ladies in the meeting who were really interested had driven from Bender to hear all the they could about the Clubs. They want to organise if enough are interested. They have one enthusiast at Bender, Ms J Clarke and 2 or 3 who might easily catch the disease. A list is attached of names to whom literature might profitably be sent as published".

• Letter by Mary S Mantle 1911. July 11 meeting in town hall. "It was the day before the Annual Sports Day and in addition, as one lady described it, they were "having the 12^th here this year". Meeting was not well advertised – only sent out advertisments & posters the morning of the meeting. Mantle advises against trying to organize in the town because there are already:

3 Ladies Aid Societies

1 Hospital Aid society

1 Women’s Christian Temp. Union Society

1 C.E. Society

1 Women’s Missionary Society

• Letter by Mary S. Mantle 1911. Kisbey. July 10^th meeting. Town women were interested but felt that society wouldn’t have enough members to keep it going. Advised against organizing saying that "… they are not ready in Kisby," M Mantle send in (to U of S extesnion) a list of women to whom they should send literature re the Societies.

• Letter by Mary S. Mantle 1911. Kenaston. "I did not organize here. There were only a few at the meeting who intended to stay in the district and they were not keen enough to make it advisable to organise. 2 women who were interested were encouraged to go to neighbouring Bladworth.

• Letter by Mary S. Mantle 1911. Rose Plain. Ladies in this town have an "Open door Circle" and were interested in Homemakers and talked about merging their Circle into the Homemakers club.

• Letter by Mary S. Mantle 1911. Wauchope. Considerable interest in Club. Whooping cough epidemic kept many away

• Letter by Lillian Beyton. 1911. (Typed 6 pages) To FH Auld. "Dear Mr Auld, The summer’s work as outlined by you is finished and I …" Reports on her activities organizing the Clubs. Northern area of province is more unaware of the Organization but anxious to find out about it. Many people hear of the organizing work and believed it "would be fine thing for somewhere else but feared it would not be a success in their particular district". Reports that her original fear that she would find bands of disorganized women (who had been haphazardly organized the previous year) was unfounded. Many groups were very enthusiastic. Reccomends that a woman be appointed to keep in touch with the various clubs.

• Correspondence between Lillian Beyton of the Manitoba Free Press and FH Auld, Director of Agricultural Extension, U of S. October, November 1910

Seems irrelevant. Files relating to horse racing 1909 to 1948 approx.

File #1 1928 to 1943. (no indication as to where the 2^nd file can be found) Directors report for all years contains: List of members, assets and liabilities, receipts and payments.

There is some information on the clubs activities – fairs and exhibitions etc but this info will be found in greater detail in the Ag Dept Annual Reports and other archives files

SAME CONTENT

SAME AS ABOVE

• Second Annual Report of the Director of Ag Extension on the work of Horticultural Societies. For years 1929, 1931. Good information on the activities of horticultural societies province-wide. volume.

• Acts of government, legislation, laws, in published book form governing the activities of Horticultural Societies.

Original files and records from 1890s.

• Seems largely irrelevant.
• Schedule of Ferries 1910. List of 32 ferries operating in Sask,, location, amount of traffic carried.
• Letter. To James Murray, Supt. Of Fairs and Institutes Jan 24, 1908. From Earnst Early, of the Marshall Farmer’s Institute. "Dear Sir, On the 4^th February 1907, I wrote Hon. Mr Motherwell asking …." Re the need for Ag society & gov lecturers in Marshall. Distance from Marshall to Lashburn (where there was an Ag society and govt lectures) was too great.
• Letter and Reply. Reply dated 28^th May 1906 – re the request for establishment of an agricultural society in Weyburn. Original letter, John Dalgliesh inquires about the rules governing establishment of ag society, and of previous attempt to establish society by George Harcourt in 1903 (three years earlier).

"Report of Exhibition" appears to be a standardized form of the Ag Dept for listing activities at Exhibitions. Below is complete copy of the report’s content:

1. Horses: number good but quality poor except in stallion classes
2. Cattle: good
3. Sheep:
4. Swine:
5. Poultry: fairly good
6. Grain:
7. Vegetable:
8. Miscellaneous:

These records exist for exhibitions at the following communities:

