The United Farmer 1972 October

The

nited Farm

October 1972

r.

The
Unit:
Farm

ed

Volume 10

er

No. 8

October, 1972

Published 10 times yearly by
the Information Service Division
of United Farmers of Alberta
Co-operative Limited.

Head Office: 1119 - 1st Street
S.E., Calgary, Alberta
T2G 2H6

Editor: Alice Switzer

Member — Corporate Communica-
tors of Canada and the Alberta
Farm Writers Association.

United Farmers Farm Supply
Centres:

Calgary 4720 - 1st Street S.E.
Edmonton 12243 Mount Lawn Rd.
Lethbridge 3131 - 2nd Avenue N.
Red Deer 5440 - 45th Street
and at

Airdrie, Camrose, Falher, Grande
Prairie, Grimshaw, Hanna, Provost,
Stettler, Spruce Grove, Vermilion,
Vulcan and Westlock.

Cover Picture

An idyllic scene in Lethbridge,
one of Alberta's most beautiful
cities.

Nikka Yuko • Centennial Gardens at Lethbridge.

In 1971 Lethbridge showed an even more rapid tempo of
growth and development than in previous years. Retail business
was up 7.6%, production value of manufacturing was up 11.5%,
bank debits were up 9.7% — to mention but a few.

Swift Canadian officially opened their new plant in April of
1971; the new Canada Packers hide plant and the Canadian Dressed
Meats plant expansion went on stream in the spring, while Western
Truck Body plant, the first in the new Industrial Park, was officially
opened in October, 1971. Purity Bottling Works commenced con-
struction on their new plant as did Aqua Tech on their plant to
manufacture activated carbon. Western Canadian Seed Processors
opened their new margarine plant and their operations into salad
oil manufacturing. Other plant expansions were completed in 1971
and many others commenced.

Early Opportunity

The enterprise of Nicholas Sheran, a seeker of gold in the
area now referred to as Southern Alberta, laid the foundation on
which Sir Alexander T. Gait built a great industry. Sheran did not
find gold but on the banks of the Oldman River, directly west of
the present site of Lethbridge, he found coal. This product was
hauled by bull team to Fort Benton, then the head of navigation
on the Missouri River, to Fort Macleod, Fort Walsh and Calgary.
The location of early coal mining is marked with a cairn located
in Indian Battle Park.

Advent of Railway

In spite of near primitive transportation methods, the coal
industry flourished through the seventies and by 1883 was being
mined in fair quantity. A narrow guage railway was surveyed from
Dunmore on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, to the
coal fields. The line was completed on August 28, 1885.

Through the efforts of Sir Alexander T. Gait, The Northwest
Coal and Navigation Company was formed. William Lethbridge of
Lympstone, Devonshire, was named the first president and Eliot
T. Gait, general manager.

Name

At first called 'Coalbanks', the area was known to the Black-
foot Indians as 'Ashsoyem' or 'Steepbanks'. The reason can be
seen in the coulees leading to the valley of the Oldman River. The
name 'Lethbridge' was adopted in honor of William Lethbridge
on October 16, 1885.

Canada Agriculture Research Station

The Research Station at Lethbridge established
in 1906, is the largest of some 37 research estab-
lishments operated in Canada by the Research
Branch of Canada Agriculture. With 73 scientists
representing biological, chemical, physical and en-
gineering sciences, and with substations at Vaux-
hall, Manyberries, and Stavely, it studies agricultural
production problems of Southern Alberta on both
irrigated and dryland soils. It is the main Canadian
centre for the study of insects affecting animals and
for irrigation research. The comprehensive program,
one of the most diversified in CDA, involves plant
science, plant pathology and physiology, soil science,
animal science and crop and veterinary-medical en-
tomolgy. Major research programs include range
management, breeding, nutrition and management
of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and poultry; phy-
sical properties and management of soils; control
of diseases and insects of animals and plants; and
control of pollution related to agriculture.

