Bill Small helped launch two of the world’s largest and respected agricultural showcases: Canadian Western Agribition and Western Canada Farm Progress Show.
For nearly half a century, Saskatchewan grain farmer and purebred cattle breeder Bill Small has been turning ideas into action and helping groups with diverse interests work together successfully. He assisted the Regina Exhibition Association and the Canadian Western Agribition to develop a successful, long-term relationship.
Bill Small helped focus international attention on Agribition. He brought the Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth annual meeting to Canada in 1977. This helped launch Agribition as an international showcase and one of six major world livestock shows.
Graduate of the School of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, Bill Small has a strong belief in agricultural education. This led to Bill, his wife Agnes and their three children: Ken, now managing the family farm at Craven, Saskatchewan, Laura (Spence,) and Susan (Hibbs) into co-operating with the Regina Public School Board in making their family farm an outdoor classroom for the outdoor education program.
When local farm equipment dealer exhibitors dwindled at Regina Exhibition, Bill Small initiated a manufacturers show. The result was the first Western Canada Farm Progress Show at Regina Exhibition Park with Bill Small as chairman. The show, celebrating the 20th anniversary in 1997, is one of the top three dryland shows in North America.
In 1945, Bill attended a Canadian National 4-H Club Week program in Guelph, Ontario. He cultivated his interest in creating educational and training experiences for young people. While serving as club leader, and as 4-H Council member, he encouraged the two major western exhibitions to organize 4-H shows for local winners. He went on to encourage the concept across the nation. Thus, local winners are encouraged to show on a provincial and even a national basis.
In 1976, Bill was co-founder and first chairman of the Canadian Western Agribition’s International 4-H Judging Seminar, which has expanded from serving western Canada to serving teams from the USA and the remainder of Canada.
His work with the Shorthorn and Simmental breeds has taken Bill Small as a judge, across Canada and Brazil. He chaired the Simmental World Congress in Calgary in 1978.
Honours bestowed on Bill Small include: University of Saskatchewan Distinguished Graduate in Agriculture, Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, Simmental Breeder of the Year in 1991 and Canadian Association of Exhibitions and Fairs Roll of Honour.
Mr. William (Bill) James Small is a most deserving person to be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
