An engine in the interior of the mechanical car.

A display of grains and posters on the field crops car.

Displays of gears and a cream separator in the interior of the mechanical car.

Lawrence E. Kirk (background), instructor in agronomy, and George Wishart Murray, staff members, standing behind a display of grains with posters.

John G. Rayner, Harry Saville, Alexander R. Greig and J.M. Smith, staff members, at Debden, Saskatchewan. [Saville and Smith] are seated in a [cart].

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.

Bertha G. Oxner and Miss M. Rutherford, staff members, stand inside the household science car.

A display of hitches and knots in foreground and sewage disposal systems in background in the mechanical car.

A display of grains and field crops in the field crops car.

Image of livestock car, field crops car, and a flat car with "Better Farming Train" banner along top. Tilled field and fence in foreground.

Staff members stand outdoors. Names: T.N. Willing, Arthur E. Potts, Oral Dean Davidson, Helgi Bjarni Josephson, [? McGee], Allan S. Kyle, T.G. Loveridge, J. Bridge, [Roy Hanson], Howard Bruno Sommerfeld, Alwxander R. Greig, Mrs. Elva Currie, Miss J. Gillespie, Jean E. Murray, [Angus Campbell], and James Bishop Harrington.

George Porteous heads a discussion group as the members sit and lie in a circle on the grass. Building in background.

Bio/Historical Note: George Porteous was born in 1903 at Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His family emigrated to Canada in 1910 and he attended secondary school in Saskatoon, going on to the University of Saskatchewan, where he was awarded a BA in 1927. He began working for the YMCA as boys’ work secretary in Saskatoon in 1922, later becoming an Army physical education instructor. At the outbreak of World War II he went with the 1st Canadian Division to England as a YMCA Auxiliary Service officer, returning later on to Canada to train others. Porteous was the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 1976 until his death in 1978.

Members of a Water Safety group: E. DeGraw of Orkney, A.R. Durocher of Beauval, T. Myers of Lafleche and J. Thompson of Wolseley, demonstrating their skills. Sign in background: "Take what you need, but eat what you take".

Members sitting, standing, bending in a physical fitness test; building and trees in background.

Group of girls singing, with a man directing the choir. Trees in background

D. Bridges and G. Bridges representing the Tisdale food club. Emblem on jacket pocket, "Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee 1905--1955".