He got an early start at stock shows. At the age of 13 he won third prize in British Sheep Dog Trials for his Border Collie entry.

In 1927 his father moved the family to Canada , settling near what is now Bankend. The Hulls raised Shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses and grew cereals. From 1936 to 1944 Ernie and his father raised silver and platinum foxes and this proved a moneymaker at a time when agriculture was in the doldrums. Ernie took over his father's farm in 1942 and in 1951 sold it to move his family to the present site of the Emerald Stock Farms at Balcarres.

Ernie raised Polled Herefords, a few Holsteins and became a prominent breeder and showman of purebred swine. He put his swine herd on Record of Performance in the early 1950s when some other breeders were reluctant to do so.

He led the way in importing Landrace pigs and proved an effective promoter of this Danish breed. Since 1956 many of the most prominent herds of Landrace in Canada , New Zealand , Japan , Mexico , South America , Germany and the United States either started with or made selections from his herd. He was instrumental in opening Ireland to importation of Landrace. Through his efforts Landrace became an officially recognized United States breed, making for easier Canadian export.

He showed his purebred swine across Canada and the U.S. and won championships at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair and Canadian Western Agribition. He also was in demand as a judge and was the first Canadian ever to judge swine at the Royal Ulster Show in Belfast , Ireland .

He served as president of the Canadian and Saskatchewan Landrace Associations. He was a founding director of the Saskatchewan Pork Council and a director of the Canadian Hampshire Club.

For his contributions to the livestock industry Ernie received the Saskatchewan Livestock Association's honour scroll. He was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame November 15, 1981 . He passed away October 11, 1993 .