Stewart Game Farm

The Stewart Game Farm became operative in
1970. The farm contains 180 acres divided from
east to west by six mile coulees. The facility is
entirely fenced by seven foot wire. The main area
contains one of the best groves of trees in the
Lethbridge District. It is located one mile south of
the city just off Highway 4 to Coutts.

Wild animals and birds as well as common
domestic animals are displayed. The new game farm
provides local and tourist groups the opportunity
to view many of the species and their offspring
common to Alberta.

In 1971 the Okanagan Zoo was purchased and
moved to Lethbridge. Over 150 specimens of ani-
mals and over 500 specimens of birds are now
available for viewing.

Lethbridge was incorporated as a town on Jan-
uary 16, 1891, and as a city immediately after the
formation of the province, the necessary act being
passed by the Legislature and receiving Royal Assent
on May 9, 1906.

Living Conditions

In 1885 when the first plan of subdivision was
prepared covering what eventually became the
main 'downtown' part of the city, provisions were
made for streets and avenues one hundred feet
wide from property line to property line, and this
foresight is very noticeable now in the days of heavy
motor vehicle traffic.

The Lethbridge Gang all duded up for the Threshing Gang
Sale.

Building in the city is controlled by a Municipal
Planning Commission and orderly growth of the city
is assured by a general plan.

Parks and Historical Operations

Facilities in the City of Lethbridge include two
golf courses, two lighted ball parks, three indoor
artificial ice rinks, a ten-sheet curling rink, two out-
door heated swimming pools, one indoor 25 metre
swimming pool, one 25 yard indoor swimming pool,
a large air conditioned Civic Sports Centre building
and many school sports fields and auditoriums. In
addition three major parks and several area parks
are maintained for the enjoyment of citizens and
visitors alike. The Henderson Lake Park includes
a 70 acre lake stocked with trout and on which
skating is possible during the winter months.

The 500 seat Yates Memorial Centre provides a
base for the performing art groups in the city, and
the Bowman Arts Centre houses facilities for all
visual and creative arts.

The Sir Alexander Gait Museum offers citizens
and visitors a chance to look into the past of the
area, in a building which is itself a part of that
past.

Perhaps the greatest stimulus to the arts at
present is the construction of a new central library
in a downtown location immediately adjacent to the
Yates Centre and the Bowman Arts Centre.

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Farm Supply
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And they really mean this at Lethbridge.

Lethbridge Farm Supply
Centre Display at Lethbridge
Whoop Up Days.

Opened on May 1, 1962, Lethbridge was the fifth U.F.A. Farm
Supply Centre to be opened in Alberta. The first manager was Vic
Willoughby, now manager of the Farmstead Development Department.
Also on staff was Joe Miller, the Marketing Accounting Supervisor at
the Head Office in Calgary.

The five acre yard provided ample parking for large farm trucks.
The petroleum bulk plant was also moved in close proximity to the
farm supply centre.

Over 3,000 farmers attended the opening and it was felt that
Lethbridge would service an area from the U.S. border to as far north
as Vulcan, and as far east as Saskatchewan to the interior of the B.C.
border.

Irrigation equipment accounted for a substantial amount of the
sales in the first year of business and almost half a million dollars in
sales was realized.

In the 1971 year, Lethbridge achieved almost a million dollars in
sales, and showed a 16.8% increase over the previous year's sales.

In the first six months of 1972, under the capable management of
John Dueck and his conscientious and congenial staff, the Lethbridge
Centre has already achieved sales of over V2 million dollars and is
certainly looking forward to topping the million dollar sales mark this
year.

Special commendation must be given to Lethbridge for the out-
standing displays they have achieved in their farm supply centre. The
latest one, a duck display actually featured live ducks in a pond. Not
only was the focus on hunting equipment, but the display provided a
tremendously interesting feature for the children of customers visiting
the Lethbridge Centre.

