While employed at the Elite Seed Farm, each year Alton orga- nized and worked at the Prince Edward Island booth at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. He helped farmers with their potato exhibits for the competition, enabling many awards to come to BE]. In 1975, Alton was chosen to judge the potato exhibits at the Royal. In the 1970’s, Alton was a member of a special delegation that travelled to the Caribbean and South America with the premier to help expand seed markets for P.E.I. potatoes.

Alton Rayner

When Alton and Laura moved to O’Leary, they lost no time in showing their willingness and desire to work for the benefit of their new community. Alton was appointed first chairman of the Village Commission in 1951 when O’Leary was incorporated, an office he held for six years. Alton also served on the first board of Community Hospital while Laura worked many years in its Ladies Auxiliary. Alton was a founding member of the O’Leary Farmers’ Co-operative and on the first board for the O’Leary Library Museum Association Ltd.

Two of their primary interests were youth and church. This inter- est was demonstrated by Alton’s involvement with the Community Rink, helping to establish the O’Leary Figure Skating Club - one of the first on the Island, serving as trustee for the O’Leary Regional

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