SASKATOON – Cinderella was not judged by her step sisters or their mother to be the most beautiful. She was considered a second place finisher by those who knew her best. But in direct competition she proved to have no equal. The judge came by and gave her a slap on the rump.
In this tale, Cinderella is a Charolais heifer from Alberta showing at Saskatoon’s Fall Fair and Mexabition.
Kay-R Ecstasy 301E placed first in the all-breed, second annual Cinderella Classic, attracting hundreds of spectators and 186 heifers from across the West, all vying for the $5,750 in first place prize money and the attention of commercial breeders.
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Unique event
The event is unlike other shows, open to all current-year registered heifers. It culls the animals down to the top two in each breed, but does not rank the animals.
The final round all-breed competition includes the top two from each breed, regardless of how well they did in other competitions.
The heifers selected for the all-breed competition may not be the winners in their breed categories. They may have attributes that breed judges don’t appreciate or may be smaller or larger, heavier or lighter than the other competitors. Judges of other breeds and the all-breed nature of the competition create an unpredictable jackpot feeling.
“You just never know who is going to win. It’s a bit of a crapshoot,” said the owner of the winning Charolais heifer, Kasey Phillips, of Waskatenau, Alta.
Phillips said it was an honor “just to be out there and it was a real thrill to get slapped.”
His was a Cinderella story. He brought only two animals to his second year at the show. After scoring a disappointing second place in his breed, he was excited to make the finals of the all-breed competition.
“The jackpot atmosphere where anybody with good animals can win makes it exciting.
“There are a lot of buyers out there and we get maximum exposure for our stock,” said Marvin Evans, a Charolais breeder and Cinderella finalist, from Kenaston, Sask.
Show for stock growers
“It’s good marketing to take part in the event. The (Saskatoon) exhibition is more of a stockman’s show than Agribition …. Doing well at the Cinderella can bring a lot of attention from the commercial guys. They are the ones spending the money,” said Blonde d’ Aquitaine breeder Marguerite Mannall-Fretwell of Loreburn, Sask.
