Agriculture Competitions

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Who will be this year’s Royal Champions?

This year The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is celebrating its 100th Anniversary of being Canada’s premier showcase for excellence in livestock, crops and food.

This will be a historic and unprecedented year in the livestock barns as nearly every breed – large and small – will be hosting their national competition at The 2022 Royal.

For the first time ever four of the nine food competitions (cheese, butter, ready-to-eat meats and ice cream) will be moved to June 2022 to ensure inseason judging. The jams and jellies, hot sauce, pickling, maple products and the everpopular butter tart competitions will continue to take place in September. You can expect to see the Royal Champions in all these competitions integrated into various restaurants, hospitality and digital initiatives at this year’s Fair.

 Join this proud Royal tradition and enter your food item at the 100th Anniversary Fair.

The 2022 Royal Food Competitions is proudly supported by The Government of Ontario.

President's message

Shelley Peterson, President and Chairman of The Board

After 100 years, there is much to celebrate about The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and horse show. Since our inaugural event in 1922, The Royal has grown in substance, quality, and size, and remains a leader in increasing awareness of Canadian agriculture and agri-food, educating about agriculture and sustainability, celebrating new cuisine and chefs, and encouraging our youth to seek jobs in the agricultural sector. We are renowned for establishing and maintaining the highest of standards for quality and excellence in our livestock, food, and equestrian competitions. The Royal is the highlight of the year for many competitors and exhibitors, and a hub of agricultural business locally and internationally.

Exhibitors, buyers, and spectators from around the world come to The Royal to watch and compete with the best of the best. This year, we are thrilled to announce these exciting new changes to our Agriculture Competitions:

• The livestock barns will look a little different this year. With support from the Government of Canada, The Royal has invested in new stalling for the livestock barns. This upgrade to stalling will improve the overall look of the barns, make transitioning between competitions easier, and help facilitate the ever-changing demands of our competitions into the future.
• We are extremely proud to be hosting many National livestock shows at this year’s Fair. As a result, we have invested in upgraded live-streaming technology and expertise to enhance the livestream broadcast of these competitions to local and international audiences alike.
• In 2022, the competitions for cheese and butter, ice cream, and Ready-to-Eat Meat Snacks will take place in June. This change received full support from the exhibitors, industry and community. We look forward to promoting the Royal Champions in these competitions through the Summer months and during the Fair in the Fall.

As we celebrate a Century of Champions, attendees will see special activities throughout the Fair that commemorate The Royal’s tremendous heritage. In true Royal style, we will also be hosting a spectacular 100th Anniversary event this November that will make us all proud. Details about The Royal 100th Anniversary Gala Dinner and The Royal Showcase will be released shortly, and we hope you’ll be able to join the fun and support the Fair. Stay tuned.
We very much look forward to a live show this November, especially after two years of COVID darkness. With a committed Board, CEO and staff, and the thousands of highly valued volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, supporters, and fairgoers who cherish this historic institution, we will bring the excitement, the vibrancy, and the magic of The Royal into the next century.

Thank you for your continued support,
Shelley Peterson
President and Chair of The Board of Directors