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by David Schroeder
Introduction
To my knowledge no separate history has been written about the Rhineland
Agricultural Society.
Many histories and studies have bee made of the Southern Manitoba Mennonite
communities where
the society is at least mentioned in passing,1 but the full impact of
the
society has yet to be
documented. Perhaps this essay can pin-point some of the issues that need to be
considered in
coming to terms with the impact of the Rhineland Agricultural Society on the
southern Manitoba
communities.
A Community in Crisis
Many things had conspired over the years to put the Southern Manitoba
communities into a deep
crisis. Years of successful growing of cereal crops had weaned the farmers away
from mixed
farming to become dependent on cereal crops.2 They were ill prepared
to meet
the fluctuating
nature of the cereal crop market when the depression of 1929 hit the community.
They had already
suffered the failure of the Waisenamt3 and the buying
clubs4 of
Southern
Manitoba and were now
plunged deeply into debt.5 The drought of the early 30s and the
grasshopper
plagues only made
matters worse. To this was added the upheaval of emigration too Mexico and
immigration from
Russia.
The war years had also had its effect on the people. They had suffered the
stigma of being opposed
to war and had been pressured to contribute to the war effort through the Red
Cross and through the
buying of war bonds.6 As a result the people were loath to respond
to the
efforts of the Department
of Agriculture when it advised the farmers to diversity their crops.7
The fear
of being overly
influenced by the surrounding society cased the church leaders to veto most of
the programs related
to cultural and civic activities. But this could not be sustained in this time
of crisis.
A Community Self-Help Answer
Something needed to be done. The beginnings of a kind of self-help approach to
the crisis can be
found in three of the southern Manitoba communities. In Lowe Farm the people
got together to find
out why the buying clubs had failed and how they could be organized so as to
assure greater
success.8 In the Gretna area the farmers were responding to the
Department of
Colonization and
Agriculture and the CNR's Community Progress Competition.9 In Altona
the people
came together
to see how they could address the needs of the farmers that were basic to the
welfare of the whole
community. We will be concerned here mainly with the latter.
In Altona five men came together at the beginning of January 1931 to discuss how
the needs of the
community might be met.10 They represented the interest of the
entire
community
as they searched
for some kind of action they might take to help the community. This group
decided that they
needed to focus on agriculture and that they needed to forge a better link
between the community
and the Department of Agriculture but that they would need a bigger support
group to organize such
action. Such a meeting was called for Jan.17, 1931 at which time the Rhineland
Agricultural
Society was born. The meeting of Feb.7 named the members of the executive
committee and the
board.11
The purpose of the Rhineland Agricultural Society (RAS) was as follows:
"to study farm problems and work towards solutions to alleviate the distressed
economic conditions
of the area farmers;
These were not idle projections because most of them were actually
implemented.
The RAS drew on many different resources to accomplish its tasks. First of all
it was not hesitant
to use the personnel of their membership and members of the community. Many
persons were
represented on two to three committees and organizations at the same
time.13
Effective
communication was established with their members and with the teachers in the
schools through the
RAS Quarterly edited by P.D. Reimer who reported not only on the projects of the
organization but
used it as the means to educate the public on changes of attitudes needed and on
the philosophy of
the RAS and its various projects. Above all the RAS was able to draw in the
help of the many
teachers who were only too glad to have some concrete things to suggest to help
students and
parents meet the challenges of their day.
A new relationship of trust and mutual help was established between the Manitoba
federation of
Agriculture, government departments such as the Department of Agriculture and
the Extension
Department, Mr. J.E. Crawford, the agricultural representative, and experts on
various topics
brought in from far and wide to speak and to teach. The various field men of
the RAS worked in
close co-operation with the government departments.14 There was
general
agreement that the
agricultural efforts of the farmers would have too be made economically
viable.
The Work of the Rhineland Agricultural Society
The work of the society consisted of those things that were stated in their
original objectives. Given
the limited travel means, there were an incredible number of meetings called to
inform farmers of
their best options for seeding crops, raising livestock, poultry, pigs, and
methods of farming.15
The Extension Department had encouraged the organization of boys and girls clubs
through the
Rural Municipality of Rhineland. These were now given solid administration
through the RAS.