And a special tip of the hat to Head Warehouseman Keith Con-
quergood and his crew for a very trim and neat warehouse.

aUT-DOORS
CENTER

WALK I N

Out-Doors Centre featuring interest-
ing displays.

2

An eleven year veteran with U.F.A., John joined
the Farm Supply Division as a counter salesman at
the Calgary Farm Supply Centre.

In 1964, he was appointed manager of the
Camrose Centre and in 1966 he was appointed
Manager at Lethbridge. This was almost a home-
coming for John as he is a native of nearby Coaldale.

John's parents have a mixed irrigation farm
north of Coaldale and they are mainly involved in
dairying and growing sugar beets.

John went to school in Coaldale and since join-
ing U.F.A. has taken many courses particularly in
the management field. Some of the courses he has
completed are Management of Sales Force, Business
Administration, Merchandising, Essentials of Ac-
counting and Supervisory Management.

As a member of the Lethbridge Chamber of
Commerce, and the Travel and Convention Asso-
ciation of Southern Alberta, John is active in the
Lethbridge Community.

When Bernie Oullette joined U.F.A. in 1964, it
was as a clerk in the Petroleum Accounting De-
partment. In 1966, Bernie transferred to the Calgary
Farm Supply Centre as a counter salesman. This
was a step in the right direction for Bernie and
he showed his ability in this field by winning the
Top Salesman Award for Southern Alberta. On
March 15, 1972, Bernie was appointed Assistant
Manager at Lethbridge.

Bernie has taken many courses related to his
work, among them Modern Salesmanship, Manage-
ment Functions and the Patterson Clinics on Public,
Customer and Employee Relations and Sales and
Goodwill.

Born on the farm, Bernie is a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, Y.M.C.A., Royal Canadian
Legion and the Labor Club.

For hobbies he enjoys football, hockey, baseball,
fishing, hiking, reading and also does babysitting.

JOHN DUECK
Manager

For hobbies he enjoys photography, hunting,
fishing, golfing and camping. John and his wife
Leona have three children, Wesley - 8, Shelley - 5,
and Carri - 2.

This may not be relative to John's business
background, but your Editor's sincere gratitude for
his taking some excellent pictures of John Thiessen's
feedlot from the top of a sixty foot elevator. Per-
sonally, I couldn't even watch John Thiessen and
John Dueck going up and coming down the elevator.

BERNARD OUELLETTE

Assistant Manager

The babysitting is occasioned by another ex-
cellent move Bernie made. He married one of
U.F.A.'s favorite and loveliest gals, Audrey Veenstra,
who at the time was on staff in the Head Office
Printing Department.

Bernie and Audrey have two sons and a daugh-
ter — Edward - 6, Patricia - 4, and Christopher •
2 months, and a not to be forgotten member of
the family, Nikki — their 1 year old St. Bernard.

DONALD J. BAKKEN
Salesman

Don joined U.F.A. in 1966 as
a warehouseman. In 1968 he was
An^^^ promoted to head warehouseman

B and in 1970 to salesman. Ray-

A j m mond, Alberta, is where Don was
born and still lives — commuting
every day to work. Don has taken the Business
Management Course at the Lethbridge Community
College and also a course with the American Man-
agement Association.

He has been very active in community work
and is a Scout Counselor for the Boy Scouts of
Canada. Don is also a member of the Air Force
Reserve, affiliated with #565 Squadron at Raymond.

For hobbies Don enjoys hiking, fishing, camp-
ing, sports, and as shown by his community in-
volvements — working with youth.

He and his wife Lynda have two children, a son
Roger and a recent addition, a daughter, Tracey.

BRIAN RAINS

Salesman

Born in Lethbridge, Brian took
his grades 1 - 12 at Warner
School. He later attended a semester in business
administration at the Lethbridge Community College.

Brian was raised on the family farm near Warner
and in the summer worked for the county of Warner
#5. His work with the agricultural department was
involved with weed, tree and cattle spray.

