Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame

James Bishop Harrington

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1894, J. B. Harrington came to Maple Creek, Saskatchewan in 1911 to take up a homestead. He attended the University of Saskatchewan and received a B.Sc. degree in agriculture in 1920. He served for a year as lecturer in the Field Husbandry Department of the University of Saskatchewan, then studied at the University of Minnesota where he was awarded M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees. He returned to the University of Saskatchewan in 1924 to become assistant professor in the Field Husbandry Department, then full professor, and in 1950 head of the Department. He continued in that position until 1958.

During his regime, much of the attention of the Field Husbandry Department was focused on the breeding of new varieties of cereals and oilseeds better adapted to Prairie conditions than those in common use at the time. J. B. Harringtonís team of plant breeders was credited with the development of ten new varieties of grain species, including Apex wheat, Husky barley, Royal flax and Antelope rye. Each variety made a substantial contribution to Prairie agriculture in terms of faster maturity, or disease resistance, or higher yield, or in some cases all of these. As a result of his wide experience, J. B. Harrington is the author of an imposing number of publications dealing with plant breeding and crop production.

In 1955, at a time when most men contemplate full retirement, J. B. Harrington accepted a challenging assignment - the role of consultant on wheat and barley breeding in nine countries of the Near East, a program sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. His qualifications for the assignment were enhanced by his experience as consultant to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture in 1949-50, and as consultant in 1952 to the International Training Centre for rice breeding in India. From 1984 to 1985 he served as Consultant to the Government of West Pakistan.

In 1948, J. B. Harrington was one of the founders of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, the organization of professionals in agriculture, and an affiliate of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. He was the first president of the Saskatchewan Institute, and also served as President of the national body. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to agriculture, he was elected a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, and in 1963 was the recipient of an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan. He holds the medal of service from the Government of Canada and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota.

Now retired and living in Chatham, Ontario, J. B. Harrington still maintains a keen interest in new developments in plant science, and remains in contact with a myriad of former friends and professional colleagues.

"Nominated for the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame
by the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, July 1976."

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