Moosomin Rodeo committee honours Angus Turpie
The Moosomin Rodeo grounds is renamed after local family in honour of Angus Turpie
August 14, 2024, 8:27 am
Ashley Bochek
The Moosomin Rodeo Committee honored the Turpie family at the Bulls and Broncs rodeo July 13, with the announcement they are renaming the rodeo grounds after Angus Turpie.
The Turpie family owns a family farm just south of Moosomin, and family members say Angus was driven by family, agriculture, and community.
Keith Turpie and Diane Jamieson say the family is honoured by their dad and family’s recognition at the rodeo grounds in Moosomin.
“He was very community minded and always had been,” Turpie said. “He wanted to help. He wanted to see things get done. He wanted to see Moosomin grow. He was very focused on agriculture, that was a big deal for him and his family.”
Turpie says the family has owned the land for decades, purchasing the land after his grandpa was a guard working at the Moosomin Jail years ago. “My grandpa, Angus’ dad, was a guard at the jail when there was a provincial jail in Moosomin. The provincial jail closed in ‘48 and the option for my grandpa was to go to Regina, but grandpa proposed to them—instead of taking that option—if he could rent the site.”
“At that time they were living straight south of here,” Jamieson explains. “They lived where the fir trees are and then he just walked to work at the jail.”
Turpie adds, “So they lived there for about a year then the jail came up for sale. So dad, his two brothers, and grandpa they were able to purchase it on condition that the jail was to be torn down, demolished.
“They told us stories of it being demolished. They blew it up with dynamite and bricks would come flying off close to the house and down to the barnyard, and still the odd time you can find bricks that’s worked its way through.”
Jamieson says there is a coat of arms at the family farm from the provincial jail.
“He wanted to leave it as a historical site, but they wouldn’t allow it so what is left is the coat of arms and the out buildings. That was all they would leave.”
Turpie says his dad, two uncles, and grandpa worked together on the farm, building it to what is it today. “They built up the farm over the years. They never had a loan until ‘93 when we started PMU. That was the first loan they ever had and purchased land. Just three brothers and grandpa working together.”
The family farm started small. “They literally started with one cow. They bought the cow from Redvers. There were stock yards over by the buildings they’re putting up by the tracks, and they bought the cow and her calf there. She got out during the night and went all the way back to Redvers. They had to take the horse and bring them back. Unbelievable the stories they told.”
Family dedicated to community growth
The Turpie family donated land to the town for recreational development.
“As far as we were told was in the ‘70s they donated part of the recreation area where everything is now, for town expansion,” Jamieson said.
“There used to be old sports grounds north of the highway, by the cemetery, and part of the deal that the Department of Highways offered—when they tore those sports grounds down the town had to buy other land for it,” Turpie said. “We always thought that the land where the Communiplex is, Dad, Don, and Lawrence donated it, just the original square where the Communiplex was built.”
The Turpies also provided land where the Southeast Integrated Care Centre now stands. “They did the same with the hospital. They sold it at assessed value which was basically the bare minimum for that piece of land,” Jamieson explained. “They provided the land to help the community.”
Turpie adds, “They wanted to see things grow. Dad was a big force behind the hospital, it was very important to him. He wanted to see it happen.
“It was probably similar with the sports grounds, he just wanted to see it happen. They didn’t donate the whole thing by any means, but sold it at a reduced rate and part they did donate just to make sure it happened. They were very reasonable, they wanted to see things move forward in Moosomin.”
Turpie says he remembers helping build posts for the rodeo grounds when it first was built. “When those rodeo grounds were built, we helped put posts in one night. It wasn’t rodeo grounds originally. It was for 4H and gymkhana and then I don’t know what year it switched over to rodeo, but it has been improved. Gordon Gibson I think spearheaded it getting it going for gymkhana and the 4H club."
Jamieson says the Moosomin Rodeo committee contacted her in February to let the family know their plans to honor Angus. “Bobby Stevens called in about February and asked for permission to do it. Then they called again about a week before the rodeo. We weren’t for sure until a week before the rodeo whether it was even happening.”
Heartwarming feelings
Turpie and Jamieson say the recognition for their dad at the rodeo grounds is a humbling feeling.
“It is pretty special. Dad would be pretty proud to see it.” Jamieson said.
“It is pretty humbling,” Turpie said. “It should be known—his name is out there, but my mom, Irene, and my uncle, Donald—with dad being so busy—had to pick up the slack on the farm. Their names aren’t up there, but just to point out they did so much. They were at home working the land. Mom was a definite farm wife working the tractor and everything so when dad was away they were responsible. They should have recognition as well.”
Jamieson says being presented with the sign in honour of her dad was heartwarming that night at the rodeo.
“It was pretty emotional that night. It was a huge honour. It was very nice of the rodeo committee to think of us and do that for our family. It was a great honour.”
Positive feedback from the community
The family has heard a lot of positive comments from the community since the honor was announced at the Bulls and Broncs event.
“Lots of people have commented on it like ‘Well deserved’ sort of thing.” Turpie said.
“We’re pretty proud,” Jamieson said. “We’ve been told it is a great honour for the family. It was a wonderful recognition from the rodeo committee.”