Brian coaches little league baseball in Leth-
bridge as well as playing on a commercial basket-
ball team. He and his wife Debbi recently became
the proud parents of their first child, a son Wesley.

J

KEITH CONQUERGOOD
Head Warehouseman

A native of Tisdale, Saskatchewan,
which certainly received considerable
news coverage concerning the non-issue
of a postal stamp, Tisdale is known as
the land of rape and honey.

Keith attended school in Bow Island
and took a business management course
at the Lethbridge Community College.
While attending school, he worked on his
father's farm. He joined U.F.A. in 1968
as a warehouseman and holds the posi-
tion of Head Warehouseman at Leth-
bridge. He is interested in all sports,
particularly hockey. He and his wife
Colette have a daughter Robin-Lynn.

DAN SVENNES
Warehouseman

Dan joined United Farmers on De-
cember 13, 1971. He was born in Trail,
B.C., but received the majority of his
schooling in Lethbridge and attended
Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

In the summer he worked on farms
helping to irrigate sugar beets. He is a
member of the Vasa Order of America
and for hobbies enjoys bowling.

ALEX SCHWARZ
Warehouseman

Alex has been with U.F.A. for over a
year now. Previously, he worked for a
roofing company and a meat packing
plant. He is a native of Lethbridge where
he also received his schooling.

Alex has worked on his uncle's farm
in the summer. His hobbies and interests
are baseball and playing pool, and also
doing a scientific study of the wild life
to be found in coulees.

ELLIE SEWARD
Administrative Clerk

A native of Elk Point, this is where
Ellie received her schooling. She and her
husband Harley now live at nearby Well-
ing.

Ellie was raised on a farm and Harley
is a fish farmer.

For hobbies she enjoys handicraft and
sports and is a member of the local curl-
ing club. Ellie is a new and welcome
addition to the staff at Lethbridge.

Before joining U.F.A. she worked for
four years at Underwood, McLellan and
Assoc. Ltd., Calgary.

MARJORIE NIEBOER
Adminstrative Clerk

Marjore is also a recent newcomer to
U.F.A. having joined our Organization on
May 1, 1972. She was born in Lethbridge
where she received her schooling and
later attended the Lethbridge Community
Institute and Henderson's College.

For hobbies Marjorie enjoys sewing,
reading, writing and arithmetic and also
(in her own words) attempts to play the
guitar.

ED HUTCHISON
RETIRES

¥V<

wi

Many of our agents are familiar
with the initials E. J. H. on cor-
respondence they have received
from Head Office.

Surprisingly enough though,
very few of our agents have met
Ed Hutchison, even though he re-
cently retired after 35 years with
United Farmers of Alberta.

Ed joined Maple Leaf Petro-
leums in 1937. In 1938, Ed was
promoted to office clerk and a
year later he was transferred to
the Edmonton Warehouse. His next
transfer was to Calgary as stock
clerk Ln the main office of Maple
Leaf Petroleum Limited. When his
country called, Ed joined the
R.C.A.F. and at the end of the
war returned to our organization.

Ed has the distinction of having
worked in every department of
the Petroleum Division. His know-
ledge gained through this experi-
ence has been invaluable in the
positions he has held and parti-
cularly as Supervisor of Petroleum
Accounting.

In the 35 years that Ed Hutchi-
son was associated with U.F.A.,
he kept his cool under all types of
stress and strain. This congenial
and calm man will be very much
missed by all the people who were
given the opportunity to work with
him.

Decent, fine people like Ed
Hutchison are the 'salt of the
earth' and anyone who worked
With him will readily admit it
was a privilege to be associated
with Ed Hutchison.

4

It is with deep regret United Farmers notes the
sudden passing of two prominent Albertans who were
closely associated with our Organization.

On behalf of their many friends and associates at
U.F.A., our sincerest condolences to their wives and
families.

