How It All Began!!
The History of the British Columbia Farm Machinery and Agricultural Museum Association 

•  On 23 May 1953 Bruce Coleman, on behalf of the Coleman family, [Ralph, Bruce, Jean (Slemmon), and Ruth (Ellis)] presented his father’s high cut plough to the University of British Columbia;
   
•  The late Robert Alfred Coleman had its mould board, share and the angle of its beam shaped on the anvil of the late Alex Ross of Bruce County, Ontario, in 1900;
   
•  It was brought to Ladner, British Columbia in 1905 when Mr. Coleman purchased a farm on East Delta. Two years later he entered and won his first ploughing match. From that year until 1939 Mr. Coleman and his plough won nine firsts, seven seconds, five thirds and a fourth prize;
   
•  In 1930 he took top honours at British Columbia’s first provincial ploughing match;
   

•  A decision was made that evening that notice be given that a British Columbia Farm Machinery Association was being formed with a goal of funding and operating a museum to be located on the Endowment Land on Point Grey.  Tom Leach was named president;
   
•  On 24, June 1958 the British Columbia Farm Machinery Association received a Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies in Victoria;
   
•  On 6 June 1966 Archie Stevenson of Cowichan, president of the British Columbia Federation of Agriculture turned the first sod for the eight-thousand square foot British Columbia Farm Machinery Museum. The museum to be completed by September l6th would have display space, an archives room, a work shop for repair and restoration of exhibits;
   
•  The Museum was officially opened on 19 November 1966 by Sir Robert Billinger then Lord Mayor of London, England. He was assisted by Premier W.A.C. Bennett, and the Honourable G. R. Pearkes, Lt.- Gov. of British Columbia;
   
•  Within a very short time a second building had to be erected to house a growing collection of agricultural artifacts;
   
•  Phase two and three were officially opened on 23, September 1978 by the Honourable R.H. McLellan, MLA. Phase three was the steam room. Two grants from the New Horizon program materially helped to equip the shop in the basement of building number two with hand tools and power equipment;
   
•  In 1984, the association through the efforts of executive members and the support of Mayor Bill Blair succeeded in having the museum taken off the tax roll;
   
•  Due to a shortfall in funding since 1990 the museum has been managed by volunteers;
   
•  This situation is not likely to change in the near future.