The United Farmer 1981 November-December
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The United Farmer NOVEMBER — DECEMBER 1981 VOLUME 19 — NO. 6 Published by United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Limited. Head Office: The purpose of The United Farmer is to share information, 1016 - 68th Avenue S.W. familiarize readers with the many aspects of United Farmers Calgary, Alberta T2V 4J2 of Alberta Co-operative Limited and recognize some of the many people who have contributed to UFA and agriculture in Editor — Alice Switzer Alberta. In 1981 there were features on the Canadian Farm Writers Federation Awards, Agents of the Month, Women of oDDBCE Unifarm, the Kodak microfilming in the Credit Department, New Agents, Farm Supply Division Appointments, Member — International Association Delegates Advisory Nomination Committees, the Goldeye Foundation Elec- of Business Communicators, Society, the UFA 1981 Annual Meeting, Canada; Alberta Farm tions, Retiring Delegates, New Delegates, Annual Meeting Writers' Association; Committees, Petroleum Awards, Career Men in UFA, Service Canadian Farm Writers' Federation Awards, the Farm and Ranch Show in Edmonton, the Alberta Farm Buildings Show in Red Deer, Lethbridge Ag-Expo, Appointments, Young Canadian Farmers, New Member Pro- gram, Pro Rodeo Canada, Chuck Wagan Racing, etc. It's a diversified list but everything and everyone men- tioned in The United Farmer has common bonds — UFA and the business of Agriculture. I am grateful to the hospitality that has been extended to me throughout Alberta. I appreciate the opportunity to meet and write about interesting and sincere people like Neal and Elsie Jones of Dewberry; the Martin Regehr Family of Strathmore; Chuck and Lorraine Groeneveld of High River, the Jim Rouse Family of Stettler and the terrific group at Pembina. Some of their stories haven't been published yet but they will be in The 1982 United Farmer. These people AWARD whose hospitality I enjoyed were a privilege to visit as they gave me a further insight and a deeper respect for rural Albertans and family farming. 1981 A very warm and friendly wish for a Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring you health and happiness. Cover Picture These mallards have evidently decided not to fly south this winter — they seem quite con- Alice Switzer tent to stay in Calgary. 2 Pembina UFA Co-op Association The largest petroleum Member- entered into a contract with Im- of the membership is within the Association of UFA is the Pembina perial Oil Ltd., Pembina also county of Barrhead and two-thirds UFA Co-op Association at changed its source of supply and from the M.D. of Westlock. One an- Westlock. Not only has this began its long association with nual meeting out of three is held in multiple-agency association an in- UFA. Barrhead. teresting and colorful history, it also has a successful one. Pembina UFA Co-op Today Annual Meeting Long association with UFA In the last reporting period, Pem- In prior years there was some bina had 2,300 members and difficulty in getting members to Pembina's association with assets of 1.5 million dollars. A total come to the Annual Meeting. United Farmers of Alberta began in dividend of $269,000 was allocated However, this year a supper 1935. Prior to this Pembina had ten and the cash payout was $179,000. meeting was held. The turnout was agencies handling petroleum pro- In 1980 all the earnings were excellent, the guest speaker, ducts supplied by Great West allocated and it is planned to do Howard Falkenberg, was in- Distributors and binder twine sup- this again this year. The members teresting and the discussion at the plied by United Grain Growers elect the directors who in turn meeting was good. It is planned to Limited. In 1935 when UFA Central elect an executive. About one-third again have this type of meeting. The 1981 Executive and Board Seated (left to right) Brian Gray, Albert Steinbring, Earl Brown and Ivan Watson. Standing (left to right) Arlington Corbett, Fenner Clark, Clare Anderson and Gilbert Pollard. The 1981 Executive and Board of Directors of the Pembina UFA Co-op are: President, Ivan Watson, Fawcett; — Vice-President, Clare Anderson, Barrhead; — and Directors Albert Steinbring, Barrhead; Arlington Corbett, Barrhead; Fenner Clark, Pibroch; Earl Brown, Vimy and Gilbert Pollard, Westlock. The Secretary Manager of Pembina is Brian Gray. Lyle Leyh is the Assistant Manager of Pembina and Petroleum Manager of the Westlock Agency and Kathleen Mayoh is the Steno-Bookkeeper. 