NEIL MOWATT

GILBERT ROY GETSON
Wildwood, Alberta

Mr. Mowatt's association with U.F.A. began in 1945 when he attended
Farm Young People's Week in Edmonton. His interest in co-operatives was
further generated when he won the Alberta Wheat Pool Association Scholar-
ship to attend the Olds School of Agriculture. After graduation he won another
A.W.P. Scholarship to attend the University of Alberta.

Mr. Mowatt's farm was located near Parkland. For a number of years
he was an Elite seed grower of Thatcher Wheat and Registered Redwood Flax.
He served for several years as a director of the R.E. Association. In the 1950's
he was elected a Director of District 12 of the F.U.A. and later President of
the local. He also served for nine years as secretary-treasurer of Spruce
Ranching Co-operative.

Elected a delegate to U.F.A. in 1958, Mr. Mowatt became a member
of the Board of Directors in 1960. For ten years he conscientiously and
graciously represented his electoral district. Upon the recommendation of
the Honorable Minister of Mines and Minerals, the Lieutenant Governor ap-
pointed Mr. Mowatt on June 1, 1970, to the Provincial Board of Arbitration.

This important appointment necessitated Mr. Mowatt's resignation from
the Board of United Farmers of Alberta and also the Mowatt family moving
to Edmonton. However, they retained their beef and grain enterprise at
Parkland.

Mr. Mowatt's sudden death at the age of 50 came as a shock to all
who knew this fine and dedicated gentleman. Deep condolences are extended
to his wife, Jean and daughters Patty, Heather, Carol and son Roland.

Elected a Delegate to United Farmers in 1964, Roy Getson was regarded
as a paragon of strength in his community. He was a leader — a man
who was relied upon by his neighbors as a person to 'get things done'.

In 1965, Roy was helping to direct traffic during a bush fire, the
smoke from which made it impossible to see the road. He was struck by
an oncoming car and severely injured. For six months he lay in the hospital
and through sheer grit and determination fought his way back to recovery.

Roy was born in Prince Edward Island but spent most of his life in
Manning. His farm was located west of Chip Lake and he had Registered
Aberdeen Angus and grew hay. He won prizes for Grand Champion and
Reserve Champion and firsts in oats, wheat and forage.

From 1967 to 1971, he acted on the A.R.D.A. Advisory Committee.
He was a member of Unifarm, the Anglican Church, the Agricultural Society,
the Legion and the Elks Lodge.

Roy Getson was an outspoken, gregarious man, but no man earned
the respect of his community or was loved more by his friends. He will be
deeply missed by the residents of Wildwood and by the many friends who
were so very dependent on him for decisions and for getting things done.

Our sincere sympathies to his wife, Iris, and his family Gilbert, Gertrude,
Dennis, Shirley and Ronald on the sudden passing of Roy Getson — a man
we were privileged to consider as a friend.

Waiting in the freight elevator before their grand
entrance, some of the Simmental Fleckvieh cattle.
Guess which of the Calgary Inn's staff has a farm
background.

Through the portable corral and then the stars
of the show are on stage (and a red carpet was
provided for them.)

Bulls

A packed hall for Calgary's 1st Bull Sale in the
Ballroom of the Calgary Inn.

About five years ago, the Savoy Hotel in London
refused service to some prominent Canadian cattle-
men. The reason — their western attire, complete
with string tie, was not considered "proper dress"
for the posh Savoy.

In Calgary, two or three years later, a few well-
known Alberta cattlemen were refused admittance
to the lounge in the Calgary Inn. The reason —
their attire — but contrary to popular belief —
not their western attire.

What happened to these officials of the Western
Stock Growers Association has happened to others
at the Owl's Nest at the Calgary Inn.

The days before an annual meeting is often
very hectic. In order for the important annua! meet-
ing to go smoothly, many arrangements must be
finalized — minutes, resolutions, etc. — all must
be in readiness.