1. Abernathy, Aug 2, 1911
2. Alameda, Aug 1, 1911
3. Alameda, Aug 1, 1911
4. Bladworth, July 29, 1911
5. Broadview, Aug 10-11, 1911
6. Brownlee, Aug 4, 1911
7. Canora, July 26, 1911
8. Carlyle, July 6, 1911
9. Carnduff, Aug 5, 1911
10. Carnduff, Aug 5, 1911
11. Churchbridge, July 21, 1911
12. Churchbridge, July 21, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
13. Craik, July 27, 1911
14. Creelman, Aug 11, 1911
15. Davidson, Aug 16, 1911
16. Dubuc, Aug 3, 1911
17. Elston, July 26, 1911
18. Fairmede, Aug 9, 1911
19. Foam Lake, July 27, 1911
20. Foam Lake, July 27, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
21. Fort QuAppelle, July 26, 1911
22. Francis, July 21, 1911
23. Gainsboro, Aug 4, 1911
24. Gainsboro, Aug 4, 1911
25. Govan, July 24, 1911
26. Grenfell, Aug 15, 1911
27. Hanley, Aug 1, 1911
28. Humboldt, July 31 to Aug 1, 1911
29. Indian Head, July 25-26, 1911
30. Kelliher Aug 2, 1911
31. Kelliher Aug 2, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
32. Kennedy, July 28, 1911
33. Lanigan, Aug 9, 1911
34. Lashburn, July 28, 1911
35. Lipton, Aug, 1, 1911
36. Lloydminster, Aug 1, 1911
37. Lumsden, Aug 15, 1911
38. Melville, Aug 17, 1911
39. Moosomin, 1911
40. Nokomis, Aug 3, 1911
41. Nokomis, Aug 3, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
42. Outlook, Aug 3, 1911
43. Oxbow, Aug 2, 1911
44. Oxbow, Aug 2, 1911
45. Punnichy, Aug 4, 1911
46. QuAppelle, Aug 15&16, 1911
47. Quill Lake, July 28, 1911
48. Rothern, Aug 3 & 4, 1911
49. Saltcoats, July 20, 1911
50. Saltcoats, July 20, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
51. Sintaluta, Aug 16, 1911
52. Stockholm, Aug 4, 1911
53. Stoughton, July 26, 1911
54. Strassburg, July 27-28, 1911
55. Togo, July 25, 1911
56. Unity, Aug 4, 1911
57. Wadina, July 27, 1911
58. Wapella, Aug 18, 1911
59. Weyburn, July 27-28, 1911
60. Whitewood, Aug 17, 1911
61. Wilkie, Aug 2, 1911
62. Windthorst, Aug 3, 1911
63. Wolseley, Agu 1 and 2, 1911
64. Wynyard, July 28, 1911 (second record – more thorough)
65. Wynyard, July 28, 1911
66. Yorkton, 1911
67. Yorkton, July 25, 26, 1911 (second record – more thorough)

1910: considerable amount of correspondence from various people dealing with the local fairs. Topics cover: activities, quality, problems, commendable issues, cooperation of officials & townspeople etc.

Letter. On letterhead "The Pioneer Stock Farm. RE Drennan Manager" deals with the Yorkton exhibition, the excellence of the Saltcoats Ag Exhibition "… the best, one day agricultural show that I have seen in Canada". Establishment of Ag Society at Foam Lake, Prince Albert show, Mefort show.

Letter. From Wolseley, Sask. Aug 23, 1909 (handwritten 6 pages) "Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of the 17^th …" interesting reports on local activities, farming conditions. Comments on the excellence of the Saltcoats fair, Churchbridge fair, Strassbourg, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Melfort fair generally a failure with complaints against hotel men monopolizing fairs for horse-racing and drawing crowds (to their saloon); Kennedy; on gamblers who follow fairs and how the Mounted Police drove away the gamblers at Melfort.

Other assorted correspondence by various men reporting on fairs in small towns including: Duck Lake, Carlyle, Raddision, Lloydminster, Lashburn, Rosthern.

Letter. Tantallon Farm Aug 25, 1908. From James Douglas (2 pages handwritten). Comments on the fairs mentioned in the previous letters – Yorkton Fair (July 6, 7 and 8), Churchbridge (July 23), Saltcoats (July 24), Strassburg (July 30 and 31), Lipton (July 4), Fort QuAppelle (July 4). Debuc (Aug 5), Abernethy (Aug 6), Nacomis (Aug 10 and 11)

(Ray’s note: there are a considerable number of reviews of the same exhibitions and several others too. These could be used to reconstruct or examine economic climate in region. Perhaps Saltcoats show was better because of better socio-economic condition of the region.)

Judges and Judging (1 folder) i.180

Letter (handwritten 3 pages) From Mr. F. Kirkham, Saltcoats April 25, 1911. "Dear Sir & director, Not having been a competitor in …." Kirkham complains about biased partisan judges in ag competitions. Includes reply from Dept of A.

Letter (handwritten, 2 pages) From Mr. J. Teece, Abernethy, April 27, 1911. "Dear Sir, your to hand re standing fields competition and in answering …" Teece mentions partisan judges and how appointed judges are pro-government and that fully qualified non-partisan farmers are not appointed judges. Includes reply from Dept of Ag

Assorted correspondence between individuals and Dept of Ag re the nomination of Judges to be done by local Agricultural Societies.

