By 1951, the F armington —- Mt. Hope group were gaining distinction and were complimented in the Department of Education Reports for “The interest they have shown and the leadership supplied in promoting the Junior activities in their districts. (47) During that year Cyril Wood and Elmer Curran of the Farmington — Mt. Hope, was one group representing the Island at the Maritime Winter Fair. They placed first in the Field Crops Competition. Overall, Cyril gained the highest individual score, and Elmer placed first in the oral examination. Alban Wood and James Mullally were the calf club members that represented the Island at the fair that same year. (48)

By 1951, there were only eight active Junior Farmers Groups in the province, of which Farmington - Mt. Hope was included.

FOX FARMING

Charles Dalton and Robert T. Oulton from Tignish were the first successful pioneers to raise silver foxes in captivity. With high prices being offered for Island furs in Europe, many fox farms had emerged by 1909. By 1912, there was a large increase in farms, and the number of people involved in the Industry. (49)

It was around this time that a pamphlet began circling around the St. Peters Bay area entitled the “Prospectus of the Oriental Silver Black and Patch FOX Company Limited" to be incorporated in St. Peters Bay. In 1914, The “St. Peters Silver Black Fox Company Limited” was officially formed. Its goal was “to produce the highest grade of Silver Fox pelts,” with their foxes being “direct descendants of the original Gordon, Oulton. Tuplin, Raynor, and Dalton stock, whose unmatched excellence has so peculiarly impresses itself on the fur world.” (50)

The original pamphlets of the St. Peters Silver Black Fox Company. Courtesy of John and Flora Sutherland.

102