It seems like every week, we are reminded in the press, on radio, and on TV of a funeral of a . . .
former PM, MP, president, mayor, movie star, sports figure, or even a crime boss, all who made their fortunes at the expense of the public. On Jan. 23, our county lost Benson Moffatt, a community leader who was the exact opposite.
Quebec Farm Radio Forum was an organization dreamed up by the extension department of MacDonald College of McGill University.
It gave the English farming community the opportunity to gather together on Monday evening, in small local groups gathered around the radio when a CBC farm broadcast talked over a subject that each local club was encouraged to discuss and provide written comments on. These comments would be collected and reported on during the next week’s broadcast.
Benson was our local secretary who compiled local ideas and reported weekly to head office. Although Farm Forum was an English farm community group, everyone was welcome to join, farmers, teachers, lawyers, nurses, French, Hungarian, German, etc.
When TV took over our time on Monday nights, just like every other night, the Monday night Farm Forum’s began to diminish in attendance.
In the 1960s, Quebec Farm Radio Forum was replaced by Quebec Farmers Association who continued to speak for the English farming community.
Benson continued as local secretary and as a provincial director of the QFA.
Our French farming friends also had an organization generations ago known as the UCC, or Union of Catholic farmers. The UCC was run by the Catholic Church. The UCC was changed to the UPA or Union of Agricultural Producers.
The French and English farm organizations have worked together for generations on such important files as crop insurance, tax rebates for farmers, farm stabilization, Quebec Veterinary Program, etc.
Benson was also a local director of the UPA. Benson was not only a successful dairy farmer, but an active member of the West Quebec Milk Producers and the Federation of Quebec Milk Producers.
There were 600 Pontiac farms that produced milk in the early 1960s. The Moffatt dairy farm was one of the first to install a bulk milk tank and is one of only 18 dairy farms still producing quality milk in our county.
Benson was one of the first farmers to help organize the Pontiac artificial insemination group to provide access to excellent quality genetics in Pontiac County without keeping a dangerous bull on the farm.
Benson’s was the first Pontiac dairy farm enrolled in DHAS, or dairy herd analysis service. DHAS was developed by Dr. Moxley at MacDonald College to provide an efficient milk recording service, combined with assistance in feed ration balancing and herd management.
Benson was a director at Valley Mutual Insurance for many years. Benson was an active member of his church for his entire life which included aiding in construction of a new church. Benson was a quiet supporter of sports in our county and construction of the Ag. Building/hockey rink.
When farms were smaller, Benson was a key member of all threshing, corn cutting and sawing bees.
Everyone looked forward to going to a bee at the Moffatt’s because of the excellent organization of the event and the first class meals provided during a hard day’s work.
Benson always shared celebrations of births, birthdays, and weddings. Benson was also there when tragedy hit like sickness or death in the family, or on the farm like fire, animal illness, cropping problems. Equipment and even medication, drugs and advice were shared without even a thought. Both physical and emotional help was always freely given.
R.I.P. Benson Moffatt. “A la prochaine”, til we meet again to an unsung community hero.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
gladcrest@gmail.com