"Annual Convention, Sask Agricultural Societies. Saskatoon, Sask. January 12 and 13, 1939. Impression of Agricultural Fairs. By ME Hartnett. About the importance of fairs, what they are trying to accomplish, objectives, their educational function, and socializing function by encouraging youth. Shows how the fairs were seen during that period.

Record books used by the judges at agricultural fairs to record scores.

Agricultural Societies. Legislation (1 folder) i.185a

Correspondence by within the dept of ag re Agricultural Societies which did not hand in yearly financial returns and so lost their charters as Ag Societies. Some letters deal with attempts to revive the Societies which faded during the 1930s.

Correspondence dealing with control of gambling at exhibitions and agricultural society events.

Correspondence. Oct 15, 1918 "Memo to Mr Motherwell. Re License fees for travelling shows" discusses license fees and urges closer monitoring of these shows to prevent gambling ‘swindlers’. Short excerpt from a letter after the N Battleford and Prince Albert fairs from a citizen urging that police stop ignoring gambling and work to protect the ‘simple rural people’.

Agricultural Societies. Legislation (1 folder) i.185b

Irrelevant. Deals with laws, legislation, Ag Society Act.

nothing

Original correspondence between WR Motherwell and FH Auld. 1942 Mainly deals with farming conditions during the war.. Motherwell’s handwriting is difficult to read and so I didn’t spend weeks trying to decipher it. Motherwell seems to have said that in 1942 some soldiers returned to Canada to help with the harvest because of concerns that the crops would not be harvested due to a lack of farm workers. On the war – "… the inhumane panther from Berlin seems ready to spring all along the west coast of Europe…"

Letter. Sept 2, 1938 to Mrs Miriam G Ellis, Family Herald and Weekly Star. "Dear Mrs Ellis, I have your letter of the 29^th …" Mentions Motherwell’s early days farming and hardships, his good farming methods and discoveries, the Abernethy hotel and Mr Motherwell’s work and investment in establishing that hotel which later burned causing him considerable personal loss. Mentions an armed rebellion of farmers which almost took place "…about forty years ago …" and Motherwell’s role in calming them. They had planned and armed capture of the grain elevator at Sinataluta.

Correspondence between society reps and the Ag Dept re payment of prizes, securing of grants to Societies, establishment of Societies etc.

Letters from the following towns all date from 1908-1913

1. Arelee
2. Edam
3. Sceptre
4. Scott (Tramping Lake)
5. Moose Jaw (Sask grain growers Assoc)
6. Radville – request for judges, lecturers and grant money
7. Tugaske – inquiry re establishment of society
8. Val Blair – inquiry re establishment of society
9. Bonnie – inquiry re establishment of society, guest speakers
10. Pleasant Valley – inquiry re establishment of society
11. Biggar – inquiry re establishment of society
12. Morse – inquiry re establishment of society
13. Emmaville – inquiry re establishment of society
14. Mervin – inquiry re establishment of creamery
15. Milestone
16. Lloydminster
17. Outlook – Outlook society registers complaint about a newly established society at Bounty which infringes on their territory.
18. Hawarden- inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies.
19. Macoun – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies
20. Alsask – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept
21. Tynecastle – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept
22. Montmartre – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept
23. Manna Lake – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing large percentage of applicants are not farmers.
24. Calder
25. Raymore
26. Tantallon
27. Radville
28. Elbow
29. LID 466 (Rabbit Lake)
30. Montmarte (1910)
31. Fisk
32. Viscount – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies
33. Bridgeford – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies
34. Tugaske - inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies
35. Watrous
36. Wynot
37. Kinistino
38. Halcyonia
39. Marshall – inquiry re establishment of society and refusal by dept citing nearby active societies
40. Waseca
41. Weyburn
42. Canora

Similar contents to previous folder.

• General info on plowing matches, rules governing plowing matches, on organizing provincial plowing matches,

• Records of Plowing matches 1921. Standardized forms includes following categories:

Poster. "Plowing Match. 1^st annual plowing match of Redvers Agricultural Society" June 1911. Outlines the events, and rules.

Letter to FH Auld. From DW Hogg in Wapella March 27, 1911. (handwritten 1 page) "Dear Sir, I hope you will excuse me for being…" letter provides details on the revitalization of the Wapella Agricultural Society.

Inquiries to the Dept for rules on how to hold plowing matches & related correspondence.

Poster. "Fairmede Agricultural Society Plowing Match on the Farm of R.L. Kidd in front ot Fairmede Hall Wednesday June 15, 1910." Poster includes events and rules.

Reports from various small town on the plowing matches they held. Usually contain very little detail – they don’t say much about what happened or about local conditions.

