HISTORY
The EARLY YEARS as the Prairie Implement Manufacturers Association
The Visionary Leaders Who Made it Happen This issue of Implement Success would not be complete if we did not also talk about some of the people who played key roles in getting AMC off the ground, spreading awareness and driving membership in those early years. Prominent names in our early history documents include Bart Drope, industrial development officer with the Saskatchewan Department of Industry and Commerce. Drope was in a unique position since he called on many of the farm machinery manufacturers and observed they had little or no contact with each other. Drope noted a thirst for knowledge about all aspects of producing and marketing machinery. He saw companies struggling independently with problems other firms had already experienced and overcome. Outside of prototype development, he also realized there was little reason for the companies not to talk to each other.
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Another factor that contributed to the formation of an association was identified by Roy Swanson, President of Apollo Machine in Saskatoon. He noted that the Saskatchewan Welders and Blacksmith Association, after serving small manufacturers for many years, had disappeared in the 1950s. He realized that this left a void that needed to be filled. Gradually, Drope’s discussions with individual companies began to include suggestions that they organize an association to share information and provide a united voice for the industry. The idea gained momentum and a number of companies became enthusiastic supporters. A select few companies that were represented at the very first meeting held in Regina on December 5, 1969, to discuss forming an association, remain active members today. A total of 17 people from 14 manufacturing companies were in attendance, as well as six government representatives, among them Bart Drope. At the top of the list of companies who saw the potential for this organization was Wilf Degelman of Degelman
Implement Success | Winter 2020-2021 | 50th Anniversary Edition
Industries Ltd. In fact, at that very first meeting, he brought with him two other employees: Ross Giles and Carl Brenner. Degelman Industries was the only manufacturer to send three representatives to this meeting, which stands out in the historical records. Clearly Wilf Degelman was a visionary, as all three Degelman representatives made important contributions to the formation of the association.
First Meeting The manufacturers who attended the first meeting December 5, 1969, to discuss forming an association: Wilf Degelman, Degelman Industries Ltd. Ross Giles, Degelman Industries Ltd. Carl Brenner, Degelman Industries Ltd. Marshall Brown, Brown Industries Ltd. Dil Jones, Brandt Machine & Mfg. Ltd. George Morris, Morris Rod-Weeder Co. Ltd. Frank Rempel, Rem Mfg. Ltd. I Unger, Rem Mfg. Ltd. Francis Doepker, Doepker Industries Ltd. Peter Sakundiak, Sakundiak Farm Equipment Ltd. Floyd Rousell, Fibro Industries Mfrs. Ltd. Joe Moser, Crown Implement Mfrs. Ltd. Peter Bergen, Bergen Mfg.
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