THE 4-H SHOW MUST GO ON: shows dropped from more than 100 to about 35

METCALFE — The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns put the kibosh on country fairs and livestock shows this year. But not all.
In a normal year there would be well over 100 4-H livestock shows but there were about 35 this year, of which 25 were in-person, according to an estimate from 4-H Ontario.
One of the most recent was the West Carleton 4-H sheep club’s competition. The Carp Fair was cancelled so the competition was held at a club leader’s house on Sept. 24. The McCord family, of McCord Farms at Kanata, had a strong showing. Darren McCord had the champion market lamb and was named overall champion showperson. His brother Tim McCord had the reserve champion market lamb. Grace Munro was reserve champion showperson. Mark Munro had the champion ewe lamb and Grace Munro had the reserve champion.
The junior beef show is going ahead on Oct. 3 at the Metcalfe Fair with one exception. Nobody has to leave home. Competitors instead record themselves showing their animal at home and sent in a video. Judges will evaluate on showmanship and the fair board will send out awards.
The Dundas 4-H Dairy Day also went ahead on Aug. 15 at the South Mountain Fairgrounds, even with the stands were empty and midway silent. Cassidy Porteous was the overall champ, winning both grand champion heifer and grand champion showperson. Taylor Mathers was the runner-up, winning reserve champion showperson, and Bruce Porteous was the honourable mention.