was still with me. With the eventual purchase of two larger electric incubators and the

import of quality breeding stock from the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, I was able to build up my goose business.

Without a doubt, it was one of the most interesting phases of my life. Goose people are a breed in themselves, and I will long remember the friends from all parts of the Island with whom I had contact. The tales of their favourite trios would make another story. As my geese flock grew, so did my interest in other types of poultry. Before long I

added turkeys and heavy chickens to my hatchery. The 1000 chickens I grew in 1982 were bought as day old chicks and

marketed in the fall. I killed and marketed in December the turkeys that I had been fattening all year. It was a busy time, but although the fall season was busy, the spring period was hectic! That was when I took on a mammoth baby-sitting job and became foster mother to thousands of day old turkeys that were resold two weeks later. Many producers preferred to buy their young turkeys from me after they had been hardened off.

There were some things that never failed to give me pleasure, like satisfied customers and opening the hatching chambers and seeing literally hundreds of young birds making their appearance into the world. It was really thrilling to be part of that.

In 1986, The North Tryon Women’s Institute nominated Frances Roberts for the Woman in Agriculture Award. The following is part of the citation that was submitted:

After a short business career in Ottawa, Frances and her husband, Charles, returned to the Island and operated Ives’ Sawmill as well as a feed business. Frances was not at home long until she became interested in the poultry hatching business. From a very small and crude beginning, Frances built up a very eflicient and successful enterprise known as the Tryon Hatchery. Customers from all over the Maritimes clamored for her chicks, poults, ducklings, and goslings. For over thirty years Frances enriched this phase of agriculture.

Always cheerful, in spite of difficulties, and always glad to help those who needed help, Frances contributed willingly to her church and community. Her humour and wit brightened many a gathering

Mr. Gerald johnstone, Prince Edward Island Department of Agri- culture, supported the submission with the following letter:

I have worked closely with the Tryon Hatchery and have had many wonderful experiences over the years with Mrs. Roberts and her husband Chuck. 1 was first involved with the Tryon Hatchery in 1960 and at that time the hatchery was specializing in waterfowl, ducks and geese. Mrs. Roberts capably managed the hatchery while Chuck looked after the Feed Mill and assisted with the breeding flock of ducks and geese.

I am not sure how many ducklings and goslings Mrs. Roberts hatched annually but it would be close to 20,000 and these birds were sold in all four

of the Atlantic Provinces. The quality and service was excellent and there were

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