Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Lambton County Museums Logo

Contact Us
  • Lambton Heritage Museum
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Learn
    • Museum @ Home
    • Virtual Education
    • News
    • Get Involved
    • About Us
  • Oil Museum of Canada
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Learn
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Blog
    • News
    • Get Involved
    • About Us
  • Donate

Green gradient background with text "2014" to the right. Logo on the left that includes a red barn, field, text "Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame", circled with wheat.

Jerry Tiffen Ferguson

More
Home...Virtual ExhibitsLambton Agricultural Hall of Fame2014 Jerry Tiffen Ferguson
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

Jerry Ferguson on plow, plowing a field. Image Caption: Jerry FergusonJerry Ferguson was born in England and moved to Canada in 1910. He was employed on a farm and received board and $40 per year. At the end of that year, the thrifty Ferguson had $39.50 in the bank. His brother Joe moved to Canada and secured a position managing a farm in Dawn Township. Ferguson joined his brother there.

Ferguson found both employment and romance in Dawn Township. His future wife, Mary Evelyn (Effie) Ward, lived just around the corner from the farm where he was working. They were married in 1921 and had four boys, Lyle, Allen, Donald, and Ross. They farmed a 50 acre property on Lot 29 Concession 11 in Dawn Township. In the late 1950s, he bought the adjacent 100 acre farm at Lot 28 Concession 11 from Angus MacAlpine.Jerry Ferguson in a field posing with a foot on his plow. Text below image reads: AS USUSUAL- Jerry Ferguson was up to his old tricks Saturday when, for what is thought the tenth time, he plowed the best land at the match. In 1995 he won the Ontario title in theinternational match at Blytheswood. That's Fergy with his foot on the plow. Image Caption: Ferguson wins again!

Famous Plowman

Ferguson was best known for his plowing abilities. He plowed with a tractor and a two furrow plow in competitions all over Ontario and Michigan. For many years he borrowed a tractor, either by calling ahead to the match organizers or making a deal with a friend. This allowed him to load the plow in the back of his pickup truck and travel easily to matches.

Around 1959 he purchased a new Model 22 Massey-Harris tractor. He also had a customized Massey-Harris 26 plow for competition only. With the help of his son Lyle, they created a customized setup. A trailer was built that would tilt the plow into the back of a pickup. After the plow was secured in the truck, the tractor was loaded onto the trailer. Ferguson was ready to travel for his competitions.

Ferguson was called upon to be a director and a judge of the International Plowing Match and various County matches. He was Champion Plowman at the Lambton County match on several occasions. He was honoured when he and his son Ross were declared as having the two best plowed lands on the grounds at a match in Shetland.

In 1956, in Essex, Ferguson won the Ontario championship and came second the next day for the Canadian championship. Ferguson plowed his last International Plowing Match in 1973 in Alvinston. At the age of 81, he placed second in the Open Class for Ontario.

Three men around a trophy, posing for a picture. Title above: Stouttville Man Tops Canadian Plowmen. Text below photo: "Canada's top plowman are shown in the photo above shortly after the results of the Canadian Championship Plowing Match were announced Thursay at the 42nd International Plowing Match near Blytheswood. Mr.Robert Timbers, 28-year-old Stouffville, York County farmer, was crowned champion and is hsown with the Esso Silver Plow Trophy in the centre of the group. A the center left is 63-year-old Mr.Jerry Ferguson of Croton, Lambton County, who placed second in the championship match and right is 22-year-old Edward(Mickey) Demman of Portage la Prarie, who placed third. Mr.Timbers and Mr.Demman  will represent Canada the 1936 World Plowing Match in England. (See also Pages 3, 5, 29)" Image Caption: Ferguson wins again!

Livestock Management

Ferguson was often called upon for his specific expertise with the care and doctoring of animals. A veterinarian was very seldom called to his farm.

Ferguson was held in high regard by his peers for his knowledge of the Shorthorn cattle breed which originated in the Northeastern part of England. He operated a cow/calf business for many years paying close attention to breeding of these cattle to keep the blood-lines pure.

In the 1940s and early 1950s, Ferguson’s chicken flock supplied eggs for the Lambton Kent Creamery in Wallaceburg and Petrolia. The eggs had to be weighted and candled manually before packing for shipping. Candling is a method used to examine the development of an embryo inside an egg using a bright light. The term comes from the original sources of light for this activity, which were candles.

Ferguson’s breeding flock was one of the first in Lambton County. Glasses were put on the hens and roosters after they were blood tested to maintain a healthy flock. The glasses served as a measure to prevent cannibalism in the flock by distorting their vision.

