Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association
The Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association has anything but a brief history. SAGA was formed on May 10th 1935, with the initial executive meeting being held on May 13th. The first SAGA President was John Mitchell, whose name has long been affixed to the building kitty corner to Kirk Hall.
SAGA was formed by early ‘30’s agriculture graduates who wanted a more formal way of staying in touch with one another. SAGA is the longest continuous serving alumni association at the University of Saskatchewan. SAGA members can be found world-wide, so a newsletter keeps members in contact with their classmates.
Since 1935 SAGA has served as a communications link between graduates and the college, as well as, between the graduates themselves. The result has been a continuous flow of good ideas and goodwill between the College of Agriculture and its widespread alumni.
Lifelong friendships are forged between students during their undergraduate years. SAGA encourages graduates to maintain the youthful exuberance of those friendships by attending reunions. Of course, the annual addition of new grads helps to keep the organization forever young.
Every year SAGA holds an annual meeting on the Friday following the conclusion of the Crop Production Show. This meeting sets the stage for the SAGA weekend. A curling bonspiel (1st begun in 1945), and a hockey tournament (1st in 1989) start on Friday afternoon, and roll on through the weekend ending with final games on Sunday. Current students are invited to come out and get involved. Consider putting a team together this year and start your tradition of getting together annually with your friends and classmates.
The mixer on Friday evening is open to all agriculture students and is designed to encourage present students to mingle with past grads. It’s a great opportunity to network and start that search for the perfect job, as Ag grads have gone on to be employed in nearly every aspect of the work environment.
On Saturday night there is a banquet and dance. The banquet started in 1936 with the first dance following it in 1946. The tradition continues today.
The main event at the banquet is to honor an Ag grad (diploma & degree) for their accomplishments in Agriculture. The 1st honorary life members were R.D Kirkham and Tom Brydon in 1946.
The 20 year graduates of both degree and diploma are also honored with presentations after the meal is completed. Class pictures are taken for all the years that are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 20th 30th etc. reunions. We have had a 70-year and a 75-year reunion in recent times, which goes to show that our Ag Grads can be a dedicated bunch.
In the recently refurbished administration building one can see the plaque that commemorates the formation of SAGA. It is located on the main floor to the left of the entrance.
SAGA recognizes the importance of the current agriculture students who are the future of SAGA. In 1940, SAGA instituted and has since presented the Tommy Fraser Award to the outstanding degree student as chosen by his/her classmates. We have also presented a Speakers Award to both degree and diploma students.
SAGA is an organization that allows grads to stay in touch with classmates, meet new people and to network with other graduates involved in the agriculture industry.
Please join us at the reunion in January. We look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Saskatchewan Agriculture Graduate Association members
The 2006 reunion - January 13th-15th
Mixer: Friday January 13th at 9:00 in the Saskatoon Inn.
Sporting events start Friday afternoon and run throughout the weekend.
To enter a team, please contact one of the following:
Curling: Ewald Lammerding (eflammerding@sasktel.net or 477-1369)
Lanette Ehman (ehman@sask.usask.ca or 665-6008)
Hockey: Kristian Holden (holdenk@basf.com or 244-6644)
Jeremy German (jeremygerman@hotmail.com or 343-7017)
For general inquiries and to submit information for the newsletter email: thesaga@shaw.ca
Or contact the 2005 president: Colin Peterson – peterson@sask.usask.ca or 966-4165