Poster. "Lumsden Agricultural Society Plowing Match. June 8, 1910" list of events, cash donations and rules. "Come and enjoy the Greatest Farmer’s Holiday in the North Regina District"

Report on the activities of the N. Battleford Plowing Match. From Dominion Experimental Farms, Indian Head June 1909. List of winners, Notes that there was little interest

Poster. "Marshall Ag Society Ploughing Match" Wed June 10, 1909.

Poster, Creelman Ag Society Plowing Match June 26, 1908

• More of the same kinds of information.

• "Returns re Ploughing Matches." Standardized form from the U of S College of Agriculture. Are statements re the prizes paid in ploughing matches 1918.

1. Sintaluta 1918
2. Willmar 1918
3. Cullen 1918
4. Alameda 1918
5. Kinistino 1918
6. Moose Jaw 1917
7. Cabri 1917
8. Paynton 1916
9. Craik 1916
10. Cut Knife 1916
11. Raymore 1916
12. Bradworth 1916
13. Moose Jaw 1916
14. Fairmede 1916
15. Wynot 1916
16. Raddison 1916
17. Sintaluta 1916
18. Saltcoates 1916
19. Hearne 1916
20. Willmar 1916
21. Wilmar 1916
22. Rosthern 1916
23. Tugaske 1916
24. Lipton 1916
25. Wapella 1916
26. Birch Hills 1916
27. Perdue 1916
28. Foam Lake 1916
29. Maxim 1916
30. Fort QuAppelle 1916
31. Tantallon 1916
32. Woodrow 1915
33. Prince Albert 1916
34. Midale 1916
35. Oxbow 1916
36. Kinistino 1916
37. Carlyle 1916
38. Percy 1916
39. Unity 1916
40. Shellbrook 1916
41. Conquest 1916
42. Wilkie 1916
43. Alameda 1916
44. Redvers 1916
45. Avonlea 1915
46. Unity 1915
47. Lanigan 1915
48. Balcarres 1915
49. Willmar 1915
50. Avonlea 1915
51. Sonningdale 1915
52. Sintaluta 1915
53. Semans 1915
54. Tate 1915
55. Lymeric 1915
56. Purdue 1915
57. Fairmede 1915
58. Colgate 1915
59. Shellbrook 1915
60. Creelman 1915
61. Alsask 1915
62. Foam Lake 1915
63. Paynton 1915
64. Alameda 1915
65. Grenfell 1915
66. Saltcoats 1915
67. Aneroid 1915
68. Cutbank 1915
69. Melville 1915
70. Kinistino 1915
71. Arcola 1915
72. Elstow 1915
73. Willmar 1915
74. Cutknife 1915
75. Rosthern 1915
76. Togo 1915
77. Radisson 1915
78. Wordsworth??? 1915
79. Sintaluta 1915
80. Antler 1915
81. Haqlbrite 1915
82. Prince Albert 1915
83. Lipton 1915
84. Wynyard 1915
85. OxbowRuddell 1915
86. Wapella 1915
87. Wilkie 1915
88. Tanatllon 1915
89. Cabri 1915
90. Arran 1914
91. Moose Mountain 1914
92. Oxbow 1914
93. Prince Albert 1914
94. Lanigan 1914
95. Lumsden 1914
96. Fairmede 1914
97. Aneroid 1914
98. Bigford 1914
99. Perdue 1914
100. Yorkton 1914
101. Saltcoats 1914
102. Lemsford 1914
103. Shellbrook 1914
104. Creelman 1914
105. Lipton 1914
106. Colgate 1914
107. Arcola 1914
108. Alameda 1914
109. Elston 1914
110. Pelly (Norquay) 1913
111. Pelly (Arran) 1913
112. Grenfell 1914
113. Wynyard
114. Melville
115. Midale (Macron)
116. Oxbow
117. Tantallon
118. Redvers
119. Raymore
120. Ogema
121. Lymeric
122. Vonda
123. Wilkie (Narrow Lake) 1914
124. Conquest 1914
125. Wilkie (Narrow Lake) 1913
126. Moosomin 1913
127. Saltcoats 1913
128. Churchbridge 1913
129. Carlyle (Moose Mnt Society) 1913
130. Lipton 1913
131. Yorkton 1913
132. Melville 1913
133. North Battleford 1913
134. Redvers (held at Wauchope) 1913
135. Fairmede 1913
136. Balcarres 1913
137. Midale 1913
138. Perdue 1913
139. Colgate 1913
140. Alameda 1913
141. Conquest 1913
142. Elfros 1913
143. Kelliher 1913
144. Creelman 1913
145. Lumsden Agricultural Society 1913
146. Tantallon 1913
147. Vonda 1913
148. Grenfell 1913
149. Mayfield 1913
150. Fairview 1912
151. Mayfield 1913
152. Fairmede 1912
153. Balcarres 1912
154. Mannon 1912
155. Oxbow 1912
156. Goodwater 1912
157. Conquest 1912
158. Colonsay (Elstow Ag Society) 1912
159. Redvers 1912
160. Mayfield 1912
161. Mayfield Ag society 1912
162. Perdue 1912
163. Redvers 1912
164. Vonda 1912
165. Imperial 1912
166. Melville 1912
167. Saltcoats 1912
168. Quill Lake 1912
169. Lipton 1912
170. Halbrite 1912

Doesn’t seem relevant – mainly on poultry and poultry marketing boards

On poultry production, hatchery regulations, prizes and prize lists

Correspondence re the entry fees and various fee systems used by the Ag Society annual exhibitions.

