Lorne Gordon was the first ever Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame inductee. He lived on Gordon Line in the former Bosanquet Township near Arkona. The road was named in his memory.
He bought his first tractor in 1944. Eventually, Gordon expanded with a forage harvester, self-unloading wagons, balers, sprayer combine, and self-unloading hopper wagons.
He was an active member in the local farm forum meetings that extended education to the rural areas from 1941 to 1965. In 1966, Gordon and his son were named Ontario hay and silage kings. They were awarded 216 points out of 250 for “whole plant corn silage.”
He was recycling long before the invention of the blue box. Gordon took papers and bottles to the depot in Sarnia and metals to London. Used lumber was never wasted on his farm.
Crop rotation and using organic fertilizer were other early practices he followed. According to his neighbour and friend Wilhelmine Wilson, Gordon was planting trees long before it became fashionable to do so. Trees along roadsides and around buildings for windbreaks helped stop the movement of loose soil in the summer and snow in the winter. They were also planted along fence lines to control surface water runoff. Gordon believed it was important to reforest a site after it was logged for lumber or fuel.
Gordon continuously updated the equipment on his home dairy operation with modern technology. He also did some custom work for his neighbours.
Lorne Gordon died in 1994 at age 87. His grandson Bill Gordon now runs the home farm and fondly remembers all his grandfather taught him about farming. Bill reflected, “Things like splitting a block of wood properly without putting undo pressure on the ax handle is an example. A broken ax handle was a big deal to him because he made his own.”
Learn more in this article from Today’s Farmer (September 21, 2010) about Gordon’s life or read about his granddaughter Heather Jennings of Captured Innocence Photography taking his portrait.
Community Contributions
- Member of Ontario Federation of Agriculture
- Member of Lambton County Milk Committee
- Founding Member of Bluewater Transport Company
- Sponsor of World Vision children
- Member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Thedford, served as Elder, Clerk of Sessions and on the Board of Managers
- Trustee and Secretary-Treasurer for S.S. #6 Bosanquet School
- Cemetery Board Member
- Active member of the Arkona Seniors Group
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