Jerry Ferguson in a suit and bright blue and yellow Masonic regalia. Image Caption: Ferguson wearing his Masonic regalia.

Community Contributions

  • Over 20 years as a member of Lambton County Plowmen’s Association
  • Lambton’s representative on Ontario Plowmen’s Association from 1965 to 1967
  • Treasurer & committee member of the Oakdale Picnic
  • Member for over 50 years of Alexander Masonic Lodge No. 158, Oil Springs. Served as Worshipful Master in 1944.

Ferguson Artifacts in the Museum Collection

Lambton Heritage Museum
    • Visit the Museum
      Toggle Section Visit the Museum Menu
      • Accessibility
      • Group Tours
      • Gift Shop
      • Lambton Shores Farmers' Market
      • Woodland Heritage Trail
    • Events & Programs
      Toggle Section Events & Programs Menu
      • Events
      • Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival
      • Return of the Swans
        Toggle Section Return of the Swans Menu
        • The Tundra Swan
        • Tundra Swan Migration
        • Thedford Bog
        • Tundra Swan Migration Calendar
        • Tundra Swan Trivia
        • Origami Swans
    • Exhibits
      Toggle Section Exhibits Menu
      • Current Exhibits
        Toggle Section Current Exhibits Menu
        • Historic Buildings
      • Upcoming Exhibits
      • Virtual Exhibits
        Toggle Section Virtual Exhibits Menu
        • The Farmerettes
          Toggle Section The Farmerettes Menu
          • Recruitment
            Toggle Section Recruitment Menu
            • The Uniform
          • Camp Living
          • Leisure Time
          • Food for the Cause
            Toggle Section Food for the Cause Menu
            • The Doodlebug
          • Farmerette Stories
            Toggle Section Farmerette Stories Menu
            • Shirleyan English
            • Mary (Barnaby) Fountain
            • Mary Gardner
            • Janet (Howes) Hassan and Dorothy (Livermore) Flannagan
            • Farmer Jack A. MacDonald
            • Dorothy (Seymour) Maxwell
            • Moira Philp
            • Gwen (James) Phillips
            • Mary (Pulak) Pirie
            • Marilyn Purcell
            • Roberta (Henderson) Schofield
            • Joan (Hill) Tovey
            • Helen (Abernathy) Finn
            • Joy Yule
            • Alexia Clark
            • Janet (Hawkins) Firman
            • Ursula Rosser
        • Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame
          Toggle Section Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame Menu
          • 2022 Carolynne Griffith
          • 2022 Charlie Srokosz
          • 2022 Mac Parker
          • 2021 Dona Stewardson
          • 2021 Kevin Marriott
          • 2021 Sid Fraleigh
          • 2020 Bert Vandendool
          • 2019 Leonard McNeil
          • 2017 Brandon Bros. Stables
          • 2017 Robert and John McCormick
          • 2016 Art Griffith
          • 2016 W.P. MacDonald
          • 2015 Raymond Moorhouse
          • 2015 Tony Noorloos
          • 2014 Jerry Tiffen Ferguson
          • 2014 Charles Lawes
          • 2013 Ralph Ferguson
          • 2013 Lorne Henderson
          • 2012 J. Edgar Evans
          • 2012 Russell Hazzard
          • 2011 John Goodison
            Toggle Section 2011 John Goodison Menu
            • Goodison Artifacts in the Museum Collection
          • 2010 Lorne Gordon
        • Shine: Spotlight on Women of Lambton
          Toggle Section Shine: Spotlight on Women of Lambton Menu
          • Women Changing Roles
            Toggle Section Women Changing Roles Menu
            • The Evolution of Home Crafts
            • Changing Fashion, Changing Times
            • The Birth of Women's Rights
            • Women in the Military
          • Women Working Together
            Toggle Section Women Working Together Menu
            • The Temperance Movement
            • Bringing Art to Sarnia
            • Women's Institutes
            • Agricultural Societies and Fall Fairs
          • Local, Provincial & National Achievers
            Toggle Section Local, Provincial & National Achievers Menu
            • Teresa Altiman
            • Patricia Davidson
            • Charlotte Eleanor Englehart
            • Maud Hanna
            • Sadie Knowles
            • Pauline McGibbon
            • Maud Menten and Mary Jane Hutton
            • Eleanor Nielsen
          • Women at Work
            Toggle Section Women at Work Menu
            • Businesswomen Through Time
            • Agricultural Bees
            • Unusual Jobs
            • A Working Hymn
            • Telephone Operators
          • Women Who Provide
            Toggle Section Women Who Provide Menu
            • Guarding Family Knowledge
            • Early Nurses in Training
            • Family Ties in First Nations Communities
          • Women Sharing Wisdom
            Toggle Section Women Sharing Wisdom Menu
