The magic of the Royal Winter Fair has again taken over Exhibition Park in Toronto. The largest event of its kind, the 80th Royal Winter Fair is the combination of many things: excited children, a myriad of prize farm animals, colourful displays and fine edged competition. Add to this the lure of special appearances like the beautiful Budweiser horses, the picture perfect show jumpers, field crops, the tempting aroma of the many Fair food choices and the unique specialty trade booths. And you never know who will drop by to see the sights and sounds of the fair. Martha Stewart was also in attendance to tape a segment of her show.
This is where old and new competitors meet. There is an acknowledgement among exhibitors that a win at the Royal is the ultimate win in their field and many of them come back year after year to strive for it.
Young Speakers Competition
The 18th Annual Public Speaking Competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair saw Verna Docherty of Hampshire, representing Prince Edward Island, make it into the top six finalists. Young speakers had to make their presentation from a choice of five topics.
Docherty chose, "My advice to the Federal Minister of Agriculture at the Global negotiation table," for her presentation. In part, her advice was to expand our markets to include Europe and to stop being so reliant on the United States and to utilize a symbol like the red maple leaf to signify recognizable Canadian products, with a green maple leaf to denote organic, health conscious products.
Ms. Docherty has been involved with the Prince Edward Island 4-H program for 13 years and a leader for three years. She recently graduated from UPEI with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Goals of the Young Speakers competition are to recognize articulate young people who are involved in agriculture, to give them a form to be heard and to recognize and use their abilities.
The competition was won by Kim Waalderbos of Amherst, NS. The winner receives, among other prizes, a $1000 scholarship. Docherty also received a cheque and along with other prizes for placing in the finalists.
Livestock Competition
Lee and Shirley Peterson, Mt. Stewart, captured a nice win when they placed second in the Percheron horse breeding classes at the 2002 Royal Winter Fair with their stallion foal PETERSON'S BANDIT.
Wayne Crosby, New Haven, also grabbed a second prize for Cros MS Emily 1 G in the cow/calf class. This female has been a consistent winner for Crosby. He recently became the owner of the calf, Beach-Valley Wild Thing, which was part of the cow/calf combination that was named Grand Champion Charolais Female.
In the Market lamb carcass classes, the best placing went to Doug King of Montague when he pulled in a sixth with his 53 pound Suffolk. Cecil Godfrey took an eighth spot with his Suffolk/Oxford. Donna Shaw, Montague placed ninth, while fourteenth went to Matthew MacDonald, Winsloe. Emilie Shaw finished in seventeenth position.
Produce Competition
Jewell's Produce Company of York captured the Champion and Reserve Champion award in the Seed Potato category in horticulture classes at the Royal Winter Fair, netting them the Canadian Horticultural Council International Award trophy and a $500 prize. They also were named Champion Commercial Feature exhibit winners.
Vesey's Produce of York had their best wins in the Table Stock potato division when they picked up three red ribbons.
Alex Docherty, Skyeview Farm, took some red ribbons home in each of the Seed and Table Stock divisions.
TABLE STOCK POTATOES:
Superior – Vessey Produce, Jewell Produce Company, Skyeview Farm
Russet Burbank – 1. Jewell Produce
Eramosa, Irish Cobbler, Warba, Jemseg – 1. Vessey Produce
Sebago, Kennebec, Cherokee – Skyeview Farms Ltd.
Yukon Gold, Norwis, Saginaw Gold – Vessey Produce, Jewell Produce Company
Russet Norkotah, Frontier or other long Russet – 4. Skyeview Farm Ltd.
Norland, Sangre – Skyeview Farms
Commercial Feature Exhibit – Jewell Produce Company
SEED POTATOES:
Seed Potatoes – Superior – Skyeview Farms Ltd, Jewell Produce Company
Eramosa, Irish Cobbler, Waraba, Jemseg – Vessey Produce
Sebago, Kennebec – Logan Docherty, Skyeview Farms Ltd.
Yukon Gold, Norwis – Jewell Produce, Vessey Produce, Skyeview Farms Ltd.
Russet Norkotah – Skyeview Farms Ltd.
Norland, Sangre or other Red – Skyeview Farms Ltd.
Champion and Reserve – Jewell Produce Company, Vessey Produce
Canadian Horticultural Council International Award – Jewell Produce Company
NOVICE POTATOES:
Early Maturing – Superior, Jemseg – Jordan Jewell, Cecil Godfrey
Shepody – 5. Cecil Godfrey
Yellow Flesh, Yukon Gold or other variety – Randy Jewell
Long Russet – Randy Jewell, 6. Cecil Godfrey
Garden & Gourmet – Cecil Godfrey
Champion and Reserve – Randy Jewell, Randy Jewell
GIANT VEGETABLES:
Giant Potato by Weight – Cecil Godfrey, Vessey Produce, Trevor MacDonald
Most unusual shaped vegetable – Cecil Godfrey
RUTABAGAS:
Rutabaga, Table Swede, Unwaxed, 4-5 inches – Jewell Produce Company
Rutabagas, Table Swede, waxed, 4-5 inches – Jewell Produce Company
Rutabagas, Table swede 6 unwaxed 5-6 inches – 1. Jewell Produce Company
Rutabaga, Table Swede waxed 5-6 inches – Jewell Produce Company
Champion and Reserve Rutabagas – Jewell Produce Company, Jewell Produce Company