Country and city folk from across the region had model conditions to experience the Maritime Fall Fair in Halifax recently. Sunny skies and summer-like conditions had fair goers lining up to bring their families to this distinctive hands-on event. On offer were dazzling six and eight heavy horse teams, rodeo events, highly groomed livestock, oxen, poultry and rabbits creating ideal opportunities for children to touch and get familiar with many baby farm animals.
Notable too were the young exhibitors taking part. One exhibitor observed that there is such a short span when family can all participate together before the young people are involved in studies or other pursuits that he felt it important to make the time to take part in the Fair.
The judge for the Maritime Fair Livestock Show was Billy Elmhurst, from Indian River, Ontario, who runs a herd of Simmentals, Hereford and Shorthorn cattle as well as a show-fitting service. Elmhurst commented favorably on the well-groomed, and high-quality animals paraded before him and also paid tribute to announcer Trevor MacDonald, Murray River, Prince Edward Island for keeping the ring side informed and the show running smoothly. The beef show coordinator was Verna Docherty.
ABERDEEN ANGUS
The entry Bannockburn Valley Rose 11R of Bannockburn Valley Farm, owned by the Dixon Family of Clyde River, Prince Edward Island carried off the Grand Champion Angus Female title. As well, they garnered the Reserve Champion Female with Bannockburn Valley Rose 2L, collected the Reserve Junior Champion with Bannockburn Valley Rose 4S and the Reserve Champion Male with Bannockburn Valley Extra 5T.
Champion winners in all the breed classes were invited back to compete for the supreme champion crown and the Angus breed’s Bannockburn Valley Rose 11R left the ring with the Overall Supreme Champion Female honor for the Dixons. They also took home the Angus Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners.
Bull Calf:
1 - Bannockburn Valley Extra 5T ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
2 - Mill Rivers Texas Tea 1T ~ Mill River Mist Farms, O’Leary
6 - Miltonvale Rockstar Cobe 1T ~ Colby MacQuarrie, Milton
Reserve Champion Bull:
Bannockburn Valley Extra 5T ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Heifer Calf:
1 - Bannockburn Valley Rose 12T ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
2 - Bannockburn Valley Bride 1T ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
3 - Wheatley River T C Taffie ~ Glen & Ronnie Ford, Winsloe P.O.
Yearling Female:
1 - Cable Head Queen 1S ~ Richard Palmer, St. Peter’s Bay
2 - Bannockburn Valley Rose 4S ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
3 - Wheatley River Sophie ~ Glen & Ronnie Ford
4 - Bannockburn Valley Doll 28S ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
6 - Primetime’s 29L Eileen 634'06 ~ Colby MacQuarrie
Junior Champion Female:
Cable Head Queen ~ Richard Palmer
Reserve Junior Champion Female:
Bannockburn Valley Rose 4S ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Two Year Old Female with calf:
1 - Bannockburn Valley Rose 11R ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
2 - Wheatley River Rosie ~ Mill River Mist Farms,
c/o Beth Truman/Bernie Shea
3 - Primetime’s 12G MS Quality 529 ~ Colby MacQuarrie
Mature Female with calf:
1 - Bannockburn Valley Rose 2L ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
2 - Bannockburn Valley Bride 22P ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Grand Champion Female:
Bannockburn Valley Rose 11R ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Reserve Champion Female:
Bannockburn Valley Rose 2L ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Breeders Herd:
1 - Bannockburn Valley Farm
HEREFORDS
The Dixon Family also picked up some top placings in the Hereford classes when Hannah Dixon took a red ribbon with the Yearling Female Elm Lodge Empire Supreme 70S and went on to take the Reserve Junior Champion Female spot. She also brought Oltn 125J Yedda 43R in for a second place standing.
SHORTHORNS
Marvin Peters, Springfield brought his Cloverdale Shorthorn herd to the Fair and picked up a number of placings.
Female Calf:
4 - Cloverdale Sally Hot Stuff ~ Cloverdale Shorthorns
5 - Colverdale Sally’s Enforcer ~ Cloverdale Shorthorns
6 - Cloverdale Gold Bonito ~ Cloverdale Shorthorns
Yearling Female:
4 - Cloverdale Sally’s Explosion ~ Cloverdale Shorthorns
Two Year Old:
2 - Cloverdale Bonito ~ Cloverdale Shorthorns
CHAROLAIS
Charolais breeders brought several championship wins back to Prince Edward Island. Charhaven Farms owned by Wayne Crosby, Ricky Milton, and Byron MacPhee had the Reserve Champion Bull with Charhaven Talledaga 775T. Cornerstone Charolais, owned by Ricky Milton and Nancy Gorveatt, picked up the Reserve Junior and Reserve Grand Champion Female with Cornerstone Shakira 2S. Preston Acorn, Cardigan pocketed a red ribbon with Crosby’s Renaissance 512R.
Bull Calf:
2 - Charhaven Talledaga 775T ~ Charhaven Farms
Reserve Grand Champion Bull:
Charhaven Talledaga 775T ~ Charhaven Farms
Female Calf:
4 - Charhaven Tequila 771T ~ Charhaven Farms
5 - JPA Dundas Tiarra 12T ~ Preston Acorn
6 - Cornerstone Tia Maria 4T ~ Cornerstone Charolais
Yearling Female:
1 - Cornerstone Shakira 2S ~ Cornerstone Charolais
2 - Cornerstone Suzy Q 1S ~ Cornerstone Charolais
3 - JPA Dundas Miss You 2S ~ Preston Acorn
4 - Cornerstone Shania 3S ~ Cornerstone Charolais
Reserve Junior Champion Female:
Cornerstone Shakira 2S ~ Cornerstone Charolais
Two Year Old:
1 - Crosby’s Renaissance 512R ~ Preston Acorn
Reserve Grand Champion Female:
Cornerstone Sharika 3S ~ Cornerstone Charolais
COMMERCIAL
Several Island herds exhibited entries in the Commercial classes at the Maritime Fall Fair with Bannockburn Valley Farm emerging with the Grand Champion Commercial Female.
Yearling Female - Split One:
1 - Greenback Black Magic ~ Greenback Cattle Co., c/o Robert & Dawn Holmes, Riverdale Rd.
3 - Spice ~ John D. MacKinnon, Kinross
5 - Sugar ~ John D. MacKinnon
Yearling Female - Split Two:
1 - Black Vision ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
Grand Champion Commercial Female:
Black Vision ~ Bannockburn Valley Farm
For more information, contact Stella Boswall at (902) 892-4201.