These officials of the Western Stock Grower's
Association had spent a busy day getting ready for
their annual meeting to take place the next day.
One of the hard working members suggested that
"the pause that refreshes" would certainly be wel-
come. Down to the lounge the cattlemen went, but
as they were not wearing ties (proper dress in the
Owl's Nest) they were refused admittance. The
story got around, and rumor had it that it was
western outfits that were not considered "proper
dress". Fred Newcombe, past secretary of the
W.S.G.A. clarified the story, and Fred should know

— he was there.

Two months ago the magnificent main ballroom
of the Calgary Inn, with its elaborate red decor
and elegant chandeliers was the unique setting for
an important international occasion. The event was
the first fullblood Fleckvieh sale in North America.
The marquee in front of the Calgary Inn boldly an-
nounced "Welcome Simmental and Fleckvieh Cat-
tlemen".

Wherever the misunderstanding started that
western money is not welcome at the Calgary Inn

— the bull sale in the ballroom should dispel all
rumors.

6

in the Ball

room

At a pre-showing held before the
bull sale at the idyllic McNalley's
Ranch.

THE BEAUFORT SIMMENTAL STORY

The formation of the organization known as
Beaufort began when old friends, Simon Fraser and
Ed McNally began discussing the merits of Sim-
mental cattle for North American beef production.

Simon Fraser of Inverness, Scotland, and his
father Lord Lovatt are well known for their world
famous Beaufort Shorthorns, that were exported to
practically every country in the world. Beaufort
Castle in the centre of their farm is a showplace
of conservation and natural beauty with a salmon
filled river flowing through the court yard.

Ed McNally, a prominent Calgary lawyer runs
a 1,500 acre ranch south of Calgary. The smooth
flowing Sheep River winds its way in natural beauty
through the centre of his ranch. Actively engaged
in his law firm, he is extremely pleased by the pro-
fitability of his ranching operation.

The formation of the Beaufort herd began when
Simon Fraser and Ed McNally began discussing the
problems of making cattle operations pay in their
respective countries of Scotland and Canada.

Simon Fraser has one of the largest cattle
operations in Scotland. He had been dissatisfied
with the performance of his commercial herd of
Welsh Blacks, Hereford and Irish, and was looking
for greater and more efficient performance. Ed
McNally introduced Simmental into his herd. He
had been breeding Hereford and Hereford crosses
and in his qualified estimation the spectacular re-
sults and improvements that began to show in his
herd were worthy of further investigation.

Together Simon Fraser and Ed McNally made
an extensive study of breeding in Canada and the
United Kingdom, consulting some of the leading
geneticists in the world. They settled on Simmental
and set their goal to have the largest herd of pure-
bred Simmental and Fleckvieh, using the top genetic

material available in the world. Ed McNally was
firmly convinced that Fleckvieh would play an im-
portant part in Canada's cross breeding program.

Last fall Ed McNally, Simon Fraser and Rudy
Enzmann of Relco Livestock Consultants Limited,
Calgary, met at Inverness at the Beaufort Estate to
look over their carefully put together female breed-
ing herd purchased in Germany and Switzerland.
After a quarantine period, the Beaufort calves ar-
rived in Calgary and grew and gained rapidly.

The many cattlemen who saw them were im-
pressed by their potential. On July 22, 1972, the
first full blood Fleckvieh sale in North America was
held in the main ballroom of the Calgary Inn. Sell
ing were ten full blood bulls and fourteen full blood
females. Buyers in the audience were prominent
cattlemen, from the United States and all parts
of Canada.

Stock was kept in the garage at the Calgary
Inn, brought up through the freight elevators and
then taken into the main ballroom through the
kitchen. The portable corral system of United Farm-
ers was used for the sale. Chuck Corah, F.D.D.
Manager, South, and his crew Les Mayfield and
Larry McLeod must be given credit for the fast
and efficient way they erected and took down the
corrals. Without the portable corrals, it's hard to
imagine how the sale would have been feasible.

