Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
Blondin Rd Unstopabull Maple-Red was the dominant dairy entry at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair dairy show, winning the Grand Champion of the Red and White Holstein show, the Grand Champion of the Holstein show and Supreme Champion. The three-year-old cow is owned by R & F Livestock, William Schilling, Kevin Doeberiener and Lindsay Bowen of West Salem, OH.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
Ontario 4-H field crop clubs competed in grain and forage competitions. Shown here are winners from the wheat and hay competitions.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
A new larger Dairy Farmers of Ontario display included the usual milking displays, but featured a milkhouse and free stalls.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
The butter sculptures are always a hit with RAWF attendees. Each day, a new artist would create a sculpture made out of butter. Shown here is mice and cheese, on display Nov. 10.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
This big guy is one of Semex’s Black Angus bulls, Revolution. The genetics company had some of its bulls on display for the first time in more than 20 years.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
Events: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person
Ontario Pork premiered its new Pig Mobile at the RAWF. Ontario Pork says “this modern Pig Mobile celebrates the care and commitment of everyone involved in raising pigs and producing high-quality pork — from farmers, vets, and nutritionists, to truckers, processing workers, retailers, and chefs.” The mobile also highlights on-farm innovation, environmental practices, career opportunities, and “the commitment to quality that exists across the pork supply chain.” The new unit incorporates an expandible farrowing stall and monitoring technology, a 75-inch video screen to share industry stories, and hands-on activities that bring the pork supply chain to life.
Photo: Kristy Nudds
After a 2-year hiatus, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) took place Nov. 3 to 14 at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
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The RAWF began in 1922 when a collective group of farmers and horseman banded together to plan an exhibition to show off what Canada had to offer in agriculture.
According to historical documents on display at the show, W.A. Dyrden, a Shorthorn cattleman led the initiative to create a national exhibition. The group began right after the end of the First World War to solicit and garner support to make the show a reality. They successfully received full support from all three levels of government and were granted the Royal moniker by King George V of England in 1920.
Construction of the Royal Coliseum at Exhibition Place began in 1921, and the first show took place the following year. It has now expanded into the adjacent Enercare building.
The RAWF has grown to be the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world, with over 300,000 visitors annually and competitors in food, crops, and livestock come from across Canada.
The Royal Horse Show has become a well-respected international event.
New this year was a change in food competition judging. The cheese, butter, ready-to-eat meats and ice cream were moved to June 2022 to ensure in-season judging. Winners were integrated into the many restaurants and hospitality venues throughout Exhibition Place.
Many Ontario agricultural organizations offered educational displays, having used the pandemic hiatus to refresh, and in some cases, expand their displays to encourage consumer involvement.
