A Black Angus heifer was the belle of the ball at the seventh annual Cinderella Classic in Saskatoon Nov. 17.
The current-year heifer jackpot competition is held annually as part of the Saskatoon Fall Fair at Prairieland Exhibition Park.
“It’s pretty neat, a real highlight to a long week,” said Robert Hamilton, owner of the winning entry, as he donned the supreme champion jacket.
Hamilton, his wife Gail and their sons farm near Calgary. They won this same event in 1998.
“When you get into a show like this, having cattle that have a certain amount of style and flash do well in these things because they attract attention,” said Hamilton.
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“I think having a heifer that’s really feminine and fits our program sure helped us. We’re a little bit lucky. There are lots of good cattle out there. We just work really hard at bringing them out to present them. And that goes a long way in doing well in a show,” said Hamilton.
Eleven breeds were represented in the competition. The cattle are first shown in their own breed class and the two finalists from each class compete in the supreme champion-ship.
The winner is guaranteed $5,000 and the reserve champion $2,000.
This year’s reserve champion was a Charolais owned by Voegeli Brothers Charolais of Maymont, Sask.
Ruth Hill was one of five judges assessing the animals. She looks for depth, length and an animal that displays maternal instincts.
“You don’t want anything looking too unfeminine,” said Hill. “Every one of those animals in that ring could have been the winner. They were all the best of their breed.”
The reserve and supreme champion heifers were slapped by a judge, amid smoke and lights, for a dramatic end to the nearly five-hour competition.
“The entries are supreme quality,” said Donna Bohrson, agriculture manager for Prairieland Exhibition Park.
Bohrson said the 106 entries in the Cinderella Classic came from all over Western Canada. Breeds included Angus, Charolais, Texas Longhorn, Gelbvieh, Maine Anjou, Salers, Tarentaise, Simmental, Shorthorn, Limousin and Hereford.
Bohrson estimated 4,500 people attended the fall fair over four days.
“It’s been really good. We’ve had no admission charge this year, so it’s been an opportunity for everyone to come in and enjoy the show at their leisure.”
Fall Fair participation is strong despite competition from Farmfair International in Edmonton, held just before the Saskatoon event, and from Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, held after this event, Bohrson added.
“Each show has their own specific regional value. Each of the shows has their own merit. The fall fair is in itself a purebred and commercial cattle show. Agribition tends to have an international component whereas we focus on our Saskatchewan highlights.”
The Saskatoon fair also featured a trade show, commercial cattle show and sale and a prospect steer show and sale.
