The Royal Ag Winter Fair Showcases Hard Work

Celebrating it’s 95th year and touted as the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian winter fair, this years Royal Agriculture Winter Fair is certainly not disappointing, with a lot of winners already standing out among the 4H membership from the Atlantic provinces taking home awards

Many of them cite the experience a great honour to show in the National Junior Beef Heifer classes at the fair. Only a select few of all 4-H members make the cut and the cost of the trip is borne by members, so competition is fierce within the provinces and, when selected, members may feel like they’ve already won.

“It’s a huge job to get here because we have to raise money for the trip,” explains Theresa Hunter, a leader with the New Brunswick contingent. “We have to submit our entry in May and then we have our achievement days that select club winners. From there they go to the provincial show where the top placers are selected for The Royal. Only eight heifers are selected to go.”

“It’s really nice to win at the national show”

 

After a lifetime working with beef cattle, Jennifer and Paul Mastine are going home with the big prize from the fair. Their Hereford cow, Master-R Lisa 5C, won Grand Champion Hereford Female. The win was even sweeter because it came during the National Hereford Beef Show.

“She isn’t just our first Royal winner, but she’s also our first Grand Champion,” Jennifer says. “It was worth the trip to The Royal!”

The couple has shown in the past in other multi-family partnerships, but this is the first big win under their own farm name. “We’ve had Mast-R Beef for five years on our own with our kids, so this win is very exciting for us because it’s all us as a family,” Jennifer explains.

The National Hereford Beef Show alternates between The Royal and Agribition, so a win near their home turf for the Melbourne, QC, farm is very exciting. The same feeling is held by the owners of the Grand Champion Bull.

“It’s really nice to win at the national show,” says Shirley Lasby of Mulmur, ON. Her family’s bull, Elm-Lodge Cherokee 14C, is co-owned with a number of top Hereford breeders in the province.

“We work all year for this,” Shirley continues. “More people get to see our breeding program when we come here. We come for the competition and there’s a lot of good competition here.”

Unlike the Mastine’s, the Lasby’s have been on top before. They had a Grand Champion in 2010.

Noah Geddes considers himself fortunate to have made the cut twice in his five years as a member of a 4-H beef club. He admits he didn’t do well this year after getting an honourable mention in showmanship in 2016.

“It’s a great way to grow up,” Geddes admits. “There’s a lot of life lessons to be learned here.” He doesn’t see farming in his future, but he’d like to study politics and get involved in agricultural policy development.

“The Royal brings kids together,” continues Hunter. “New Brunswick comes to The Royal every year and the kids work hard. They learn to speak to people and they learn to be responsible for animals. They get up at 3 a.m. to look after their animals!” She’s proud that her group has won the John Slaght Memorial Award twice. The award is given each year to the county or province with the best exhibit space.

Beef Supreme 2017 (Female) (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)

The Masterfeeds Supreme Beef Class had a new twist this year. Supreme Champions from eight regional and county fairs were invited to send their champions to The Royal, including Beachburg, Barrie, Peterborough, Teeswater, Renfrew, Carp, Erin and Expo Boeuf. No matter where they placed in The Royal’s show, these regional Supremes were eligible to compete in the Masterfeeds Supreme Beef Class.

JDL Janice co-owner Shirley Lasby was nearly speechless after her entry was named Supreme Beef Champion Female. JDL Janice was invited into the Supreme competition because she was Supreme Champion at the Erin Fall Fair. “We love what we do and that’s why we do it,” says Shirley Lasby’s daughter Jessica. “I don’t have words to describe this win.” She says her family has never missed a Royal and they will certainly be back next year. Having the 2017 Supreme Female proves that their breeding program is on a winning track.

In the Supreme Bull Championship, Hill Haven Fire Storm 28C proved he deserved the designation. The bull was not only the Grand Champion of The Royal’s Shorthorn breed classes, but he was also invited to The Royal because he was Supreme at the Erin Fall Fair.

“The Royal a leading and prestigious beef show in Canada,” says Rob Flack, CEO of Masterfeeds, an Alltech company, the presenting sponsor of the event. “We witnessed the best of the best in this year’s Supreme Class – a very exciting event. The Royal is a great showcase for Canadian agriculture. We are proud to be part of it.”

“Including Supreme Champions from other fairs really added an extra element to our competition this year,” says Charlie Johnstone, CEO at The Royal. “The Royal is the ultimate show for these Fairs and it was great to have those Champions in the Ring.”

The 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 3 – 12, 2017 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org. The Royal is supported in part by the Province of Ontario and City of Toronto.