Winning is sweet for Royal first-timer

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - It took Gary Parr of Cambellford many years before he realized his childhood dream of becoming a beekeeper. This year, his patience paid off because the first-time apiarist and first-time exhibitor at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair took half of the prizes in the Honey and Beeswax Competition. Parr took Grand Champion Liquid Honey, Premier Exhibitor for White Liquid Honey, and the Dominion and Grimm Award for the Top Score in a Class.

"We're so new at this," Parr says of he and his wife Brianne. "We weren't even ready to bring samples. We got our labels done at the last minute and we were jarring honey until 2 a.m. But it's been an amazing learning experience and it's only our first year!"

The Parrs cash crop forages which give their new bee colony access to alfalfa, clover and flowering trefoil. They also have a spring running through their farm that is surrounded by wild sunflowers.

"I read that sunflowers produce the best honey that is nice and light," Parr says. After this year's success when they harvested over 500 lbs of honey, the Parrs are planning to increase their production to 12 double hives from six. They will also be back at The Royal although "the pressure's on," he admits, to make sure the handful of ribbons he is taking home in 2015 are not just beginner's luck.

The Royal is supported in part by the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

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: [phone]