Born in England, John Wesson migrated to Canada in 1907 and immediately became involved in organizational work on behalf of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers’ Association.

In 1911, when farmers began to advocate the establishment of their own farmer-owned elevator system, Mr. Wesson became an active organizer having gained the confidence of the farming community. He was elected to the board of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers’ Association in 1917, from which he resigned seven years later to become a member of the first board of directors of the Saskatchewan Co-Operative Wheat Producers (The Pool).

Although primarily interested in grain production and marketing, he recognized the necessity for joint action on the part of all farmers to improve their economic status. With this thought in mind he became a prime mover in a crusade which resulted in farm organizations joining together to form the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Mr. Wesson became the first president of that organization in 1937. Following the Second World War, he worked with farm leaders in other countries to bring about the establishment of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.

In recognition of his many contributions to Canadian agriculture he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1946, and received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1961.