Maynard van der Galien
Renfrew County
I’m a history buff and was reading through the Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture’s first minute book that begins in 1941 and goes to 1960. There are over 300 large pages filled with handwritten minutes. It’s slow reading and much of the handwriting is hard to decipher.
I took notes as I plodded along and came up with some interesting quiz questions. You’ll find the first question interesting. It stumped many OFA folks that I recently quizzed. Not one came up with the correct answer.
Question #1: At the September 1947 Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture director’s meeting, a letter was received from the provincial federation warning the members that there has been a movement in operation in different parts of the province and for the members to keep watch for any movement of this kind in their county. What was this movement?
A: Temperance Movement
B: Ducks Unlimited
C: Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF)
D: Fish & Game Clubs
E: The Holiness Movement
F: The Farmers Union
G: United Farmers’ Co-operative of Ontario (UFCO)
H: Masonic Lodge and Freemasonry Lodge
I: The Jehovah’s Witnesses
J: New Democratic Party
K: Women’s Feminist Movement
L: Communist Party of Canada
M: Christian Farmers of Holland Marsh (Bradford)
Question #2: In what year did OFA officially become The Ontario Federation of Agriculture?
A: 1935 B: 1940 C: 1942 D: 1948 E: 1969
Question #3: This general farm organization was established in 1936 under what name?
A: Ontario Chamber of Agriculture
B: United Farmers of Ontario
C: United Farmers’ Co-operative Company
D: Ontario Farmers Union
E: Ontario Landowners Association
Question #4: In 1939, Ontario Chamber of Agriculture amended its constitution to allow for the admission of County Chambers of Agriculture as members. What county became the first County Chamber of Agriculture?
A: Simcoe B: Ottawa-Carleton
C: Peterborough D: Middlesex
E: Huron
Question #5: At the first board meeting of the newly formed Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture in October of 1941, a motion was made and supported to pay, or not to pay, mileage to any member who attended a meeting. How much was that mileage?
A: 2-cents a mile B: 5-cents a mile
C: 6-cents a mile D: 10-cents a mile
E: Zero-cents a mile
Question #6: At the first board meeting of the Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture in Oct. of 1941, a discussion was held on purchasing something that would be the property of the organization. What was it?
A: An arm chair for the chairman or president
B: A minute book
C: A typewriter
D: An ink well and three fountain pens
E: A large wall map of Ontario
Question #7: Canadian National Farm Radio Forum was launched in what year?
A: 1938 B: 1941
C: 1947 D: 1952
E: 1961
Question #8: How many listeners did the Farm Radio Forum have at its peak?
A: 6,000 B: 9,500
C: 12,000 D: 17,000
E: Over 21,000
Question #9: An amalgamation committee was formed to consider the merging of the OFA and the National Farmers Union in Ontario. In what year was that?
A: 1944 B: 1949
C: 1954 D: 1964
E: 1970
Question #10: In what year was The Farm Registration and Funding for Farm Organizations Act passed to provide a secure and stable funding mechanism for general farm organizations?
A: 1983 B: 1990
C: 1993 D: 1999
E: 2001
Maynard van der Galien became an OFA member in 1971 and has been a long-time director with the Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture.