The 4-H clubs were both popular, varied, inspirational, and
educational.16
The agricultural fair was a success from the beginning. It began in 1931 and
has been carried on
ever since in some form. Its purpose was expressed in the RAS motto: show what
you grow and
share what you know. The second year the businesses of Altona declared a half
day holiday to make
room for the event and to participate in it. A prize list was made available to
the public well in
advance of the fair.17 The fair was a gathering point to see what
had
been
accomplished, to get new
ideas, to accept congratulations, and to be further informed.
The Rhineland Agricultural Institute was called into being in 1937. It was the
result of the study
sessions with E.T. Howe who advocated the idea of a two month course in
agriculture for men
and the same for women in home-making to be held each winter.18 He
also was its
first principal.
The Manitoba Federation of Agriculture together with the RAS introduced the Folk
School in 1940
and 1941.19 These courses were of shorter duration but covered some
of the same
subjects. More
attention was given to worship, singing, instrumental music, public speaking,
debating, socializing,
and recreation.
J.J. Siemens had called for the establishing of a youth forum20 where
you could
wrestle with the
problems of the day.21 This came into being early in the work of
Menno Klassen
as representative
of the RAS. Youth met regularly to discuss topics related to the community, to
their personal lives,
their vocations, as well as art, music, literature, and recreation. An attempt
was made to have these
activities be a part of the Bergthaler Church program and to have the meetings
in church but
permission was denied. These activities were more formally organized in 1944 as
the Young
Peoples Association.22
The RAS later also participated in using the Farm Radio Forum of the CBC for
discussions in the
various schools. Groups were organized to listen to and discuss the CBC
programs in the forum
meetings.23 In a similar way the 4-H work was augmented with a
program designed
for farm-hands,
farmers, and their adult children. It was called the Farm and Home Improvement
Club.24
The study groups soon created a need for appropriate materials. In many areas
appropriate materials
were available from government agencies, universities, and other public
institutions. In the area of
Mennonite history and thought the RAS, funded by the Rhineland Consumers
Co-operative, created
their own materials in getting Paul Schaeffer to write the volumes of Wohin,
Woher Mennoniten.
These writings became the curriculum for the discussion groups or clubs and the
local teachers were
the discussion leaders. Arrangements were made for essay contests, debates, and
public speaking
but it was held that the study group discussion method was the best way for
adults to learn.25
The RAS was revolutionary in the way it included women in its organization.
Women were not
only present at the RAS meetings but participated in the discussions. The
Women's Institute was
on the drawing board from the beginning.26 Women were present at the
organizational meeting and,
at the June 5, 1931 meeting of the RAS, women from Edenthal, Halbstadt, Plum
Coulee, Rosenfeld,
and Altona were in attendance and elected Helene Siemens president and Nita Hamm
secretary of
the "Women's Section" of the organization.27 The Women's Institute
had its own
program but
worked hand in hand with the RAS. On December 31, 1936 the women decided to run
a short
course parallel to the short courses for the men.28 The Women's
Institute, as
reorganized in 1936,
was also instrumental in starting the public library in
Altona.29
The involvement of the teachers in so much of the work of the RAS naturally led
to the forming of
the Altona-Gretna Teachers' Local. It was organized to deal with matters form
the teachers
perspective and their leadership role in community
activities.30
The work of the RAS was augmented by the institutions that were created to
address the financial
problems of the community. The RAS actively promoted the organization of
co-operatives.31 The
Rhineland Consumers Coo-operative was created on Jan.24, 1931 in the same month
that the RAS
was organized. The Co-op Store was started in 1937.32 Equally
important were
the Credit Unions.
