Sigma Tau Upsilon was started in the spring in 1927 with a simple constitution to develop the mutual respect and good fellowship prevailing between professors and students of the Faculty of Agriculture at UBC. Emphasis was placed on a professional bond to further the science and practice of agriculture in the Province of BC, Canada and elsewhere.

The activities of the society included the following:

1. Provision and awarding of the Sadler Gold Medal each year to the head of the graduating class for the BSA (later the BSc (Agr)) degree. This activity was designed to commemorate the life and work of Wilfred Sadler (Professor and Head of the Department of Dairying from 1918 to 1933) and was approved by Senate in 1940.
2. Initiation of a student tour of BC agriculture in the third year.
3. Initiation of a discussion on land use policy in BC, with Dave Turner as leader. This led ultimately to the first Canada Land Inventory, embracing forestry, agriculture, fisheries, and mining interests. Another result of this initiative was 15 years of resource conferences, with much input support from public and government at all levels.
4. Sponsorship and organization of a public speaking course for aggie students which ran for about 20 years until it being wound up in 1955.
5. Aid for the establishment of the Farm Machinery Museum and the Violet Eagles history of agriculture library in Fort Langley (a record of innovation).
6. Mutual support for rural electrification in BC.
7. Activities leading to the passage of legislation for the BC Agrologists Act.
8. Meetings with the President and Board Members of UBC to stress the nature and importance of BC agriculture which, among other items, gave support for the HR Macmillan Building for Agriculture and Forestry.

Above all Sigma Tau Upsilon engendered good fellowship among agriculturists across the Province and Canada. Only occasionally did the group serve as a lobby group but when it decided to do so it was effective. Usually the effectiveness came through mutual support within the membership.

The Society was formally terminated at a meeting held in Aldergrove in the fall of 2004 and the remaining funds were turned over to the executive of the BC Farm Machinery and Agricultural Museum Society. Sigma Tau Upsilon members were encouraged to join the Society and to contribute archival material relating to BC agriculture to the Society library. Sigma Tau Upsilon, following Tom Leach's initiative, donated funds to have "Country Life in BC" bound and presented to the Society library.

Membership List at Dissolution in 2004

(No. Joined Name Address)

064 46/12 ANSTEY, TH, Ottawa ON

159 77/4 AYLARD, GR, Sidney BC

162 80/3 BAEHR, BE, Kelowna BC

189 94/4 BARICHELLO, RR, Vancouver BC

199 95/4 BERRY, J, Burnaby BC

170 85/3 BERTRAND, RA, Abbotsford BC

157 77/4 BLACK, TA, Vancouver BC

055 42/4 BRINK, VC, Vancouver BC

049 39/6 CAMPBELL, JJR, Langley BC

124 65/1 CARNE, IC, Victoria BC

116 62/10 CARTER, AC, Victoria BC

095 56/4 CHAPMAN, CK, Calgary

085 53/4 CHRISTIE, WD, Aldergrove, BC

169 84/4 CLAY, LKC, Langley BC

200 95/4 COPEMAN, RJ, Vancouver BC

084 53/4 COULTHARD, TL, Chilliwack BC

163 80/3 CRUICKSHANK, G, Chilliwack BC

149 74/5 CUNNINGHAM, FM, Sardis BC

111 61/4 DAUBENY, HA, Vancouver BC

122 64/1 DEVLIN, KA, Creston BC

136 69/4 DORLING, MJ, Canterbury, Kent UK

126 65/10 EATON, GW, Vancouver BC

201 95/4 ELLIS, BE, Vancouver BC

056 42/4 FARROW, FA, Saturna Island BC

202 95/4 FITZPATRICK, SM, Agassiz BC

091 55/3 FLETCHER, HF, Victoria BC

198 94/4 FORSYTH, DM, Ottawa ON

181 88/10 FORSYTH, JA, Burnaby BC

092 55/3 FREEMAN, JA, Agassiz BC

190 94/4 GARLAND, TD, New Westminster BC

203 95/4 GAYE, MM, Coquitlam, BC

204 95/4 GIBSON, DM, Chilliwack BC

168 82/4 GOERZEN, WRJ, Sardis BC

068 47/10 GRAY, NT, West Vancouver BC

175 85/10 GREENWOOD, IF, Kelowna BC

100 58/1 HUGHES, EC, New Westminster, BC

185 90/3 HUSDON, JTR, Victoria BC

128 66/10 HYDE, RB, New Westminster BC

183 90/2 JANNSEN, D, Surrey BC 171 85/3

JENSEN, SEC, Abbotsford BC

179 88/10 JOHNSON, PA, Port Coquitlam BC

205 95/4 KEMPLER, CH, Richmond BC

194 94/4 KENT, MR, Vancouver BC

156 77/4 KING, EM, Victoria BC

143 71 /12 LAVKULICH, LM, Vancouver BC

165 80/3 LEACH, AL, Oliver BC

129 66/10 LORD, TM, Vancouver BC

070 48/3 MacCARTHY, JA, West Vancouver BC

080 52/1 McKINNON, NB, Garden Bay BC

112 61/4 MERRYFIELD, JW, Calgary AB

187 92/3 NISHIHAMA, P, White Rock BC

053 41/4 OLDFIELD, JE, Corvallis OR

113 61/10 ORMROD, DP, Victoria BC

137 69/4 OSBORN, ET, Vernon BC

167 82/4 PATON, DJ, Aldergrove BC

104 59/4 PATON, ID, Delta BC

191 94/4 PAPKE, AM, Ladner BC

193 94/4 PAULSON, CA, Langley BC

160 78/5 PAULSON, SG, Langley BC

150 74/11 PELTER, JA, Victoria BC

047 38/4 PENDRAY, WC, Kelowna BC

192 94/4 PETERS, WS, Abbotsford BC

125 65/10 PETERSON, SB, Victoria BC

065 46/12 PINCHIN, VL, Winnipeg MB

176 87/11 PITT, MD, Pender Island BC

063 45/12 RENNEY, AJ, Gabriola Island, BC

195 94/4 REYNOLDS, H, Ladner BC

132 68/10 RICHARDS, JF, Vancouver BC

146 73/4 RICHARDSON, AS, West Vancouver BC

161 78/5 RODDICK, NE. Ladner BC

196 94/4 ROGERS, J, Vancouver BC

155 77/4 RUNKA, GG, Hagensborg BC

154 76/4 SABEN, HS, Vancouver BC

172 85/3 SMITH, GGN, Milner BC

101 58/1 STACE SMITH, R, Vancouver BC

098 58/1 TAIT, RS, Qualicum Beach BC

139 70/11 TARVES, AR, White Rock BC

054 41/4 TAYLOR, DK, Agassiz BC

188 93/10 TURNER, SW, Bainbridge Island WA

182 89/4 VANCE, BF, Abbotsford BC

180 88/10 VANDERSTOEP, J, Surrey BC

173 85/5 WICKENS, WEA, Midway BC

197 94/4 WIENERS, A, Surrey BC

108 59/10 WILKINSON, RL, Victoria BC

141 71/10 WINDT, TA, Abbotsford BC

081 52/11 WINRAM, JM, Vancouver BC

123 65/1 WOODLAND, AG, Silverdale WA

R Blair and C R Nichols 2005, with input from Dr Bert Brink