Many people were wondering how it is possible
to have a bull sale in a ballroom. To the hundreds
of people in attendance it was a very comfortable
way to attend a bull sale. Gross sales were $342,000,
an average of $17,000. The efficient management
of Relco Livestock Consultants Limited and their
astuteness in hiring the portable corrals was cer-
tainly instrumental to the smooth conduct of the
sale. It all added up to an exciting afternoon in the
elegant Calgary Ballroom to view a 1st for Calgary
— A Bull Sale in the Ballroom.

7

Albertans of the Month

One of Alberta's most
Important Assets

Take an enthusiastic and responsible membership — add
an interested and helpful Department of Culture, Youth and
Recreation and then add 2,200 dedicated adult volunteers, and
1,200 junior leaders — and you'll have one of Alberta's most
important assets — 4 - H — a dynamic, progressive organization.

The name 4 ■ H is derived from the first letter of the four
words — head, heart, hands and health, and is expressed in
the 4 - H pledge:

I PLEDGE

My Head to clearer thinking

My Heart to greater loyalty

My Hands to larger service

My Health to better living

For my club, community and my country.

The 4 • H program:

— stresses individual development

— attempts to develop responsible citizens

— provides opportunities for members to gain
confidence, develop poise and practise self
expression

— allows members to acquire knowledge and
learn skills about specific subjects.

Maybe this all sounds rather idealistic, but the
continuing and growing success of 4 • H clubs is
proof that the organization offers what its members
want.

The objectives of 4 - H are met by members in
individual and group activities. Each member under-
takes a project, regular club meetings are held,
and local clubs participate in programs at the Club,
District, Provincial, National and International levels.
In addition, there are exchange programs, camps,
seminars and workshops, and involvement is encour-
aged in community workshops.

With the population shift from a rural to an
urban environment, the 4 - H program has expanded
from the traditional agricultural and homemaking
projects to include projects such as photography,
leathercraft, interior design, junior sportsmanship,

power toboggan, automotive, self determined and
junior leadership.

One of the basic reasons a member joins a club
is because of a common interest in a project. The
clubs are a means of bringing together young people
and allows them to acquire knowledge and develop
skills in specific subjects. In addition, 4 - H aims
to assist in the development of the individual to
his fullest potential. Group situations provide lead-
ership and citizenship experiences. Today, more
than ever before, programs are involved with per-
sonal leadership and the social development of
members.

The 4 - H and Junior Warden Branch of the
Alberta Department of Culture, Youth and Recrea-
tion administers the 4 - H program. This new depart-
ment formed six years ago is staffed by personnel
from the Department of Agriculture.

Volunteer leaders assist members in organizing,
programming and project study. Club members se-
lect an executive and committee. The club also
utilizes resource personnel in the community.

Comparatively new are the Junior 4 - H Leaders.

These are young people who have been in 4 - H for
five or six years and then become Junior Leaders.
In this way more youth in the 17 and up age groups
is involved in 4 - H.

8

Two knowledgeable 4 • H'rs explaining "Showmanship and
Judging" to a group of media representatives (who needed all
the help they could get).

Horsemanship — one of 4 - H's
most popular activities.

A hilarious skit written, pro-
duced and acted by a group from
4 - H at a Press Conference.

Provincial 4 - H Advisory Council

In existence for only a year it is a council made
up of 14 volunteer leaders, who are elected from
seven regional councils. Their responsibility is to
co-ordinate 4 - H programs on a regional basis with
the administrative assistance of the Regional 4 - H
and Junior Forest Warden.

President of the Provincial Council is Wilf Long-
son of High River; Vice-President is Allan Shinfield,
Spruce Grove; and the Treasurer is Don Hultholm,
Holden.

The purpose of the council is to advise the 4 - H
and Jr. Forest Warden Branch, and provide a com-
munication link with members, leaders and parents.