Letter. From Wakaw Lake Agricultural Society. Jan 13, 1930. States that the Wakaw Lake Ag Society had almost disappeared but was revived by efforts of a "half-dozen men" Indicates that area is 95% Ukrainian, Hungarian, German, French Canadian and this ethnic diversity has created problems and stresses in the area. "In spite of this fact…… and religious interference ….. we have had most phenomenal growth."

Document. From Extension Dept, College of Agriculture, Saskatoon, Sask. Jan 31, 1924. "to Officers and Directors of Agricultural Societies". Summary of useful information as follows:

"Ag socieites are now considered permanent institutions of the people, in 1923, approx 200,000 people attendeded exhibitions in Sask. "Probably the statement is true therefore that no other agency annually exerts a greater influence educationally on agriculture than the exhibitions." Were 148 exhibitions in Sask in 1923. All (with very few exceptions) were supported by govnt grants equal to 50% of prize money for live stock, agricultural and domestic products.

Includes rules of fairs and exhibitions and a list of categories of events/prizes. Sewing and handicraft category indicates that production of clothing was still an important home industry, an economic necessity.

Prize lists for the following communities. These lists are small booklets which announce the date of the fair, rules and regulations covering farm garden competition, home grounds and garden, good farming competition, forage crop competitions, horse pulling contest, horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, grains, fruits and canned goods, plants and flowers, bees and honey, dairy products, domestic products, fancy work, art. A Junior section includes cattle, pig, poultry, turkey, exhibitors contest, stock judging, cooking, fancy work, noxious weeds, sheaves, List of donations and names of contributors. Name of society holding exhibition:

• Model town fair - a template for the layout of prize books. Seems to be published by Ag Extension for showing the Ag Societies how to put together such a booklet. 1913
• Wakaw 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929
• Gravelbourg 1928
• North Battleford 1954
• Carlton 1916, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1932 (3 copies), 1933 (2 copies), 1934, 1935 (3 copies), 1937
• Kelfield 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 1924, 1927
• Edmonton Exhibition 1939
• Grandview 1930, 1931 (3 copies), 1932,
• Toronto, Royal Winter Fair 1946
• Regina 1940, 1941
• Regina, Official Prize list for Sask Sheep and Swine show 1937, 1938, 1940
• Regina, Commonwealth Hereford Show 1955
• Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers 1940
• Saskatoon Exhibition 19??, 1941
• Moose Jaw Poultry Association Turkey and Poultry Show 1954

Some transcripts of radio forums on Grain Marketing Policy 1942-43. No local level information.

The way to higher barley yields

Barley Situation in 1942

List of programmes of grain shows, prize lists as follows:

Regina, 1910. Ag Society’s Convention and Grain Show

Saskatoon 1912 Ag Society’s Convention and Grain Show

Saskatoon 1958 Seed Fair Prize List

Saskatoon 1958 Farm and Home Week 1958

Saskatoon 1936 Farm Week

University of Sask, College of Agricult. 1925 Programme of Convention of Ag Societies (useful flowchart showing structure of Ag Extension and various responsibilities.

University of Sask, College of Agricult. 1925 Programme of Convention of Ag Societies

University of Sask, College of Agricult. 1922 Programme of Convention of Ag Societies

Saskatoon 1914. Provincial Seed Fair

Remaining info in this file is mainly correspondence re the arrangement of subsidized travel of Ag society members to Conferences. Seems irrelevant for our purposes.

• Short history of the Societies, suggestion that Ag Societies promote cooperatives as reaction to the growing economic difficulties facing farmers. On criticisms of the Exhibitions as being too commercialized; the role of women in making the exhibits a success. The creation of new societies at Dummer, Vidora, Delisle and Kelvington, total of 154 societies total paid membership of 26,000

• Total of 150 exhibitions held but quality was poor, field competitions, plowing demos, activities for boys and girls, junior pig clubs, Farmsteads and farm homes – labour saving equipment, shelterbelts etc.

Annual Message to Sask Ag Societies Societies Including Report of the More Important Work Undertaken by the Societies During 1928." Presented by Rayner, Dir of Ag Extension to Ag Society Convention 1929.