3 The People at Pembina Pembina Pioneers Several people have made notable contributions to the suc- cess of Pembina. To name only a few — George MacLachlan, an original board member and Pem- bina's energetic secretary for many years; Dick Ponting who had joined Pembina as a truck driver in those early years and later became Secretary-Manager of Pembina UFA Co-op Association, a position he held until his death; the Watson family — there has always been a Watson on the Directorate body 7945. serving Pembina. In 1933 Charles The Westlock Agency in Watson was on the first board, and tanks, one electric pump, one visi- storage tanks, seven bulk pumps he was followed by his son Ivan ble pump, a warehouse 16' x 24', and four retail pumps. There are who, in addition to serving on the and a small office situated on three two trucks for farm delivery. The board for many years, is now the lots purchased from the town of Transport Division of Pembina has President of Pembina and is a Westlock for $125. two semi-trailer trucks that hold Delegate to UFA representing the over 7,000 gallons each and these Affiliated Co-ops District #5. Westlock Today trucks haul all the fuel for Pembina from the refinery in Edmonton. Westlock in 1935 Today at the Westlock Agency of Each truck makes an average of the Pembina UFA Co-op Associa- two trips a day, five days a week. In When Westlock was started in tion, there are six — 13,000 gallon the spring and fall, the trucks make 1935, its facilities were two 1,000 tanks, one 5,000 gallon tank, four three trips a day. During the last gallon and one 500 gallon storage — 3,000 gallon underground week of May, 1981 the two trucks hauled 30 loads. The Transport Division is not a money maker, however, it gives Pembina a stabili- ty of supply. Over the years some of the smaller Agencies have been closed. Today Pembina is compris- ed of seven Agencies — Barrhead, Dapp, Fawcett, Freedom, Jarvie, Pickardville and Westlock. Brian Gray A career man with Pembina. Brian Gray went from high school to working with Dick Ponting at Pembina. At that time, drums were still being used. It was 1946 and Westlock's delivery equipment consisted of a one-ton and a 1/2-ton One of the Pembina Transport Division tankers. delivery truck. One truck held four follows this up by a continuing Brian can usually have it back in direct contact. Brian has a close service in an hour or two. He keeps relationship with all of the Pem- two spare pumps in stock for this bina Agents and is always purpose. available to discuss any aspects of the business. If he can, Brian will Native to the Area also help collect any outstanding accounts receivable. Brian was born and lived on a farm in the Marwayne area. When "Handy with a Pipe, Screw Driver he was ten, the family moved to and Pliers" Westlock and Brian went to Tring Public and Westlock High School. About half of Brian's time is Over the years he has taken several spent in the Pembina office and courses related to his work that the other half is spent at the Agen- have been helpful to him in his cies. He is recognized as being responsible position. Some of "handy with a pipe, screw driver these courses were Industrial and pliers". He can fix and replace Psychology from the Extension pumps and meters, has done in- Department of the University of stallations and put in the four Alberta, Business Management underground tanks and the new from Co-op College and Credit retail pumps at Westlock. Being Management and Collections from able to do this has proven to be not Dun & Bradstreet. only a money saver but a time Brian Gray. saver as well. Bringing someone An active member of the barrels and the other one held from Edmonton to do this work in- Westlock community, Brian is eight. In 1948 Pembina bought its volves charges for travelling time Training Officer of the Westlock first delivery truck with a meter and and this adds up. Besides that, if Fire Department and a member of a pump that was capable of filling an Agent has a pump or meter out, the BPO Elks, the curling club, the farm tanks. However, in those early Jarvie Rod and Gun Club and was years, not many of the farms had on the swimming pool committee. farm tanks. Gradually Brian He and his wife Barbara have two became Dick's right hand man and daughters and a son. For hobbies assumed more and more respon- Brian enjoys curling, camping, sibility. He became Manager of the fishing, hunting and photography. Westlock Agency and when Dick Ponting died, Brian Gray became the General Manager of the Pem- bina UFA Co-op Ltd. Kathleen Mayoh Responsible For Total Operations A notable member of the staff at In this position, Brian is respon- Pembina is Kathleen Mayoh who sible for the total operations of has been with the Association Pembina and this includes many since 1962. In her career with the diversified duties. He does the Organization, Kay has worked audit for each of the Pembina closely with both the late Dick Pon- Agencies.