Prince Edward Island beef cattle and draft horse exhibitors once again took a large share of the top awards at the Maritime Fall Fair in Halifax.
In the beef ring, Islanders exhibited in the Angus, Simmental, Hereford, and Commercial Cattle divisions. Belgians were the only draft horses represented by the province.
Angus
In the Angus show, Island breeders made a clean sweep by taking every champion and reserve champion up for grabs. The MacKinnon Homestead had grand champion bull with MKHF Rocky 148B and reserve grand champion bull with MKHF Leapz 145B.
• Kyle Younker came away with the junior champion female award with his Wheatley River Ariel 2A. She was also named reserve grand champion female.
• Wheatley River Bellatrix 1B was selected as reserve junior champion female for Glen and Ronnie Ford. They also had grand champion female with Wheatley River Effie 4P. To top off the day, the Fords were also awarded the premier breeder and premier exhibitor titles.
• Bull, Calf, born on or after Jan. 1/14: 1. MKHF Rocky 148B, MacKinnon Homestead; 2. MKHF Leapz 148B, MacKinnon Homestead.
• Female, Calf, born on or after Jan. 1, 2014 (first split): 1. Wheatley River Bellatrix 1B, Glen and Ronnie Ford; 2. Wheatley River Bailey 2B, Glen and Ronnie Ford.
• Female, Calf, born on or after Jan. 1, 2014 (second split): 1. Wheatley River Bella 12B, Kyle Younker.
• Female, Yearling, born Jan. 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013 (first split): 1. Wheatley River Ariel 2A, Kyle Younker; 2. Locust Grove Blackbird 4A, MacKinnon Homestead; 3. Model Farm Pride 2A, Grant and Donnie McCaffrey.
• Female, born prior to Jan. 1, 2012, with 2014 calf at foot: 1. Wheatley River Effie 4P, Glen and Ronnie Ford.
• Breeder’s Herd: 1. Glen and Ronnie Ford.
Commercial Cattle
MacKinnon Homestead had the second place steer calf in the commercial cattle show. It was also named reserve grand champion steer.
Herefords
Hereford breeders from around the region came out in full force again this year at the Fall Fair, making it the largest breed shown. Island exhibitors found themselves in some tough competition, but held their own.
• Female, Calf, born on or after Jan. 1, 2014 (second split): 1. Crane’s Bold Statement 5B, Crane Cattle Co.
• Female, Calf, born on or after Jan. 1, 2014 (third split): 2. Hunter Acres XP Budgie 2B, Grant and Donnie McCaffrey.
• Female, Yearling, born Jan. 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013 (first split): 3. Crane’s Abbey Road 5A, Crane Cattle Co.
• Female, Yearling, born Jan. 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013 (second split): Hunter Acres Abby 2A, Grant and Donnie McCaffrey; 3. Crane’s Always On My Mind 9A, Crane Cattle Co.
• Female, born Jan. 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012, with 2014 calf at foot: 2. Burnside Zesty 30Z, Grant and Donnie McCaffrey.
• Female, born prior to Jan. 1, 2012, with 2014 calf at foot: 2. Kimbrook Ellie 4W, Jake Matheson; 3. Burnside Xpress 45X, Grant and Donnie McCaffrey.
• Breeder’s Herd: 3. Crane Cattle Co.
• Get of Sire: 1. Jake Matheson.
Simmentals
There was just one Island entry in the Simmental division. Brady Matheson exhibited BJM Queen Lolynda 4B in the second split of females born on or after January 1, 2014. He walked out of the ring with a well-deserved second place ribbon from judge Martin Mason of Ontario who judged all of the breed shows.
Junior Beef Show
The province was well represented in the junior beef show. The overall champion of the show based on points earned in all the components of the show was Patrick Holland. Brady Matheson had the grand champion animal with his BJM Queen Lolynda 4B. In the showmanship part of the show, Logan Ford was named reserve grand champion showman. The junior show was judged by Kurt Duncan of Cornwall.
• Angus: 2. Locust Grove Blackbird 4A, Patrick Holland.
• Hereford: 3. BJM Pippy 1B, Jake Matheson.
• Simmental: 1. BJM Queen Lolynda 4B, Brady Matheson.
• Junior Showmanship: 1. Jake Matheson.
• Intermediate Showmanship: 2. Logan Ford.
• Senior Showmanship: 1. Patrick Holland; 3. Brady Matheson.
Draft Horses
Two well-known Island draft horse farms exhibited their prize animals in Halifax this year. Mosher’s Belgians came away with the grand champion Belgian mare with their Colby’s Lexus. She was also first in the class for aged mares. Emily Gardiner was named top junior showman. Nathan and Zack Gardiner placed at the top of their showmanship class.
• Light Gelding: 2. Jim, Mosher’s Belgians.
• Heavy Gelding: 2. Pete, Mosher’s Belgians.
• Light Team: 2. MacIntyre’s Belgians; 3. Mosher’s Belgians.
• Heavy Team: 2. MacIntyre’s Belgians; 3. Mosher’s Belgians.
• Unicorn: 2. MacIntyre’s Belgians; 3. Mosher’s Belgians.
• 4 Horse Hitch: 2. Mosher’s Belgians; 3. MacIntyre’s Belgians.
• 6 Horse Hitch: 1. Mosher’s Belgians (combined with NS exhibitor); 2. MacIntyre’s Belgians (combined with NS exhibitor).
• Lady’s Cart: 2. MacIntyre’s Belgians; 3. Mosher’s Belgians.
• Men’s Cart: 3. MacIntyre’s Belgians.
In the champion six-horse-hitch final, Mosher’s Belgians placed third while MacIntyre’s Belgians finished fifth. MacIntyre’s Belgians also picked up the stable award.