TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2016 /CNW/ - All it takes is one outstanding animal and you can win at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. That's what first-time exhibitor Mike Panasiuk learned this week. The Airdrie, AB, stockman brought four of his best Charolais animals to compete in the National Charolais Show and is going home with three banners.
The banners hanging on his stall are for Top Bull Yearling, Junior Champion Bull, Grand Champion Bull. Panasiuk also won the Top Breeder's Herd/Michael Tuppling Memorial Award. He took fourth prize with SOS Pixie Dust 129D in the Female Calf (born after January 1, 2016) Class.
"It was a good day," Panasiuk says of his small herd's showing at The Royal. It might be a long trip from Airdrie to Toronto, but he says it was worth it.
Panasiuk's SOS Chuckwagon 54C bull is a hit in the barns at the Fair. "He's very friendly," Panasuik says as Chuckwagon nudges him on the shoulder. The bull was a champion at shows in Western Canada in 2015 and Panasiuk sold him to McKeary Charolais, Big Johnson Charolais and Medonte Charolais while retaining a share for his own operation, Springside Farms. His partners asked Panasiuk to bring Chuckwagon to The Royal and he's glad he did.
"It's been awesome," Panasiuk says of his first trip to the big Fair in Toronto. He grew up on a family farm in Manitoba but moved to Alberta and eventually began to breed Charolais. He currently runs a herd of about 170 cows.
"I will absolutely come back to The Royal," Panasiuk adds. Chuckwagon's championship gave him a berth in the Masterfeeds Supreme Beef Championship, but he was unable to add another banner to the collection.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, The 94th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 4-13, 2016, in at Exhibition Place in Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.
Photo of Mike Panasiuk and Chuckwagon attached – R.I.Tennison photo
SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Image with caption: "Mike Panasiuk and Chuckwagon (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161108_C3948_PHOTO_EN_813965.jpg
Karen Poncelet, Marketing Communications and Community Relations Mgr, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 39 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Direct: 416-263-3411 Fax: 416-263-3488
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