To those with untrained eyes, the never ending rows of tractors and steam-powered farm machinery at the BC Farm Museum may seem like an expansive collection of outdated technology.
But to museum president Todd Davidson, and the other 122 volunteers that keep the Fort Langley museum going, each of the nearly 5,000 artifacts housed inside their 25,000 square-foot facility represent pioneering farmers, their dreams and a former way of life.
“I think it’s important to recognize the generations that have come before us — it is really important,” Davidson said.
“Otherwise, who’s going to recognize our accomplishments? If we don’t value history, then who is going to value what we do?
“You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the BC Farm Museum, celebrating the people — and most importantly — the machines that have cultivated B.C.’s agricultural industry for the last two centuries.
Perhaps one of the most significant items in the museum’s collection is an early 20th century Coleman plough — the very first item donated to the organization in May, 1953.
Belonging to Robert Alfred Coleman, this high cut plough had been shipped from Ontario to Ladner B.C. in 1905, and for the next 30 years, earned Coleman numerous first prizes in provincial ploughing competitions.
His son, Bruce Coleman, gifted the plough to the University of British Columbia (UBC), where a new provincial farm machinery museum was to be built.
“There was a small group who thought that it would be a good idea to not only preserve the history of British Columbia agricultural machinery, but to also compliment the UBC agricultural training,” Davidson explained.
“So it started off as a machinery museum. There are even plans that I have seen that are archived for a building they were going to build on the UBC Endowment lands to house the building.”
In June, 1958 the British Columbia Farm Machinery Association was established. But as UBC underwent significant expansions, it was decided that the museum should be housed elsewhere.
Attention changed to Fort Langley, the Birthplace of B.C.
A site was chosen at what is now the corner of River Road and Mavis Avenue, beside the Fort Langley National Historic Site. But those plans were also soon nixed when the federal government announced a restoration of the Fort — including the piece of property where the museum was going to be housed.
Eventually, a deal was made with the municipal government that if the association purchased one plot of land on King Street, a second plot would be donated.
On Nov. 19, 1966 the BC Farm Museum officially opened at 9131 King Street. A decade later, phase two and three — which include additional machine, mechanical and woodworking shops downstairs — were opened on Sept. 23, 1978.
Originally, the museum housed 115 exhibits and was curated by Percy Weldon. In the early 1980s, funding for a curator was cut and since then the BC Farm Museum has survived strictly by the work of volunteers — most who are in their 70s and 80s.
“It’s really tough to get young people involved,” Davidson said.
“And the thing is — and this is a personal reflection — it’s pretty easy to get guys to come in and play in the sandbox with the toys, but trying to get people involved in fundraising and all of the administrative end of it is not very appealing, it’s very difficult.”
In an effort to attract a younger crowd and expand their audience, Davidson is creating interactive touch-screen displays to bring a new level of education to their exhibits. Researchers from the museum are also combing through library archives to create a timeline of B.C. agriculture history that will be painted in a monumental mural on the interior and exterior of the main building.
Davidson wants to ensure that youth are educated — and reminded — about just how difficult farmers had to work to feed the country.
“I think there’s such a lack of understanding about where food comes from,” Davidson said.
“Food doesn’t come from Save-On (grocery stores). But more than that, I think we need to recognize that the systems that are in place today are really quite fragile; that we should not forget how to feed ourselves (and) the amount of work that goes into that.
“The Canadian National Film Board has some wonderful archival film that I’m going to integrate in our display system, that shows the threshing, what it takes to produce the grain to make our bread. They show this wonderful documentary on potato growing in New Brunswick. And the work, the effort is just incredible. Tobacco production, oh my goodness, it’s just horribly difficult labour.”
The BC Farm Museum officially opens for the season on April 15, and a 50-year celebration is being planned for November.
Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays).
Volunteers are always sought, with opportunities for individuals with a variety of skills. For more information, call 604-888-2273.
