Abstract
The development of agriculture in Alberta owes much to Arnold W. Platt, who set out to plant a seed of positive change. Whether as a plant breeder, an organizer for the Farmers’ Union of Alberta, or a commissioner for the McPherson Royal Commission on Transportation, Platt applied his inventive and creative thinking to problems of rural development in twentieth century Alberta. In The Ordinary Genius, Ken Hoeppner pays homage to the accomplishments of this modest man, whose life’s work continues to resonate in farmlands across the Prairies. This detailed and thoroughly researched story will appeal to western history enthusiasts, agriculture specialists, and farmers.