Seager Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Seager Wheeler, MBE (1868 – December 15, 1961) an agronomist
by profession, was designated as a person of national historic significance in 1988 by the Canadian federal government
and inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. Wheeler produced viable economic wheat and fruit strains for a short prairie growing season with harsh winters. Known as the "Wheat King of the prairies" or "The Wheat Wizard of Rosthern" he owned and operated the Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm
.
Seager came to Canada in 1885 and applied for his own homestead in 1890. His original homestead was located at NE Section 16 Township 38 Range 4 West of the 3rd Meridian
, and he was aided by a loan from the Temperance Colonization Society Limited - Toronto Whereas the nearest present day town of Rosthern
, Saskatchewan
is located at Sec.35, Twp.42, R.3, W3. To get to the restored Seager Wheeler Maple Grove 185 acre (0.7486691 km²) Farm travel 7 km east of Rosthern. Five separate entries of wheat which were grown at this farm location during 1911 to 1918 won World Wheat Championships. Morris Bodnar
, Member of Parliament
for Saskatoon—Dundurn
, commemorated Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm as a National Historic Site of Canada on August 3, 1996. The site is honoured as the location where hardy wheat and fruit strains were developed which were well suited to the prairie climate and growing season.
, England
in 1868, Seager emigrated to the Canadian
prairies in 1885, the same year as the North West Rebellion. He worked on various farms for five years before applying for his own homestead near Rosthern, Saskatchewan
. He died in Victoria
and is interred in the Bergthal cemetery with his family, just west of where he homesteaded.
.
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
by profession, was designated as a person of national historic significance in 1988 by the Canadian federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. Wheeler produced viable economic wheat and fruit strains for a short prairie growing season with harsh winters. Known as the "Wheat King of the prairies" or "The Wheat Wizard of Rosthern" he owned and operated the Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm
Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm
Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm is a National Historic Site of Canada. Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm was a farm owned and operated by agronomist Seager Wheeler "Wheat King of the prairies or "The Wheat Wizard of Rosthern who developed dry land farming techniques as well as fruit and...
.
Seager came to Canada in 1885 and applied for his own homestead in 1890. His original homestead was located at NE Section 16 Township 38 Range 4 West of the 3rd Meridian
106th meridian west
The meridian 106° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, and he was aided by a loan from the Temperance Colonization Society Limited - Toronto Whereas the nearest present day town of Rosthern
Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern is a town at the juncture of Highway 11 and Highway 312 in the central area of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located roughly halfway between the cities of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.-History:...
, 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....
is located at Sec.35, Twp.42, R.3, W3. To get to the restored Seager Wheeler Maple Grove 185 acre (0.7486691 km²) Farm travel 7 km east of Rosthern. Five separate entries of wheat which were grown at this farm location during 1911 to 1918 won World Wheat Championships. Morris Bodnar
Morris Bodnar
Morris P. Bodnar was a member of the Canadian House of Commons at the Saskatoon—Dundurn electoral district from 1993 to 1997. He is a lawyer by career....
, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Saskatoon—Dundurn
Saskatoon—Dundurn
Saskatoon—Dundurn was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997.This riding was created in 1987 from parts of Humboldt—Lake Centre, Saskatoon East and Saskatoon West ridings...
, commemorated Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm as a National Historic Site of Canada on August 3, 1996. The site is honoured as the location where hardy wheat and fruit strains were developed which were well suited to the prairie climate and growing season.
Life
Born on the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1868, Seager emigrated to the 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...
prairies in 1885, the same year as the North West Rebellion. He worked on various farms for five years before applying for his own homestead near Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern is a town at the juncture of Highway 11 and Highway 312 in the central area of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located roughly halfway between the cities of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.-History:...
. He died in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
and is interred in the Bergthal cemetery with his family, just west of where he homesteaded.
History
Seager Wheeler developed many dryland farming techniques, invented equipment as well as winning numerous awards for developing wheat strains and fruits which would grow in the short prairie season, seeds which would survive over winter and many other practices which helped develop a sustainable agricultural economy in SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
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....
.
Awards
- 1911 New York Land Show International Award for Wheat entry.
- 1911 Canadian Pacific Railway first prize of $1000 in gold coins for best North American hard spring wheat.
- 1915 Denver Competition Prize.
- 1916 El Paso Competition Prize.
- 1918 International Soil Products Exposition in Kansas City Prize.
- 1919 honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Queen's UniversityQueen's UniversityQueen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
- 1945 Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
- 1972 Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame
- 1988 designated by the Canadian Government as a person of National Significance.
Legacy
- Seager Wheeler Hall at the residences of University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanThe 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...
is named in his honour. - Seager Wheeler Lake Area named in his honour.
- Dr. Seager Wheeler Park, located in SaskatoonSaskatoonSaskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
's Westview neighborhood is named in his honour.
Published works
- Grain Growers Guide-articles
- Seager Wheeler's book on profitable grain growing / by Seager Wheeler. With biographical sketch by Hopkins MoorhousePublisher: Winnipeg : The Grain growers' guide, 1919.
- Seager Wheeler's book on profitable grain growing Publisher: Winnipeg, Grain Growers' Guide, ltd, 1919.
- Special prices on Seager Wheeler's selected seeds and northern grown nursery stockPublisher: [Rosthern? Sask. : S. Wheeler], 1930.
- Seager Wheeler's book on profitable grain growing 2nd ed. / by Seager Wheeler ; with biographical sketch by Hopkins Publisher Winnipeg : Grain Growers' Guide, 1919.
- Special prices on Seager Wheeler's 1927 selected seeds Publisher: [Rosthern? Sask. : S. Wheeler, 1926?]
- "Profitable Grain Growing" published by Grain Growers Guide in 1919 by Seager Wheeler.
External links
- National Parks and National Historic Sites of Canada in Saskatchewan
- Farmers of Saskatchewan • Saskatchewan's Environmental Champions
- Attractions & Events Fact Sheet
- News Releases/June 1996/SEAGER WHEELER HISTORIC FARM ATTRACTION OPENS
- Wheeler, Seager
- Seager Wheeler Lake Representative Area -- Concept Management Plan --
- Canada's What King: The Life and Times of Seager Wheeler