ALBERTA – The 50th-anniversary Farmfair event was held earlier this month Edmonton with local livestock produces showing off their prized animals.
Local Livestock farms participated in the 2024 Farmfair 50th Anniversary show in 14 divisions, including the Red and Black Angus Division. The event ran from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9.
Those farms included Cinder Angus from Barrhead, Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie, Dwajo Farms from Camp Creek, Geis Angus Farm Ltd from Barrhead, and Rusty Lily Angus from Tiger Lily.
“They really went all out this year,” said Brynne Yoder, Farmfair 50 exhibitor from the Barrhead area.
“They recently added a lot more prize money for exhibitors. I think it attracted a lot of people throughout western and eastern Canada.”
“They just always do a really nice job at organizing it. This one of our favourite shows to go to every year.”
“The organizers and the committees are so lovely just deal with.”
Cinder Angus livestock from Barrhead won four Champions titles and was a Reserve Champion in the Red Angus Division.
The Red Angus Champion Summer Heifer Calf was won by Cinder Angus of Barrhead with their entry, Red Cinder Freyja 229M.
The Red Angus Champion Intermediate Heifer Calf went to Cinder Angus, from Barrhead, with their entry Red Cinder Freyja 1129M.
Cinder Angus was named the Champion Junior Yearling Heifer with Red Cinder Gammer 349L.
The Reserve Champion Spring Bull Calf winner was Cinder Angus with their entry Red Cinder Roger That 383M.
“They're (Farmfair organization) really in it for the best interest of all the purebred breeders and commercial breeders,” said Yoder.
“Farmfair is special, and they had a really good trade show and vendor show with a whole bunch of international guests that come every year.”
Exhibitors interact with international guests with the opportunity to spread genetics down in Mexico, Argentina, Australia and European countries.
Brandl Cattle Co. with their only Red Angus entry, Red BCC Renee 435 was named Reserve Champion Heifer Calf.
In the Black Angus Division, the results favoured Brandl Cattle Co in several categories.
“It was a great success. Since 2003 when BSE closed their borders, the cattle shows have seen decreasing numbers in a huge way,” said Byron Brandl of Brandl Cattle Co. in Jarvie.
“It was sure nice that with the 50th anniversary, there are more people that made the effort to attend Farmfair.”
“The numbers were back to where they were in the late 1990s, not only the numbers of cattle but the number of people that went.”
Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie won the Champion Black Angus Senior Bull with their entry BCC Mr. Incredible 82L.
In the Black Angus Senior Heifer Calf, Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie placed first with their entry BCC Lady Wren 410.
In the Black Angus Intermediate Heifer Calf, Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie placed third with their entry BCC Echo 4123.
“She was also an entry in the Farmfair 50 Anniversary Sale and sold to Holt Matthews from Bragg Creek for $10,000,” said Brandl.
In the Black Angus Senior Yearling division, Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie placed third with their entry BCC Miss Burgess 24L.
In the Black Angus Two-Year-Old Cow /Calf, Brandl Cattle Co. from Jarvie placed third with their entry BFE BA Echo 3K.
The 2024 Farmfair 50 Anniversary Show features 14 different divisions where local livestock farms participated.
