J. Eric Hurry

(1914 - 1987)

Prince Edward Island

A native and lifelong resident of West Royalty, P.E.I., James Eric Hurry was an owner and breeder of purebred Guernsey dairy cattle for 58 years.

He purchased his first registered Guernsey as a teenager in 1927 and won numerous premier exhibitor and breeder awards.

Eric Hurry saw exhibitions as an excellent way to both promote and improve the Guernsey cow and for this reason was a keen supporter of exhibitions.

He also received numerous awards for his herd which included bronze, silver, gold and diamond certificates for lifetime production. One cow of note was Patosie Patricia who was the highest producing Guernsey in Canada in 1945.

Eric Hurry gave freely of his time to the advancement of the Guernsey breed by serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the Prince Edward Island Guernsey Breeders Association for 18 years. He also served as a National Director on the Canadian Guernsey Breeders Association. In 1963 he was elected President of the Canadian Guernsey Breeders Association. He was instrumental in the introduction and promotion of 2% milk. Eric Hurry's farm was in close proximity to Agricultural Canada Upton Road Experimental Farm and he participated in many innovations in agriculture, with artificial insemination of cattle being one of them. He encouraged the use of artificial insemination to improve the breeding stock on Prince Edward Island.

Although ill health forced him to disperse his milking herd in 1972, he continued to raise purebred Guernsey heifers until 1985.

He was also a breeder and owner of standard bred horses, served as a director of a local agricultural co-op. and actively supported other local community organizations. Eric Hurry, always an ambassador and promoter of the Guernsey cow, was bestowed the privilege of being made an Honourary Lifetime Member of the Canadian Guernsey Breeders Association and the Prince Edward Island Guernsey Breeders Association for his service to the breed and the achievements of his Patosie herd.

Nominated by the P.E.I. Guernsey Breeders Association, J. Eric Hurry is a deserving candidate for induction into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.