The Rural Voice, 2001-08, Page 20Daily sheep shearing draws large
crowds at the CNE.
This year Toronto is putting
agriculture front and centre at
one of the world's largest fairs,
the Canadian National Exhibition
(CNE), August 17 to September 3.
Behind the scenes a Clifford -area
resident is making sure that the spot-
light on agriculture is a success.
Ron Douglas is the farm superin-
tendent, in charge of all livestock at
the CNE (or more commonly known
as the EX).
For the first time, the agriculture
exhibit is moving to the marquee
location of the Automotive Building,
Douglas said. The new location just
inside the main gates will allow for
more space and more exposure for
agriculture.
"We're quite excited about the
move," Douglas said.
In the past the agriculture exhibit
saw about half a million people, but
with new location it could see many
more. Last year the EX welcomed
1.4 million visitors.
The location couldn't be more
ideal. In the past the agriculture
exhibit was kept to the back and out
of the limelight, said Tiffany Bourre
of the CNE Media Relations.
The CNE which originated in
1879 started off as an agricultural
fair. Over the years, it became more
of an amusement park attraction for
the last two weeks in August.
The many years of CNE involve-
ment with livestock will be one of
the main themes of this year's show.
16 THE RURAL VOICE
A Clifford -area man is getting the
last minute details ironed out for
this year's main attraction at the
Canadian National Exhibition in
Toronto, the agriculture displays.
A history of agriculture at the CNE
will be presented through pho-
tographs, artifacts and video. This
year they are returning to their roots,
Bourre said.
Until 10 years ago the EX hosted
livestock competitions. It was a time
when Ron Douglas was involved as a
pork producer.
When the EX opened the first
agricultural exhibition Douglas was
asked to help out with the pork dis-
play. Since that time Douglas has
become more and more involved in
the EX until he was named farm
superintendent.
Douglas works with many market-
ing boards to ensure there are dis-
plays from all farm livestock areas.
The goal of the show is to give visi-
tors a glimpse into life on a farm and
insight to see where comes
from, he said.
"A lot of people
have never seen an
animal before,"
Douglas said.
The show covers
aspects of the the
turkey, deer, chick-
en, pork, dairy,
beef, sheep and
goat industries, all
of whom have dis-
plays.
According to Douglas,
Automotive Building is as large as a
baseball stadium. This has allowed
for more room for showcasing ani -
food
mals and other agriculturally -related
items. The pork display has 35 hogs
at the show in different stages of life.
The display covers a space of 50 feet
by 80 feet. Most of the other live-
stock operations cover similar spaces.
Douglas became involved in the
CNE display when farm educators
were going around preaching the
need for niche marketing. A pork
and beef farmer with a few cash
crops, Douglas found a niche in orga-
nizing agricultural shows. Not only
are Douglas and his wife, Sharon,
involved in the EX, they also help
out with displays at the Royal Winter
Fair, The Ontario Plowing Match,
Western Fair and about three or four
smaller fairs.
"It's not for everyone, there is a
lot of dedication and time that goes
into it," Douglas said in a phone
interview from his
Clifford farm.
The organiza-
tion of these shows
has generated the
couple money.
Looking after these
events has proved
profitable. It is'an
added value to the
farm operation,
Douglas said.
However, the
Douglases have had to arrange a
schedule that allows for them to be
away from the farm for 40 days a
year. Over the three weeks of the
"A lot of people
have never seen
an animal before,"
- Douglas
the