John E. Brownlee served as Attorney General and later as Premier of Alberta, but he is best remembered for his contribution to farmers’ organizations. As solicitor for the Alberta Farmers’ Co-operative Elevator Company, Mr. Brownlee played an important part in the negotiations, which led to its amalgamation with the Grain Growers Grain Company Limited to form United Grain Growers Limited.

During his tenure of office as Premier, he succeeded in having returned to the people of Alberta the natural resources of their province.

After retiring from the political scene, he joined the board of directors of United Grain Growers Limited and later became president from 1948 to 1961. In this capacity he served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Canadian Wheat Board, a Canadian delegate to the International Wheat Agreement Conferences and the founding Convention of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. For many years he was a valued member of the executive committee of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.