The Shovel of Gratitude was first presented to the Wheat Growers by the Western Barley Growers Association at their 2005 joint convention, at which time the shovel was auctioned off. The highest bidder, at $2,000, was the late Art Walde of Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Art had served as a director of the Wheat Growers and later the Barley Growers. Art subsequently donated the shovel back to the Wheat Growers and ever since the association has been presenting the Shovel annually to someone in the industry who has made an outstanding contribution to the Wheat Growers, or to the cause and objectives of the Wheat Growers.
Recipients
2006 Art Enns
2007 Bill Cooper
2008 Rolf Penner
2009 Jim Chatenay
2010 Wally Nelson
2011 John De Pape
2012 Hon. Gerry Ritz
2013 Blair Rutter
2014 Lome Hepworth
2015 Hon. Charlie Mayer
2016 Richard Phillips
2017 Morns Sebulsky (deceased)
2018 Alanna Koch
2019 Ted Menzies
2022 Trish Jordan
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