• Announces formation of new societies at Nopawin and Willowbunch. Announces formation of Horticultural Societies in Sask which are to be involved in tree planting, beautification of home, farm, public grounds. Seen as sister organizations to Ag Societies. "(p.2) the Ag Societies of Sask area group of virile, progressive organizations which are very definitely assisting the rural communities to face successfully the great problems of present-day agriculture".

• Notes social change and worries/rumors that ag exhibitions are facing danger. "Rumours are heard of … the automobile robbing our young people of their one-time interest in exhibiting and in good livestock." "Agriculture is changing, rural conditions are changing and the exhibition (or any other community activity) must be changed to meet the new conditions and needs".

• List of exhibitions graded as excellent 1923-1928 (p.4) Anticipates that use of motor vehicles will increase the number of exhibits (Note: mechanization and its effect on social conditions/change). Other topics include: class C exhibitions; Stock Judging Competitions; Machinery row exhibitions; Plowing matches; field competitions; Seed fairs; World grain exhibition 1932; Poultry shows; boys and Girls work; Building activity (communities that built halls and exhibition buildings such as Maryfield, Elstow, Gainsborough, Macrorie

Annual Message to Sask Ag Societies Societies Including Report of the More Important Work Undertaken by the Societies During 1933." Presented by Rayner, Dir of Ag Extension to Ag Society Convention 1934.

List of Societys’ activities during year – exhibitions, boys clubs, community rallies. Expresses surprise that the Ag Societies were still able to carry on despite the economic hardship and the end of government grants. During that time govn’t discouraged Exhibitions etc not because they questioned their value but to avoid Ag Societies from possibly going into debt and dissolving completely. The role of the exhibition as an educational too (p.6-7). Boys and girls’ clubs, Field days and their educational use as a substitution for exhibitions during the 30s.

Annual Message to Sask Ag Societies Societies Including Report of the More Important Work Undertaken by the Societies During 1935." Presented by Rayner, Dir of Ag Extension to Ag Society Convention 1936.

Reports that the charters of the following societies were cancelled in 1934 because of inactivity (they didn’t submit any reports or letters to the dept for 3 years): Dummer, Elfros, Olangham, Sintaluta, St Louis, Wakaw Lake. In 1935, the following charters were about to be cancelled: Aneroid, Cabri, Harte Butte, Pelly, Rosetown, South QuAppelle, Wynyard. If these are cancelled, the total # of societies will be 153 (peak total was 167). Work done in 1935 includes: Agricultural exhibitions, Girls and boys camps (mentions camps at Estevan, Lloydminster, Melfort, North Battleford, Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn, Yorkton), Boys and girls clubs and summary of club work, discussion of grain clubs and how they are usually sponsored by grain companies rather than Ag Societies. Notes the deterioration of the Ag Societies – orginally set up for sponsoring Ag Improvement Activities and given funds for this, about 50% now ignore this duty. Ag Societies have decreased in depression years but Homemakers Clubs have increased from 238 in 1930 to 330 in 1935 and increased their programs. (Ray’s note: It is possible that as economic hardship increases, brunt of poverty falls upon women and children leading to increased interest in their welfare.

10 day farm schools at Yorkton, Melville. Melfort & Kelvington Ag society held 4 day short course. Activities of Edenwold Ag Society. Signs of Revival of Ag Societies.

Annual Report of the Work of Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies During 1936. Presented by J.G. Rayner, Director of Ag Extension to Agricultural Society Convention 1937.

Notes that most societies are inactive, expresses disappointment at Society’s seemingly indifferent attitude. Note that most of their duties have been taken over by other organizations. Notes that involvement of boys and girls in clubs has increased significantly from 1930 to 1936. Lack of Ag Society sponsorship of junior clubs. Larger enrollment in 1936 compared to 35 at Boys and Girls Camps (mentions Moose Jaw, Tisdale). On the demise of Class C fairs and attempts at their revival, levels of interest in fairs. Interest in exhibitions would likely increase if the grants to societies were re-established – feels that if there were grants, the societies would be active. Critical of the Agricultural Society’s inactivity citing the fact that when rural people needed the Societies the most (when crops failed, economic depression set in, grants were cancelled) they failed to take action and just dissolved in apathy. Mentions that the Melfort area has had an active socitety for many years and asks rhetorically if the Melfort area has better ag conditions than Govan area which has been inactive for years.

Annual Report of the Work of Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies During 1937. Presented by J.G. Rayner, Director of Ag Extension to Agricultural Society Convention 1938.

Reasons for inactivity of societies – note that annual exhibitions decreased from 140 in 1930 to 30 in 1937. But during this time Boys and Girls Ag Society activities increase in number from 69 to 302. Notes that efforts have been made to determine the reasons for Society inactivity but no definite conclusions reached. Useful!!!

