Image of Livestock Car, Field Crops Car, and a flat car with "Better Farming Train" banner along top. Tilled field and fence in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Image from behind a demonstration flat car. "Better Farming Train" banner on top of the flat car where a man with two cows is lecturing to a crowd.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Club members shown sitting and standing in a building.

Exterior of Mechanical Exhibits Car and the Dairy, Building and Farm Machinery Exhibits Car of the Better Farming Train. Tilled field and fence in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Image of exterior of the Livestock Car of the Better Farming Train with hogs and sheep in pens.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

A crowd of children (in front) and adults (in the rear) gathering for a demonstration, with unidentified staff member speaking from a flat car with various livestock. Taken at Debden, Saskatchewan.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Four students working on an engine in the machine shop.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter C. Murray, University President, saw that the College of Agriculture would keep the university close to the life of the people. Between 1909-1912, before they had teaching space, the agriculture faculty developed the agriculture farm and traveled doing extension work, most significantly, with the Better Farming Train. The Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, W.R. Motherwell, supported extension work with tax revenue funds. In October 1912, the first agriculture class was taught. Both a 3-year associate course and a degree course were available. In 1937 the associate program became the School of Agriculture. The school responded to local farming problems by teaching and research and with new departments directed to these areas.

A group of students gathered around a machine in the machine shop.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter C. Murray, University President, saw that the College of Agriculture would keep the university close to the life of the people. Between 1909-1912, before they had teaching space, the agriculture faculty developed the agriculture farm and traveled doing extension work, most significantly, with the Better Farming Train. The Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, W.R. Motherwell, supported extension work with tax revenue funds. In October 1912, the first agriculture class was taught. Both a 3-year associate course and a degree course were available. In 1937 the associate program became the School of Agriculture. The school responded to local farming problems by teaching and research and with new departments directed to these areas.

Group photo of club members sitting and standing on roadway at Wynyard, Saskatchewan. Trees and houses in background; winter scene.

Group photo of club members kneeling and standing on snow-covered roadway, while attending a Short Course at Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. Houses and power poles in background; winter scene.

Elevated view looking north with Kirk Hall in foreground and Agriculture Building in background.

Image looking through a flatbed car at the Livestock Car of the Better Farming Train. Train station and crowd in background, livestock penned in car.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Two box cars and two flat cars with "Better Farming Train" banner along top of one car. Tilled field and fence in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.