Charlie Scranton

Prince Edward Island

The year 1916 started off early for Charles Scranton. He was born at the stroke of midnight on January 1st at his ancestral homestead overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Guysborough, Nova Scotia.

Agriculture was to be his forte, and at the early age of fifteen he was managing the family farm and fishing for salmon and lobster.

Following graduation from Guysborough Academy, Mr. Scranton studied agriculture at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and business at Northern Vocational School in Toronto. Following service with the Armed Forces in World War II, he began a 32 year career with the Federal Government of Canada. His first position was that of Poultry Fieldman and as time progressed he became promoted to the position of Inspector in Charge of the Poultry Division of Agriculture Canada for P. E .I.

Mr. Scranton retired early to devote his full time to the raising and promotion of Hereford cattle. The high quality Herefords of Scranton Park Ranch have achieved national fame. They have captured such outstanding honours as Junior Champion Male, Reserve and Grand Champion Male and best two bulls of the show at the Royal Winter Fair in 1972. Since this time Scranton Park Herefords have become famous not only in the Scranton herd but also in the herds of other breeders.

Much of Mr. Scranton's life has been spent in service to his community, his church and his fellow man. In 1936 he became the first President of the Guysborough Credit Union. At present he is on the fellowship of Deacons of the First Baptist Church in Charlottetown and Past Vice-president of the Maritime Baptist Convention.

Mr. Scranton is a gifted orator and has on many occasions received the honour of being chosen as guest speaker. Two of such occasions were the Bicentennial Celebrations for the oldest Baptist Church in Canada in Sackville, New Brunswick and the Annual Convention of the Hereford Association in 1979.

Mr. Scranton' s wisdom and guidance have given encouragement to many young farmers. His endeavours range from finding a farm for a stranded immigrant, to judging livestock and poultry at the exhibitions. He has continuously, for the past 36 years, judged poultry at the Charlottetown Exhibition.

He is a Director of the Canadian Hereford Association representing Eastern Canada, a Director on the Advisory Board for Record of Performance of Beef Cattle for Canada, President of the P .E .I. Easter Beef Show and Sale and Immediate Past President of the Maritime Beef Testing Society where he has been a Director for seven years. Mr. Scranton is also a Director of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture. For 10 years he was Secretary-Treasurer of the P.E.I. Hereford Assoc.

Mr. Scranton is married to the former Helen MacKeen. They have two sons - Blair of Edmonton, Alberta and Robert of Cornwall, Ontario.

Scranton Park Ranch visitors are always given a warm welcome by both Charlie and Helen.

His enthusiasm and dedication to agriculture continues to earn Charlie the admiration and respect of his contemporaries throughout North America.