The name of Will Dryden is inseparably linked with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. To him, must go most of the credit for conceiving the idea of a national agricultural show for Canada. Having sowed the seeds, he used his talents to enlist the co-operation of those segments of the industry vital to the success of the enterprise. He served as the first president and later occupied the post of general manager.

Will Dryden played a prominent role in organizing the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers’ Association and was a member of the executive committee for many years. Among the other organizations in which he held office were the Canadian National Livestock Records, the Canadian National Exhibition and the Canadian Shorthorn Association.

Although much of his time was devoted to the activities of organizations, he maintained control over the operations at Maple Shade, his home farm, where he gained distinction in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep.

In 1948, he was honoured by the livestock fraternity of Canada and the United States when his portrait was hung in the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Chicago.