            • Teaching in the Community, Women's Institute
            • Teaching in the Home, 4-H
            • Teaching in the Classroom
          • Guiding Beacons
            Toggle Section Guiding Beacons Menu
            • City of Sarnia
            • Enniskillen Township
            • Municipality of Brooke-Alvinston
            • Municipality of Lambton Shores
            • St. Clair Township
            • Town of Petrolia
            • Town of Plympton-Wyoming
            • Township of Dawn-Euphemia
            • Village of Oil Springs
            • Village of Point Edward
            • Warwick Township
          • Thank You
        • Lambton At War
          Toggle Section Lambton At War Menu
          • The Rebellion of 1837-1838
          • The Fenian Raids and the Boer War
            Toggle Section The Fenian Raids and the Boer War Menu
            • Fenian Raid Artifacts in the Museum Collection
            • Boer War Artifacts in the Museum Collection
          • The First World War
            Toggle Section The First World War Menu
            • WWI Artifacts in the Museum Collection
            • The Home Front
            • Remembering War
            • The Youngest Drummer: Ned McRobie
            • Charles Oliver Fairbank
            • The 149th Battalion
              Toggle Section The 149th Battalion Menu
              • First Nations in the 149th
          • The Second World War
            Toggle Section The Second World War Menu
            • WWII Artifacts in the Museum Collection
            • The Home Front
            • The Gibson Girl
            • A Legacy of Poetry and the Written Word: Malcom Moncreif MacDonald
          • Modern Conflict
            Toggle Section Modern Conflict Menu
            • Brent Poland Artifacts
        • Nnigiiwemin / We Are Going Home
      • Past Exhibits
        Toggle Section Past Exhibits Menu
        • Capturing the Moment: Photography in Lambton County
        • Memories of Rural Life
        • Nnigiiwemin / We Are Going Home
        • North Lambton Quilter's Guild Show
        • Paint Ontario
    • Collections and Research
      Toggle Section Collections and Research Menu
      • Researcher Access
    • Learn
      Toggle Section Learn Menu
      • Lambton Heritage Highlights
        Toggle Section Lambton Heritage Highlights Menu
        • A County Named for Radical Jack
        • The Lambton County Crest
        • Ask A Curator Day
        • Pressed Glass
        • The Blue Water Bridge
        • The Legacy of Maud Hanna: Environmentalist, Philanthropist, and City Builder
        • Summer Nights at the Lakeview Casino
        • Sweet Maple Sugar
        • A Tale of Two Tunnels: The St. Clair Tunnel
        • Collection Highlight: Petrolia’s Horse-drawn Ambulance
      • At Home Activities
        Toggle Section At Home Activities Menu
        • Interactive Schooldays
        • Make a Photo Cube
        • Make a Sampler
        • Crazy Quilt Collage
        • Fall Apple Craft
      • Education Programs
        Toggle Section Education Programs Menu
        • Interactive Lessons
        • Live Sessions
        • In-Person Programs
        • Travelling Trunk
    • Museum @ Home
      Toggle Section Museum @ Home Menu
      • Activities
      • Lambton Heritage Highlights
        Toggle Section Lambton Heritage Highlights Menu
        • Collection Highlight: Petrolia’s Horse-drawn Ambulance
        • The Kettles of Kettle and Stony Point
        • Samuel Smith: Early Surveyor of Lambton County
        • Crunch! A Bite About Our Apple Industry
        • Ask a Curator Day September 15, 2021
        • Collection Highlight: Outerwear and Accessories
        • Looking into Lambton’s Closet
        • The Monarchy in Lambton: A Royal Fascination
      • Virtual Tours
    • Virtual Education
      Toggle Section Virtual Education Menu
      • Interactive Lessons
      • Live Sessions
      • Virtual Tours
      • Museum @ Home
    • News
    • Get Involved
      Toggle Section Get Involved Menu
      • Canatara Cabin Fundraising
        Toggle Section Canatara Cabin Fundraising Menu
        • Canatara Cabin Supporters
      • Membership
      • Volunteering
      • Artifact Donation
      • Support the Museum
    • About Us
      Toggle Section About Us Menu
      • Acknowledgement of Ancestral Lands
      • Our Story
      • Facility Rentals
      • Contact Us
      • Services

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

County of Lambton logo

About Us

Lambton County Museums is the home of Lambton Heritage Museum, the Oil Museum of Canada, and the Lambton County Archives.

Website

  • Lambton Heritage Museum
  • Oil Museum of Canada
  • Lambton County Archives

Resources

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Website Feedback

Discoveries that Matter Logo

Copyright © Lambton County Museum 2020

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.