Reports on disasterous crop year, calamity and misfortune. Activities of Boys & Girls clubs – most competitions wiped out by disasterous harvest. Farms Girls Camps, Ag Exhibitions, (Ray’s Note: particularly useful report on local conditions, effect of climate on local conditions, decline of ag societies)

Annual Report of the Work of Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies During 1938. Presented by J.G. Rayner, Director of Ag Extension to Agricultural Society Convention 1939.

Notes the Press’s criticism that farm conventions do not reach many of the primary producers. Rayner notes that the rural press has wide coverage in Sask, approx 2 papers for each rural home. Notes that farming conditions are terrible and most Ag Societies have lost enthusiasm and hope. However, several societies have been active throughout the depression. It is hoped that these societies might help rejuvenate the dormant ones:

1. Connaught
2. Fertile Valley,
3. Mayfield
4. Douglas
5. Elstow
6. Moose Jaw
7. Invermay
8. Lac Vert
9. Manitou Lake
10. Paynton
11. Alameda
12. Edenwold
13. Redberry
14. Togo
15. Foam Lake
16. Snipe Lake

Suggests that Societies be involved in a variety of activities, not just an annual exhibition.

1948

Presented by J.G. Rayner, Director of Ag Extension to Agricultural Society Convention 1939.

Regina Agricultural Society returns 1899-1911 i.229

Regina Exhibition 1884-1961 i.230

Regina Exhibition Association Reports 1932-1933 i.231

Regina Exhibition Association Reports 1932-1933 i.232

Regina Exhibition Association Reports 1913-1952 i.233

More on Regina Exhibition Association 1930 – 62 i.234-236

Regina Winter Fair 1928-1940 i.237

• Letter. Jan 25, 1912. From Bruce E. Johnstone. "Dear Sir, replying to your letter …" Mr Johnstone asks that the name of the Bounty Ag society be changed to Fertile Valley Ag Society so that it has wider regional appeal.
• Various correpondence – mainly letters requesting info on how to establish ag society. Letters re the best location of various societies given transportation problems, geographic position etc.

Nothing

Entry forms for people entering the 1909 Winter Fair. A previous researcher or archivist attached a not to the file which reads "useful only to indicate early competitors at the Spring Show".

i.246-251 are similar. All are records of the Sask Winter Fair 1909 to 1911.

Searle Grain Company Ltd. Monthly Newsletters 1940 – 1944 (1 folder) i.259

Each newsletter is several pages. Livestock news, tips for marketing, production. Do not seem to contain any local RM or town-level information. Mainly about better farming practices and widespread concerns about the war.

About the secretaries of Ag societies and the role they played in the development of the societies. Lists all the Secretaries who embezzled or absconded with Society money. Lists fulltime managers of Exhibitions. Notes the contributions of Women Secretaries from 1920s to 1960s

Document. "Agricultural Secretary or County Agent in Saskatchewan" May 17, 1915 on the history of the Ag-Rep by the dept of agriculture – a plan modelled on North Dakota’s ‘County Agent’. On some of the social issues that need to be addressed ie) isolation of rural youth.

Document. "Agricultural Secretaries in Saskatchewan. 1915" "Most readers of the Gazette……" about the need for Agricultural workers in the RMs. On weed problems and inspectors for taking care of this problem.

Finished examining Box 45

Did not examine this box.

2. List of Agricultural Societies

Abernethy

Alameda

Alsask

Aneroid

Arcola

Asquith

Assiniboia

Belle plain

Battle river

Bethune

Biggar

Birch hills

Bladwoth

Borden

Bracken

Broadview

Brownlee

Cabri

Cadillac

Canora

Carlton district

Carnduff

Carrot river

Central butte

Central Sask

Churchbridge

Clinworth

Colgate

Connaught

Craik

Creelman

Cupar

Cutknife

Cypress

Davidson

Delisle

Dinsmore

Dubuc

Duck lake

Dummer

Eaton

Edenwold

Elbow

Elfros

Elstow

Estevan

Fairmede

Fertile belt (formerly Stockholm Ag society)

Fertile valley

Foam lake

Fort quappelle

Francis

Gainsborough

Gap

Glenbush

Goodluck

Govan

Grandview

Gravelbourg

Grenfell

Geull lake

Hanley

Hart butte

Hawarden

Herbert

Hillsburgh and Brock

Hoosier valley

Humboldt

Indian head

Invermay

Kamsack

Kelliher

Kelvington

Kennedy

Kerrobert

Kindersley

Kinistino

Lac vert

Lake chaplin

Lake Johnston

Lampan

Langham

Lanigan

Lashburn

Lipton

Little cut arm and Quappelle

Lloydminster

Long lake valley (Imperial)

