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RM Review
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Asquith, Borden, Conquest, Delisle, Donavon, Dundurn, Grandora, Harris, Hanley, Kenaston, Kinley, Langham, Laura, Milden, Outlook, Perdue, Pike Lake, Sonningdale, Swanson, Tessier, Vanscoy, Zealandia
Volume 21 Number 8
August 2020
Your COMMUNITY... Your NEWSPAPER
Orchard Transport Celebrates 100 Years Orchard Brothers, Orchard Farm Equipment, Orchard Transport Ltd. from 1920 – 2020
Orchard Transport Ltd. yardsite located south of Delisle
T
he history of Orchard Transport Ltd is a long one… one of family ties, hard work and dreams! It started in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada when Bill Orchard and his brother George Orchard Sr. worked for General Motors in the auto assembly plant. They moved to Delisle, SK in 1920 with the dream of selling General Motors cars. As luck would have it, there was already a GM dealership in town, so they went with their second choice and started a repair shop and Ford Dealership instead. Orchard Farm Equipment received recognition from Ford Motor Co. for successfully selling Ford cars and trucks, along with IHC machinery for over 50 years! In that same year, 1973, the next generation of Orchard Brothers emerged; George Jr. and his brother Frank joined the business. Times were changing and so did the car business and Orchard Transport Ltd was formed. With the new formation, they changed the direction of the dream to hauling gravel and grain. They began hauling potash into Western Canada and the Midwestern United States, as well as cattle feed, lumber, potatoes, Christmas trees and fertilizer. By 1984, the old downtown garage was no longer able to accommodate the increasing size of trucks and trailers. As such, the company expanded to include 40 acres one-
INDEX
mile South of Delisle, with a shop and Ag Sales operation. As years of hard work and ingenuity passed, the next generation of Orchards – brothers Geoff and Kent joined the expanding company. Now in 2020, it has been 100 years since the original Orchard Brothers dream. The current operation consists of ever-evolving operations into Western Canada and a thriving Agriculture Sales division. The Orchard family has always been involved in both Delisle and Vanscoy communities by offering support. Firstly, as an employer of hundreds of community members - local truck drivers, mechanics, and office staff. Secondly, they have been dedicated volunteers, serving as mayor, town councilors, Royal Canadian Legion, serving on church, hospital and minor hockey boards, coaching sports, donating to schools and church groups, helping the community to thrive in any way possible. The family thread continues to weave itself throughout the business operation and the Delisle community. Wives, grandsons, great-grandchildren and more, continue to make important contributions. Kent, the current operating manager and third-generation partner, reflected
Photo by Precision Sky Photography
on the business and community legacy, “The best thing about being in the agriculture business is the great people we have been able to work with. If you want to meet good, honest, hardworking people, I can’t think of a better industry in the world to be in than farming. Thank you to all the customers, employees, suppliers, industry partners and friends that have contributed to our longevity”. Orchard Transport Ltd looks to the future with eager anticipation!
Numbers from Orchard Brothers: Current Employees – 20 Employees since 1999 – 176 50+ year Employees – 5 40+ year Employees – 2 25+ year Employees – 4 Truck drivers since 1999 – 111 Dry Fertilizer Storage – 3000 Tonnes Liquid Fertilizer – 600,000 US Gallons Highway Tractors – 14 Highway Trailers – 16 Grain/Fertilizer/Rock/Salt/coal hauled per year – 99,000 Tonnes
Orchard Bothers garage in Delisle in the 1950’s
Local Government .......... p. 2
Council Reports ............... p. 4
MP Reports ..................... p. 5
Letters to the Editor ....... p. 3
Community Reports ........ p. 5
Agriculture Reports ........ p. 6
Business Directory............ p. 8 CONTACT US - Page 2
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