Prince Edward Island beef exhibitors have a lot to be proud of following the judging of their respective breeds at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Island breeders had entries in the Simmental, Shorthorn and Angus shows against some of the top livestock breeders in Canada.
The Royal hosted the National Show for the Simmental breed this year. This drew cattle from various provinces. Spud Island Farms of York Point had a full complement of entries in the show. In the third division of heifer calves, Sandersons' Spud Island Wanda 68W placed ninth. Another ninth ribbon was garnered by Spud Island Best Lady 14W showing in the sixth division of heifer calves. Two Spud Island entries were shown in the first division of yearling heifers; Spud Island Trendsetter 93U placed third and Spud Island Norma Jean 108U was awarded a seventh prize ribbon. Spud Island Best Lady 68U, showing in the third division of yearling heifers was placed sixth. In the class for two-year-old cows with calf at foot, the Sanderson entry of Robson Acres Tootsie was second. In the bull classes, the long-time breeders continued to pick up good placings. In the senior yearling bulls, Spud Island Mr. Black 50U was placed second and was named reserve junior champion bull. A fifth prize came out of the same class with Spud Island Redman 123U. Finally, in the two-year-old bull class, a third place ribbon was awarded to Todd’s Dream Big 6T.
Making his first-ever appearance at the Royal proved to be better than expected for Brady Matheson from Forest Hill. The grade 12 student at Montague Regional High showed one entry in the National Simmental Show, BJM Goldmine GG. In a strong class of 11 entries, he placed an impressive third. Brady’s father Brent commented that it was a thrill for the whole Matheson family to be in Toronto to watch Brady do so well at his first Royal Winter Fair.
Long-time Shorthorn breeders Seymour and Janet Hurry of Winsloe were delighted with their placing at the Royal. The Hurry family boasts a long list of Royal winners going back to the days when Mr. Hurry’s father, the late Stanley Hurry, exhibited in Toronto. The Hurry entry this year was shown by Courtney Hogan, the third generation of the family to step foot in the famous show ring at the Royal. Their entry of Evergreen LCA Wishful 11W placed a very strong second in a class of eleven entries.
One Island entry was shown in the Angus show. Colby MacQuarrie of Winsloe exhibited his Miltonvale Annie Cobe 1W in one of several heifer calf classes. His entry was awarded a very respectable eighth.