Active in the co-operative movement, he helped promote the co-operative elevator system in 1913, the Grain Growers Trading Association, was active in the formation of the Progressive Party in 1919, and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1924.

Elected director of the United Farmers of Canada (Saskatchewan Section) in 1939, Frank Appleby served as vice-president and president of that organization from 1940 to 1946.

During his tenure as UFC president, Frank Appleby, in 1944, initiated the formation of the Interprovincial Farm Union Council, predecessor of the present-day National Farmers Union.

At the UFC convention in 1944, the "On to the Bay Association," later the Hudson Bay Route Association, was founded through his initiative. He served as director and executive member of that organization from 1952 to 1972.

In 1946, his leadership sparked the formation of the Saskatchewan Occupational Group Council, a liaison group of the farmer, labour and teacher movements.

A champion of parity prices for farm products, Frank Appleby was a leader of the controversial first farm non-delivery strike called by the Interprovincial Farm Union Council in Saskatchewan and Alberta on September 6th, 1946, in protest over federal government inaction on farm policy issues. After 21 days, government officials agreed to meet the farm leaders.

Frank T. Appleby was a gentle man. Strong in his beliefs and tenacious in his convictions, he strived to attain common economic and social justice for farmers.