Ag leaders lost

I know I haven’t the resources or connections to be aware of everyone involved in the agriculture industry who passes away, but I have recently been sorry to read about the deaths of three who I have had some contact with over the years.

A few weeks ago I was sorry to learn Rob Stenson founder and CEO of Ag Growth International died, in Winnipeg at the age of 44. I met Rob back in the mid-90s when I stopped at his company, then, which was Batco Manufacturing in Swift Current, Sask. 

He and his brother Art and sales manager Gary Anderson where in the shop and Rob showed me this large capacity grain auger, as well as a conveyor they had just started marketing. (The above photo I borrowed courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press). A couple years later they launched Ag Growth International, which has gone on to become quite a large company with nine different divisions, which include Batco, Wheatheart Manufacturing, Westfield Industries, Hi Roller, Union Iron, Twister, Applegate Livestock Equipment, Mepu, Franklin Enterprises and Tramco.

Also I was sorry to learn recently that Louis Latimer of Remitall Farms near Bowden, Alberta had died at the age of 87. The Latimers are a long-time purebred beef operation and as I recall I went to the farm to talk to them about Shorthorn cattle. (I never thought about it, but Remitall is LLatimer spelled backwards).

In his obituary it says, “Louis was born February 13, 1923 on the family farm near Bowden, AB. He attended the Nesbit school and at the same time started his business career by trapping weasels, muskrat and coyotes until he had enough money to buy a Shorthorn heifer which started a fabulous career of breeding purebred seedstock in four breeds, Shorthorn, Polled Hereford, Gelbvieh and Angus. Louis married Jean Winter on December 3, 1945. Their marriage was a partnership in both love and business.

 Together they raised six children and successfully built the Remitall herd. (The accompanying photo from the Remitall website is of Louis and son Gary).  In 1954, Louis and his brother Carroll formed a partnership that continued for twenty years. When they dissolved their partnership in 1976, he formed a partnership with his two sons, Gary and Bryan. During the period 1960 to 1972 Louis & Jean, Carroll & Jeannie purchased the John Deere business "GreenLine" in Olds. Louis was very active in the Olds Agricultural Society, and twice President. Also with the Calgary Stampede, Canadian Hereford and Shorthorn Associations. Louis has received numerous awards during the years including: Hall of Fame at Nile Exhibition 1979 (Billings MT); Canadian Livestock Man of the Year 1987 (Denver CO); American Shorthorn Association "Builder of the Breed" (Omaha NB); Canadian Hereford Association Honour Roll 1988; Alberta Angus Association Breeder of the Year; County of Mountain View Family Farm Award. Honoured as a Pioneer by the Beef Improvement Federation on July 3, 2008. The Remitall name and its bloodlines are known worldwide and have made great contributions to the cattle industry. Louis strongly believed in his family and attended many 4-H shows, Junior Livestock shows, hockey, soccer games and many other events to show his support. He was always willing to share his knowledge of life with both his family and friends.”

And most recently I was sorry to learn of the passing of Gus Gustavson in Calgary, AB. He was 82. I am not sure of his ag industry background, but back in the early to mid-90s I did an interview with Gus on a new concept he had called Growth Stage. He came to my office for the interview, which I remember. Since I work at home, very few people come to the house.

 But Gus came to explain this service he’d developed where you could use the seeding date, heat units and other factors to determine the actual growth stage of a crop. Say, for example, it was a cold spring. Using this system you could determine the actual stage of crop growth, regardless of how the plants appeared visually, and determine the correct timing for applying herbicides. The Growth Stage service was eventually sold to a company called AgCall and I know for a while it was used by farm supply companies and ag chemical dealers as a service available to customers. It could also help these dealers plan their inventory.is obituary didn’t refer to his career, but it did tell us “Gus was very partial to ice cream, coffee, peanuts and nanaimo bars. There was a time when he also enjoyed White Owl cigars and rye and water. He loved dogs, getting up early and wearing shorts.”

Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com