The Lloydminster Creamery

exceeding estimates. The ensuing consequence was that after three brief years of operation, the Lloydminster Creamery was in major debt.

There was a vast market for the district’s dairy products, which put the farmers in a better position to meet those obligations.

rather paradoxical.

Long before the days of having store shelves lined with dairy products was a vital community business called the Lloydminster Creamery.

District farmers would haul their fresh cream and each could not survive without the other. The creamery was a major community business enterprise.

The farmers of the district were encouraged to provide their financial support in the fall of 1910.

Folks who earned their living by dairy farming knew how important a creamery was to their livelihood.

Initially, during its early beginnings, shares were sold, which at the time were thought to be enough to sustain the operations and cover the cost of the buildings and machinery.

Management had also borrowed money, which eventually led to their expenditures

23091FF0

The obvious solution at the time was to ask all those with unpaid shares to pay up. Unfortunately, not every farmer was able to pay or take out more shares due to their financial situation. However, some folks such as Mr. G. Pensom set out to prove these naysayers could afford it.

Having a creamery in the district was essential for dairy farmers. Without its operation, Lloydminster wasn’t a profitable market as more than one-quarter of the butter was produced in the immediate district.

It was unlikely farmers themselves could sell that quantity for cash to merchants or local townsfolk.

Some patrons were not shareholders, and this was often brought up by the secretary.

Pensom felt if the creamery were not to succeed, the onus of the blame would be placed on them. It was their responsibility to pay their shares.

“Those of us who have done something must do more, and those who have not done anything must reap the benefits, must go down into their jeans and help. This district has got no use for spongers.”

He also suggested a special meeting of the local farmer’s association be held as soon as possible so this matter could be presented to the community.

As time went on the situation became

This community asset had a satisfactory record of success in butter making. In a short season of 10 weeks in 1909, there were 13,000 pounds of butter produced making the farmer 22 cents per pound.

In 1910 heading into the fall, output was already more than 24,000 pounds.

In the “bad old days” farmers were content with 12.5 cents per pound and this was often taken in trade, rather than a cash sale.

In the early beginnings, it was decided that 1,500 shares would be more than enough to profitably run the Lloydminster Creamery. In September 1910, only 666 shares were sold. Interestingly, none of them were paid in full. If folks didn’t rise to the challenge, the creamery would likely close due to a lack of working capital.