Mabel Hamilton's 104-year-old mother has always told her that if you belong to an organization, “you don't sit as a bump, you get involved.”Hamilton has taken that to heart and has served on local, provincial, national and international committees, in addition to co-owning Belvin Angus in the rural Innisfail area.Now she is about to be inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame on Oct. 5 in recognition of her extensive efforts.“It's humbling,” said Hamilton. “When the letter came I had no idea.”Three people had to sign the nomination forms and 12 people sent in letters of reference. The group was aided by her children, but everyone managed to keep the secret.She's one of three people being inducted into the hall of fame. Inductions are made every three years. According to the induction list on the organization's website, she's the first woman to get in since 1991.The 60-year-old has served or is still serving as chair of the Beef Information Centre, the Alberta Cattle Breeders Association, the Alberta Cattle Commission, a classroom agriculture program, the World Angus Forum's fundraising committee, and the World Angus Secretariat. She's held the post of president of the Canadian Angus Association and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.She was appointed as a founding director of the International Government Advisory Committee as well.She helped found and has served as chair for the Canadian Cattle Identification Association, playing a role in establishing a national program and gaining producer support, according to the biography provided to the selection committee.One of Belvin Angus's animals was even included in the Queen Mother's herd in Scotland, a present to the dowager Queen on her 100th birthday.She said she got into what she called “cowboy politics” after she gave up teaching full-time about 24 years ago.“There was several organizations (where) I was the first woman chair,” she noted, adding she never saw that as a big deal.Still, she told a story about when she first joined one of those national boards. She said at her first meeting a “crusty old gentleman” asked her why she wasn't at home looking after her children.“I remember just thinking, ‘What have I done?'” she said. Her ultimate reaction was to go to every board meeting more prepared than anyone else. Eventually she and the gentleman ended up with a good relationship, she said.Now she's joining her uncle and her brother in being recognized with entry into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.She grew up on a farm near Balzac. Now, she and her husband have been joined by her son at their business, with him living nearby on the Hamilton family farm established in 1892.She said her daughter has a degree in agriculture and uses that degree in the agriculture department at a bank.In addition to all her national work, she's been a 4-H leader and supporter, chair of the community minor hockey association and the director of the annual Bowden United Church dinner theatre fundraiser, according to the biography provided.Former Innisfail mayor Doug Fee was the nominator who took the lead on getting the package on Hamilton submitted to the hall of fame selection panel.“Mabel is a very impressive woman,” he said.He said she's donated more time to the agriculture industry than anyone he knows in the province, and added she's effective and competent.“What she did with the Alberta cattle breeders … has been super,” he said.He said she and her husband run one of the leading Angus herds in Canada and have been recognized in the U.S. for that.He first met her when she came to École John Wilson Elementary in Innisfail to teach. He taught there as well and was the mayor. He's been the CEO of the Canadian Angus Association while she was president and is currently the CEO of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council where she was previously chair.“Mabel sort of encounters me everywhere she goes,” he said.When he started putting the nomination package together, he contacted a number of people to provide a letter of reference.“There wasn't a single person who refused to provide one,” he said. Those contacted all said she should get the nomination, he added.Hamilton and her fellow inductees are joining 126 others who have been inducted into the hall of fame since 1951, according to a press release.She quoted some more of her mother's advice as to why she's been so determined and effective in her work, always given in moments of self-doubt.“Of course you can do it, and you're going to do it well. End of discussion,” she said. According to her, her mother still doles out this advice whenever it's needed.