After a year or two of deliberations the Altona Credit Union was called into
being in 1939.33
Gretna, Halbstadt, and Winkler too soon had Credit Unions. The people were able
to supply their
own fire insurance through the Red River Valley Fire Insurance. Always more
agencies were
organized to address the needs of the people.34
Endnotes
1. E.K. Francis, In Search of Utopia, (Altona: D.W. Friesen and Sons, 1955),
p.214-222; John
Warkentin, The Mennonite Settlements of Southern Manitoba, unpublished
dissertation, University
of Toronto, 1960, Vol.2, p.326-347; Robert Meyer, Spirit of the Post Road,
Altona: The Federation
of Southern Manitoba Cooperatives, 1955, p.11-22; Esther Epp-Tiessen, Altona:
The Story of a
Prairie Town, Altona: D.W. Friesen and Sons, 1982, p.150-165; Henry J.
Gerbrandt, Adventure in
Faith, Altona: The Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, 1970, p.271; Jac. K.
Schroeder,
unpublished memoirs, 1996; Henry Dyck, Jacob John Siemens and the Co-operative
Movement in
Southern Manitoba 1929-1955, unpublished Master Dissertation, University of
Manitoba, 1982.
2. Francis, p.13.
3. Gerbrandt, p.60-84.
4. Lowe Farm had organized a buying club early in the 1900s. they were the
outgrowth of the
United Grain Growers and the United Farmers of Manitoba programs but they had
not been
sustained. (Meyer, p.24). There was also a buying club organized in Gretna.
Here the oil
companies found a law prohibiting oil to be pumped directly from train cars on
the siding to stop
this bulk buying by the farmers. (P.F. Penner, Community Progress Home-Made,
District No.2 Co-
operative Public Relations Federation, 1960 ?; Dyck, p.67-68).
5. Meyer indicates that of the 1,240 farmers in Rhineland 626 had lost title to
their farms and 455
were heavily in debt (Meyer, p.11). In Manitoba 2% of the farmers in 1900 were
tenants but by
1936 it had risen to 20% (Pioneers in Poverty: Some Facts for Western Canadians
Today, published
by the Winnipeg Branch of the League for Social Reconstruction, Winnipeg: Garry
Press, 1938,
p.13.
6. See the Echo adds in the years 1941 and 1944.
7. A Rural Municipality of Rhineland minute in 1902 indicates that they did not
accept the
stationing of a representative of the Department of Agriculture in the
municipality.
8. A study group soon determined why the buying clubs had failed (Meyer, p.24)
and that if they
applied the Rochdale principles (Meyer, p.25-27) basic to the co-operative
movement, they would
have better success. They then organized the Lowe Farm Farm Consumers Co-op in
1930-31 with
the help of Mr. Hinton from the newly formed Manitoba Coo-op Wholesale (1927)
and against sever
opposition. (Meyer, p.23-33; Dyck, p.67-68).
9. On October 23, 1930 a group was organized to help the community respond to
the Community
Progress Competition. The agenda of the first considered the work of the Red
Cross, the Women's
Institutes, Swine clubs, Literary Societies, and a Co-operative Buying
Association. All of these
items were of importance in the further development of the community. They won
third prize and
$250 for their efforts that year. The next years list i which they won first
prize and $1000 was even
more impressive: sugar beet growing; organization of the Rhineland Consumers
Co-operative;
organization of the United Farmers of Manitoba local; three sewing circles;
junior Red Cross work;
literary societies; the baseball league; display of arts and handicrafts;
improvement of schools and
playgrounds; sewing clubs; garden clubs; and improvements in livestock
(Community Progress
Home-Made p.4-7).
10. Present were two farmers, J.J. Siemens, B.H. Sawatzky, two teachers, J.G.
Neufeld, P.D. Penner,
and a businessman C.C. Bergman (Epp-Tiessen, p.160). Represented also were the
members of the
Farmers Oil Company, the buying club from Gretna-Altona (Dyck, p.70-71).
11. The 73 persons present at the organizational meeting came from Gretna,
Halbstadt, Horndean,
Lowe Farm, Plum Coulee, Rosenfeld, and Altona. By the end of February they had
85 members.
J.G. Neufeld was the first president, J.J. Siemens, vice president, and P.D.
Penner, secretary-
treasurer (Epp-Tiessen, p.160-161; Meyer, p.12-16).