Lorne

Lumsden

Luseland

Luseford

Macklin

Macrorie

Maple creek

Marcelin district

Maryfield

Maymont

Meeting lake

Melfort

Melville

Midale

Milestone

Monet

Moose jaw

Moose mountain

Moosomin

Mortlach

Naseby

Nipawin

Nokomis

North battleford

North East Assiniboia

North Quappelle

Ogema

Oxbow

Outlook

Paynton

Pelly

Perdue

Pheasant forks

Piapot

Plenty and District

Preeceville

Prince Albert

QuAppelle

Quill Lake

Radisson

Radville

Readlyn

Redberry

Redvers

Regina

Rosetown

Rosthern

Rothbury and Logberg

Rouleau

St Louis

Saltcoats

Shaunavon

Semans

Saskatoon

Shellbrook

Sintaluta

Snipe lake

 

 

Catalogue of Oral History Projects 1973-1983 Call Number GR 251:

Ethnocultural Groups of Sask – First People, Metis, Immigrants p.6-33

Black Community p.38

Women in Sask History p.41

KKK in Sask p.43

Oral History of Sask Wheat Pool p.55

Oral History of Radville and Brooking Areas p.63

Horse Showing in 4H and Agricultural Exhibitions p.70

Effect of Rail Lines on Small Sask Communities p.81

Homesteading in North Sask in 1930s p.92

Oral History of Big Muddy and Grasslands Area p.94

Oral History of Rural Mail Delivery in Sask p.99

Mechanization of Sask Agriculture: resistance and alternatives p.104

Scottish cultural survival in Sask (St Andrew’s colony, Benbecula and Moffat districts) p.111

Social Influence of the Unity Salt Plant p.137

Small Press Publishers in Sask p.127

Indian and Metis Elders of LaRonge p.141

First Weyburn New Horizons Group Oral History Project p.143 (interviews with 29 long term residents of Weyburn and district

Menonite and Pioneer Traditions p.145

Early Polish Settlers and the Church p.146

Yorkton and District Historical Society Oral History Project p.152

Decendents of Sask’s Original Black Settlers p.153

Sport and Recreation in Lives of Sask women prior to 1930 p.159

PART II

Prairie Oral history project #78

Great Depression on the Prairies #80

Student Unrest at the U of S in the 1960s and 70s #87

From Prairie roots, the remarkable story of the Sask Wheat Pool p.90

Yorkton Oral History Project p.92

The CCF and the New Democratic Party in Sask p.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. List of Agricultural Societies

Abernethy

Alameda

Alsask

Aneroid

Arcola

Asquith

Assiniboia

Belle plain

Battle river

Bethune

Biggar

Birch hills

Bladwoth

Borden

Bracken

Broadview

Brownlee

Cabri

Cadillac

Canora

Carlton district

Carnduff

Carrot river

Central butte

Central Sask

Churchbridge

Clinworth

Colgate

Connaught

Craik

Creelman

Cupar

Cutknife

Cypress

Davidson

Delisle

Dinsmore

Dubuc

Duck lake

Dummer

Eaton

Edenwold

Elbow

Elfros

Elstow

Estevan

Fairmede

Fertile belt (formerly Stockholm Ag society)

Fertile valley

Foam lake

Fort quappelle

Francis

Gainsborough

Gap

Glenbush

Goodluck

Govan

Grandview

Gravelbourg

Grenfell

Geull lake

Hanley

Hart butte

Hawarden

Herbert

Hillsburgh and Brock

Hoosier valley

Humboldt

Indian head

Invermay

Kamsack

Kelliher

Kelvington

Kennedy

Kerrobert

Kindersley

Kinistino

Lac vert

Lake chaplin

Lake Johnston

Lampan

Langham

Lanigan

Lashburn

Lipton

Little cut arm and Quappelle

Lloydminster

Long lake valley (Imperial)

Lorne

Lumsden

Luseland

Luseford

Macklin

Macrorie

Maple creek

Marcelin district

Maryfield

Maymont

Meeting lake

Melfort

Melville

Midale

Milestone

Monet

Moose jaw

Moose mountain

Moosomin

Mortlach

Naseby

Nipawin

Nokomis

North battleford

North East Assiniboia

North Quappelle

Ogema

Oxbow

Outlook

Paynton

Pelly

Perdue

Pheasant forks

Piapot

Plenty and District

Preeceville

Prince Albert

QuAppelle

Quill Lake

Radisson

Radville

Readlyn

Redberry

Redvers

Regina

Rosetown

Rosthern

Rothbury and Logberg

Rouleau

St Louis

Saltcoats

Shaunavon

Semans

Saskatoon

Shellbrook

Sintaluta

Snipe lake

Ethnocultural Groups of Sask – First People, Metis, Immigrants p.6-33

Black Community p.38

Women in Sask History p.41

KKK in Sask p.43

Oral History of Sask Wheat Pool p.55

Oral History of Radville and Brooking Areas p.63