F. H. Auld
Encyclopedia
Francis Hedley Auld, LL.D., OBE
(1881 – 1961) was a Canadian
agricultural scientist
who served as Saskatchewan
's Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1916-1946.
Auld was instrumental in increasing the province's farm production during his career in the civil service. He was also appointed Secretary for the Better Farming Commission (1920) and Secretary of the Royal Commission on Grain (1928).
and attended Prince of Wales College
at Charlottetown
. Upon graduation in 1899, he taught public school briefly.
In 1902, aged 21, he moved to western Canada, intending to settle in Edmonton
, Alberta
. He visited his brother who taught in Abernethy, and met the Honourable W. R. Motherwell. A general store job did not last long, as Motherwell secured employment for him in the provincial government's Dairy Branch.
F.H. Auld was the first Director of Extension at the University of Saskatchewan
(1910-1912). On 31 January 1911 Auld met with 42 women in Regina
, and the Saskatchewan Homemakers clubs were initiated. These clubs provided networking on homemaking, temperance issues, gardening, health, and poultry raising.
Auld returned to the province's civil service in 1914, rejoining the Provincial Department of Agriculture. In 1916, Auld became Deputy Minister of Agriculture, serving until 1946. He was elected to the University of Saskatchewan Senate
in 1944. F. H. Auld was a member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists
in 1946. He became the fifth Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. From 1950 to 1951 F.H. Auld was Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Past Grand Masters. Until 1966, Auld was a member of the Board of Governors of St. Andrew's College.
in the 1920s. The papers held in Saskatchewan Archives, of Deputy Minister of Agriculture F.H. Auld and other Saskatchewan ministers, helps to understand municipal and village disintegration, and debt relief programs for a succession of crop failures.
which is a British
order of chivalry was bestowed upon F.H. Auld in 1946. In 1973 he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1881 – 1961) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
agricultural scientist
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
who served as Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
's Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1916-1946.
Auld was instrumental in increasing the province's farm production during his career in the civil service. He was also appointed Secretary for the Better Farming Commission (1920) and Secretary of the Royal Commission on Grain (1928).
Biography
Auld was born in Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and attended Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
at Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
. Upon graduation in 1899, he taught public school briefly.
In 1902, aged 21, he moved to western Canada, intending to settle in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. He visited his brother who taught in Abernethy, and met the Honourable W. R. Motherwell. A general store job did not last long, as Motherwell secured employment for him in the provincial government's Dairy Branch.
F.H. Auld was the first Director of Extension at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
(1910-1912). On 31 January 1911 Auld met with 42 women in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, and the Saskatchewan Homemakers clubs were initiated. These clubs provided networking on homemaking, temperance issues, gardening, health, and poultry raising.
Auld returned to the province's civil service in 1914, rejoining the Provincial Department of Agriculture. In 1916, Auld became Deputy Minister of Agriculture, serving until 1946. He was elected to the University of Saskatchewan Senate
Academic Senate
An Academic Senate is a governing body in some universities and colleges, and is typically the supreme academic authority for the institution.-Scotland:...
in 1944. F. H. Auld was a member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists
Professional Agrologist
Professional agrologist or agronome refers to members of the self-regulated agrology profession in Canada. A professional agrologist contributes to the prosperity of Canada’s agricultural industry by providing unbiased expertise...
in 1946. He became the fifth Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. From 1950 to 1951 F.H. Auld was Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Past Grand Masters. Until 1966, Auld was a member of the Board of Governors of St. Andrew's College.
Quotation
My personal opinion is that too many farmers are depending entirely upon grain farming. It is, of course, also true that present prices for live stock are rather discouraging, but it is my opinion also that the safest and surest means of successful farming is by diversifying to the greatest possible extent. A few cows, a few pigs, some hens with a variety of crops necessary to provide a good variety of feed for these various classes of live stock will provide the greatest measure of safety...(F.H. Auld to Thomas Rennie, East Anglia, Sask. December 3, 1920
Saskatchewan Archival Papers
The book A Capsule History Settling and Abandoning the Prairie Dry Belt by David C. Jones states that there are few records chronicling the drought years which began in AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in the 1920s. The papers held in Saskatchewan Archives, of Deputy Minister of Agriculture F.H. Auld and other Saskatchewan ministers, helps to understand municipal and village disintegration, and debt relief programs for a succession of crop failures.
Publications
- "Farmer's Institutes in the North-West Territories." by F. H. Auld. Saskatchewan History Magazine, 1957, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 41.
Other awards
In 1936, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree was bestowed upon F. H. Auld. He was initiated as a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
which is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
order of chivalry was bestowed upon F.H. Auld in 1946. In 1973 he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame.