Wilfred Laurier Furness

Prince Edward Island

The Province of Prince Edward Island enjoys the distinction of having many distinguished citizens and community leaders numbered amongst its agricultural community. None made a more valuable contribution in his time than Wilfred Laurier Furness, a life-long resident and the successful operator of the Furness family farm at Vernon Bridge.

Mr. Furness excelled in the breeding and selection of purebred Ayrshire cattle, and applied their production to the very successful operation of a modern commercial dairy farm. As a breeder and judge of purebred Yorkshire hogs, he made a valuable contribution to the upgrading of Island Yorkshire breeding stock when they received national recognition in the 1940's and 1950's.

As a horseman, he was a recognized authority and adviser in the breeding of Island Standard Bred race horses. Never was he happier than when seated in the jogging cart behind one of the many fine horses he bred, trained and made ready for the horse-racing fraternity in the Maritimes.

Although the production of livestock and food was his career, in the fields of marketing, farm organization, politics, education and the church, Mr. Furness made more than an average contribution.

"Mr. Furness", said the P .E .I. Federation of Agriculture, "by example and action, deserves recognition by those who follow him. He was a man of integrity, on whom all could thoroughly depend. He was a man of men, and a man of God - a shining example of everything progressive, good and honourable for those who follow him."