Eight Chateauguay Valley residents qualified to compete at Toronto’s Esteemed Royal Winter Fair in November.
This year, eight participants from the Chateauguay Valley were selected to represent the South West Quebec region in Toronto’s 91st annual Royal Winter Fair, which took place on November 4th to the 13th. Qualifiers included Matt Baillon, Véronique Boyer, Emmanuel Brisson, Kevin MacFarlane, Brandon Maither, Alana McKinven, Jérémy Patry and Carolane Simon, all of whom competed in the conformation and showmanship classes.
Emmanuel Brisson, Alana McKinven and Jérémy Patry were selected to continue on to the Championship class in Showmanship in their respective age categories, with McKinven receiving the honour of Reserve Showman in the Senior Category, judged by Quebec’s Thierry Jaton. McKinven went on to receive the additional title of Reserve Champion Holstein Calf with her summer yearling, while Brisson was awarded Third Junior Yearling Holstein Calf. Ormstown’s Matt Baillon and Howick’s Kevin MacFarlane also did very well in their conformation classes, judged by Wisconsin’s Molly Sloan. Baillon placed first in the Coloured Breeds category with his Brown Swiss, while Macfarlane placed fifth with his Ayrshire.
By the day’s end, Quebec’s representatives from the South West brought a group of three calves (belonging to Maither, McKinven and Baillon) to take the honour of first place over 50 other competing regions, making those of us at home in the Chateauguay Valley very proud. The members of the group representing Quebec’s South West would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many people who helped to make the weekend a success, especially to Betty Mercier, who coordinated everything for the group, and to their chaperone, Lizzy Ellis. 4-H member Kevin MacFarlane also wishes to extend thanks to all the parents, club leaders and sponsors who pitched in to make the weekend such a success.
The Royal Winter Fair is a prestigious event. Celebrating its 91st year this autumn, the fair celebrates the best and brightest in Canada’s agricultural community. Created by W.A. Dryden, a Shorthorn cattle breeder from Brooklin, Ontario, the event was created to not only establish judging standards across the country, but to help better domestic breeds. Dryden’s vision was realized in 1922 with the first Agricultural Winter Fair Association of Canada—the word “Royal” was added to the title after His Majesty King George V granted the committee the right to use the term that has become a moniker for the esteemed fair.
