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Clinton News Record, 2015-07-29, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, July 29, 2015 Three to compete at the CNE Laura Broadley Clinton News Record The Canadian National Exhibition will be holding its annual fair ambassador com- petition at the end of August. Three local youth are com- peting this year for the title: Jamee Johnston of Brussels, Amber Brodie of Seaforth and Lucas Dupee, represent- ing the Huron Central Agri- cultural Society will all be heading to Toronto in an effort to be crowned CNE fair ambassador for 2015. Johnston graduated from high school last year and will be starting in the massage therapy program at D'Arcy Lane Institute in London in the fall. Being the Brussels Fair ambassador is something Johnston knew she wanted to do since she was a little girl. "I competed in the Brussels fair because growing up I always saw all the ambassadors and always wanted to be one. I tried to compete last year but I wasn't old enough so I was really excited when I could this year;' said Johnston. Public speaking was never something Johnston liked doing when she was younger but it's getting easier as she moves through the competi- tion and agricultural society meetings. Being the ambassador of Jamee Johnston, 18, is representing the Brussels Agricultural Society at the CNE ambassador competition in August. the Brussels Agricultural Society has given Johnston a different perspective on the fair she has been going to since she was little. "I've been going to the fair for so long as the general public and then being there as the ambassador, getting to see everything, is really awe- some," Johnston said. Amber Brodie, 21, will be competing alongside John- ston in August. She is a nursing student at Lambton College. Growing up in a rural area gave Brodie a sense of com- munity that is hard to find elsewhere. Participating in the Seaforth ambassador competition was another Contributed photos Amber Brodie, 21, is a nursing student representing the Seaforth Agricultural Society. way for her to appreciate where she comes from. "I wanted to be a part of the community and be involved in the rural aspects of it;' Brodie explained. Brodie grew up on the family farm that has been in her family since 1960. She was nine -years -old when she started in the 4-H. Lucas Dupee, 18, will be rep- resenting the Huron Central Agricultural Society in August. Dupee is currently attend- ing Wilfred Laurier University, studying towards a bachelors in business administration with hopes of pursuing a career in accounting. Deciding to compete at the Clinton Spring Fair was an Reminder! Civic Holiday Due to the Holiday on Mon., Aug 3rd the Editorial & Advertising deadline for the Wed., 5 issue is THURS.,JULY 30 2:00 PM Ciinron News Record 53 ALBERT ST., CLINTON •519-482-3443 LW:M5In=MMIMIRM Nancy Treitz, Jean Jardine and Sunday. The gate was donated and her husband, Don Jardine. dedication to the community. easy thing to do for Dupee. "Growing up a lot of my family members had been involved in the fair in various ways so I saw that as an opportunity for me to do the same thing," said Dupee. When Dupee was really young he found public speaking a difficult thing to do but as he's grown older, getting up in front of a crowds is something he really enjoys. Dupee is preparing for the CNE competition by getting his speech together, going over interviews to figure out what has worked and not worked in the past, as well as practicing potential impromptu questions should he make it that far. Each contestant needs to have a one and a half minute speech prepared before they go to the CNE. Johnston, Brodie and Dupee will be competing against approximately 80 other contestants, said CNE spokesperson, Paula Ellis. The ambassador competi- tion at the CNE started in 1971 although the exhibition is in its 137th year. Seven of the 80 contest- ants will present their speech on stage to a panel of three judges, consisting of a CNE past president, the cur- rent director of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies and a past fair Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Sara Hughes cut the ribbon at the new cemetery gate last by Jardine in memory of her parents, Harold and Edna Adams Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn thanked Jardine for her efforts and ink -24 One of the only males in the competition, Lucas Dupee, 18, is representing the Huron Central Agricultural Society. ambassador winner. Ellis stresses the impor- tance of candidates having their speeches prepared and memorized. The subject of the speech must be on one of three topics, agriculture, their agricultural society or some aspect of their fair. "You don't want to get up in front of 1,200 people and not knowwhat you're going to talk about. They can have little cue cards but they need to have that speech written," said Ellis. Each contestant is given an information package beforehand with a history of the CNE, which the judges may ask about. They also need to be aware of what is going on in the world of agri- culture, especially in Ontario, said Ellis. All the competitors will be interviewed by the judges and asked numerous questions on a variety of topics. The top seven are chosen to present their speeches, then a top three are chosen and asked an impromptu question before a winner is chosen. Community knowledge and involvement, knowledge of the CNE and agriculture, personality and presentation are some of the key charac- teristics that judges will be looking out for, said Ellis. The CNE ambassador will stay in Toronto for the remainder of the CNE, attending all the special events, citizenship ceremo- nies, dinners, tour around the grounds and engage the public. When they go home the ambassadors are invited by other fairs across Ontario to participate at the fair in some capacity, said Ellis. The opportunity to meet people all over Ontario gives the ambassador incredible confidence because they're speaking in front of vast num- ber of people in different situ- ations. The winners also gain lifelong friendships, said Ellis. The competition will take place at the CNE from August 21 to August 23.