There are 49 District Councils and their respon-
sibility is to co-ordinate activities at the district level
for 600 clubs with a total membership of approxi-
mately 11,000 members.

This is how 4 - H is structured — its program,
objectives and projects. But what makes 4 - H clubs
so outstandingly successful? In today's impersonal
society, many groups are having problems retain-
ing an active membership. It has been just the
opposite in 4 - H. The membership total is higher
now than ever before and in the last two years the
growth rate has climbed to 31%.

In 4 - H Clubs, you'll find a high degree of group
enthusiasm coupled with a sincere "pride in per-
formance" and although these are intangibles, they
are an important requisite of the fundamentals
that have made 4 - H successful.

The Department of Youth, Culture and Recrea-
tion has also played a vital role in the growth and
strengthening of 4 - H. It acts as a communication
media — in full realization that no club can sur-
vive if it is an island unto itself. The Department
co-ordinates activities through the district councils
and provides educational supplies for the clubs. In
addition, they give quick support to a newly identi-
fied group to help it get started.

Take an enthusiastic and responsible member-
ship — add an interested and helpful Department
of Culture, Youth and Recreation and then add
2,200 dedicated adult volunteers, and 1,200 junior
leaders — and you'll have one of Alberta's most
important assets — 4 - H — a dynamic, progres-
sive organization — Alberta's Leaders of Tomorrow.

r

At the request of the Department of
Culture, Youth and Recreation, U.F.A. is
again helping with the printing of project
manuals. In print are the 4 - H Beef Club
Manuals and the 4 - H Club Market Steer
Record Books. U.F.A. is pleased to be print-
ing 8,000 of each of these as its contribu-
tion to the excellent work that the 4 - H
clubs are doing throughout Alberta.

UNITED FUND

NORMAN MONK MAN operates power saw
cutting survey stakes. He's paid on amount
produced.

Workshop foreman, JIM MYERS, inspects
finished work on basketweave chair. Centre
turns out re-caning jobs that are unsur-
passed in Alberta.

THE C.N.I.B.

Just one of the many agencies helped by your
United Appeal support.

When Joe gets up in the morning, he washes
and shaves — not an unusual routine except that
Joe shaves in the darkness because he is blind.

For people like Joe who are visually handi-
capped, even the simplest tasks like pouring a
glass of water, must be painstakingly learned.

Ready and able to teach these and other skills
to the blind is the Calgary Service Centre and
Residence of the Canadian National Institute for
The Blind. Opened in 1963, the five acre Centre
serves more than 900 visually handicapped people
in the area from Red Deer south to the border.

Training courses are offered to the blind to
teach skills of grooming, use of the white cane,
selection of clothing as well as social activities such
as playing cards, bowling, shuffleboard and danc-
ing. Here too they learn to communicate in braille.

There are 41 rooms at the Centre designated
as residences. These serve as a permanent home
for some of the elderly blind, but the residences are

also used by persons from out of town who are
taking the training course.

The CNIB in Calgary is one of the agencies
supported by the United Fund. But the CNIB helps
itself too, through CaterPlan which employs 26
blind or partially blind persons in canteens, cafe-
terias and tuck shops in 24 locations in southern
Alberta.

A workshop at the Calgary Service Centre also
provides employment for the blind. With a safety
record second to none, visually handicapped em-
ployees rapidly turn out survey stakes, electrical
conduit devices and door mats on machinery that
has been specially adapted to their needs.

Another operation at the workshop is re-caning
of chairs, the only such operation in Alberta or
British Columbia. So proficient are the blind at the
work of reweaving cane, that damaged cane furni-
ture comes in for repair from all over the province.

The training courses and skills taught at the
CNIB help the blind to lead normal lives as well
as to operate independently. Those who have suc-
cessfully completed the course and are now making
a living despite their handicap make the efforts of
the Calgary branch of the CNIB both rewarding and
gratifying.

UF 2002.0053.94