Manitoba Ag Hall of Fame adds four individuals

For 14 years Drake served as a director with three different grain companies. During this time, he also sat on the Heartland Livestock board, an amalgamation of Manitoba Pool Elevators and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool livestock markets. While Drake was on the board of Heartland Livestock, they built a new auction barn at Virden, Man. which is still in operation.

In the late 80’s Drake participated in the provincial debt review board and played an active role assisting farmers in financial crisis.

Drake dedicated his life and time away from his own businesses and family to ensure that Manitoba and western Canadian non-profit agricultural organizations, co-ops and companies were successful.

Drake passed away on Dec. 26, 2023.

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Dr. Don Flaten of Winnipeg is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba, where he retired in 2021 from his position as Professor in Nutrient Management and Crop Nutrition.

Flaten led a productive and impactful field research program with short and long-term contributions to soil fertility and crop nutrition in Manitoba since 1988. Twenty-two M.Sc. or Ph.D. students have conducted field research towards competition of their degrees under the primary supervision of Dr. Flaten.

Some of Flaten’s contributions to soil fertility and crop nutrition management include the recognition that vegetation cover contributes more to P runoff losses than soil in no-till systems, the best management of animal manures to prevent excessive P buildup of soils, nutrient management strategies to increase wheat protein, the contribution of topography to variation and management of losses of fall-applied nitrogen, and updating nutrient response curves for modern crop varieties and hybrids.

Flaten held positions as the Provincial Soils Specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture and as a District Agriculturist for Alberta Agriculture.

He grew up on the family farm near Weyburn, Sask. He completed his B.S.A. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1978 and obtained his Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba in 1989.

Flaten has not retired from publishing research papers and maintains a considerable farm, industry, government, and media extension program and is an advisor to research funding organizations.

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Dr. Allan Preston of Hamiota, Man. has spent his career advancing agriculture, and doing his utmost to make rural Manitoba and Canada a stronger and more vibrant place.

Preston attended university and then was accepted to Vet. School in Saskatoon, Sask. Following graduation, he moved back to Hamiota and joined his rural veterinarian practice and worked with his dad on the farm.

He was also active in industry organizations. He was the president of the Canadian Simmental Association and active on many livestock organizations including the Beef Science Cluster Advisory Body and the Westman Opportunities Leadership Group.

Preston was also a very well-respected Chief Veterinary Officer before being appointed as Assistant Deputy Minister at Manitoba Agriculture and Food, which he chaired the Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee.

He has also provided many years of service to research-oriented groups: Manitoba Forage & Grasslands Association, Bovine Tuberculosis Management Group, Beef Science Cluster Science Advisory Body and more. He also tackled some very major and difficult assignments important to the health of the agriculture industry and the province. He was the Bovine Tuberculosis Coordinator, and the Chair of the Assiniboine Rive Basin Initiatives.

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Fred Tait of Rosendale, Man. has devoted his life to advocating for a healthy environment, thriving rural communities and sustainable farming throughout Manitoba and across Canada. Tait has lived experience, having come from a farm family and continuing that tradition himself. Tait and his wife Sandra have lived on their own farm in Rossendale since 1968. They raised two sons there while managing a small herd of cattle.

Tait became very involved in advocating, starting with focusing on issues of conservation and respectful stewardship of the land. He promoted the use of both agricultural and non-agricultural land as resources that can be used but not exploited. He joined the National Farmers Union in 1983 and has held various positions including being a Manitoba Coordinator and the National Vice President for several years.

Fred’s work on behalf of farmers has included many aspects of agricultural policy including stopping the introduction of genetically modified grain, defending the Canadian Wheat board, fighting for independent hog producers, and advancing the interests of cattle farmers.

Through all this work, Tait has maintained a focus on preserving the health of rural communities and farm families.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW

by Alice McFarlane

Manitoba Ag Hall of Fame adds four individuals

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