Raymond Vessey
Although Dr. Raymond Vessey of York, P.E.I. claims he knows no other life than that of the farm, he has achieved great recognition both in his P .E .1. community and countless provincial organizations. Raymond Vessey’s agricultural contributions stand as some of the most significant in the advancement of not only P.E.I., but Canadian agriculture.
Born in York, P.E.I., Raymond Vessey and his wife, also a P.E.I. native, reside on one of the Island’s “Century Family Farms”. He attended local public schools and completed junior education levels.
Raymond Vessey received his first award for growing potatoes at the Maritime Winter Fair held in Amherst in 1958. This award inspired him to continue farming and he, therefore, holds a special fondness for the faded pink ribbon displayed among more recent awards.
The year 1960 saw Mr. Vessey win the Grand Championship in Tablestock Potatoes at Toronto’ s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. During the following years, Vessey received approximately 50 placings in ribbons and awards.
In 1974, Raymond’s KATAHDIN entry at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto captured him the crown of potato seed king. The last Islander to receive such an honour was Major Reed of Souris in 1963. Raymond’s Cobbler variety also brought home the Reserve Championship.
In 1976 Raymond Vessey became an unprecedented winner of all four top place Championships at the same fair. No other potato grower in any country of the world had ever accomplished this feat. The 1977 year saw Raymond Vessey win this remarkable award again, an unexpected occurrence since a noted potato specialist, Mr. Paul MacPhail, said, “This feat will probably never be beaten or matched again.” It was the first time such an honor had been brought home to P.E.I. At the 1977 awards ceremony, Raymond and his wife Evelyn, were fondly named “Mr. and Mrs. Top Potato”.
In the following years between 1978 and 1980, the Vesseys received more unprecedented awards. In 1978, the Vesseys received the Recognition Award presented by the P.E.I. Institute of Agrologists. In November of the same year, Raymond Vessey won world championships in both seed and tablestock classes. It was only the second time in the 50 years history of the Royal Fair that one family had won all four top awards. The 1979 Royal Winter Fair saw the Vesseys win again.
In May, 1980, Raymond and Evelyn Vessey were invested with the Order of Canada by Governor General Edward Schreyer at Government House in Ottawa, in recognition for their world champion crops.
Raymond Vessey continues to be recognized in 1983. In June of this year Raymond and his wife were the only Prince Edward Islanders chosen to participate in the CBC Canada Day television special, hosted by Patrick Watson.
These outstanding achievements merit Raymond Vessey’s induction into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.