12. Schroeder Memoirs, p.92.
13. J.J. Siemens was represented on any number of committees and organizations;
B.J. Klippenstein
was on the RAS board, the Hospital Board, and the School Board as well as the
MCI and MEI
boards; P.D. Reimer was on the RAS executive, the editor of the RAS Quarterly,
etc.
14. The field men were: Menno Klassen (1942-1946), Died G. Reimer (1946-1948),
Jac K.
Schroeder (1948-1952), and Jake Fehr (1952-1954). See also Dyck, p.59-60.
15. An undated list of services offered by the RAS lists the following:
organization and supervision
of club work; sponsor the agricultural fair, agricultural training; short
courses; demonstrations;
veterinary service and advice; agricultural library and general advisory
service; farm management
assistance; economic survey; soil survey and zonation; farm record assistance;
general agricultural
planning for the Rhineland Municipality; clearing house and mediation;
assistance to improve crops
and livestock; and establishing markets.
16. J.J. Siemens in his address to the Convention of Co-operatives held at
Altona on June 10, 1939
indicated that there were 75 clubs with 700 participants (see Epp-Tiessen, RAS
folder, MHC
Archives). In 1941 there were 100 clubs with 1098 participants.
17. The prize list listed the executive officers of the fair; the board of
directors, the committee
members in charge of the various competitions and the members of the Ladies'
Section as well as
the rules and regulations for the various exhibits. It also listed all the
classes and the subclasses
together wit the prize to be won in each category. See e.g. Prize List for the
fair in Altona, Friday,
September 14th, 1945. It lists 22 pages of prizes.
18. Courses in agriculture consisted of soil studies, dairying, farm
engineering, livestock
management, animal diseases, field crops, specialty crops, welding, woodwork,
hog production,
poultry, entomology, genetics, co-operatives, and citizenship. For the women
the courses were on
sewing, cooking, child care, handicrafts, home management, home furnishing, home
nursing, and
joining the men in horticulture, poultry, co-operatives, and citizenship. A
total of 378 persons
attended these courses (Schroeder Memoirs, p.2 notes). D.G. Reimer notes that
the RAI offered
courses to 251 persons in the 5 years from 1939 (1937?) to 1944 (1942?).
19. Dyck, 146-147.
20. Dyck, p.144-145.
21. In this speech Siemens indicates the need for the study of Mennonite
history, the study of health
problems, citizenship, and agriculture and home economics.
22. A detailed list of activities relating to the period is given in Jac. K.
Schroeder in his Memoirs
p.450-457. It lists items such as talent nights, public concerts, the Y.P.A.
Sentry, a Y.P.A. band,
etc.
23. Schroeder, Memoirs, p.333, 449; Dyck, p.145-146.
24. Schroeder, Memoirs, p.317.
25. See the article in the Altona Echo Vol.1, No.1, p.1 on "the Study Club way
of Adult Learning."
The programs were later promoted through The Community Builder, edited by Jac.
K. Schroeder
(Dyck, p.154).
26. It was listed as one of the items in the first Community Progress
Competition in Gretna in 1930
and was noted also in the founding objectives of the RAS.
27. RAS Quarterly Vol.1, No.1.
28. J.W. Fretz wrote: "... of genuine significance is the way in which the women
of the community
share in the development and activities of Altona. Their contribution to the
local economic renewal
has been of great value." (in "The Renaissance of a Rural Community," Mennonite
Life, 1946:14-
17,39).
29. The Rural Municipality of Rhineland provided them with a room on the second
floor of the
Bergthaler Waisenamt building (RMR minute book 1936-1941 fro Jan.7,1936,
p.3).
30. Schroeder, Memoirs, p.336.
31. Dyck, p.140ff.
32. Gretna established a store in 1938, Plum Coulee in 1940, and in Winkler in
1942. The Stanley
Consumers, a bulk oil station was started in Winkler in 1941. Altona added a
lumber department
and a machinery repair shop (Warkentin, p.335). From 1930 to 1975 there were 27
co-operatives
started in Southern Manitoba (Dyck, p.176).
33. Epp-Tiessen, p.171-173.
34. We could speak here of canneries, Co-op Vegetable Oils, the Co-op Farm,
burial societies,
publications, etc.
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