The Agricultural Expo rolled into the North Thompson Agriplex, in Barriere, from Sept. 20 to 24, bringing multitudes of 4-H and open clubs with it.
Presented by the B.C. Agricultural Exposition Society, the five-day event included beef, sheep, horse, goat, dog, rabbit, photography, leatherwork and clothing competitions.
Hundreds of prizes were awarded, however, just being a part of the experience was good enough for some participants.
Nick Bouwmeester and his family came up from Pritchard for the expo.
His sons Corbin, 8, and Hudson, 6, each showed lamb and his daughter Claire, 3, did an open class of lamb since she is too young to show on her own.
“They didn’t do good this year,” the proud father laughed, “but it was their first year so they had fun.”
Bouwmeester said they have acreage back home to accommodate animals and he and his wife thought it was important to get the kids involved.
When asked what the best part of the expo had been, he replied, “I think just the experience for the kids and for us to watch them.”
For Claire, who excitedly clutched a cup of hot chocolate, he said the best part may have been the bag of candy she won.
Lillian Evaniew -Phelan came up from Riverside, Washington, to judge the horse competitions.
This was her first experience at the Ag Expo. She judges for 11 different associations.
“I think it’s great,” a good opportunity for the kids, she said.
She added that she’s seen a decrease in the number of kids showing horses, which is a shame because taking care of an animal “just makes you blossom.”
Caring for an animal, she said, gives kids a new perspective and teaches them respect and commitment.
When asked whether Ag Expo competitors measured up to her standards, she said, “well, you know, they’ve got a ways to go but that’s OK. We all have to start somewhere, right, we need to start at the grassroots…”
Darcey Woods, the president of the Barriere & District Riding Club, shadowed Evaniew-Phelan during the horse judging because she is working towards her Equine Canada General Performance Judging Card.
“Seeing more kids is great, even with our showings that we hold locally with the riding club, we’re starting to see more kids, which is good,” said Woods. “And the more kids that come up, that’s what’s going to continue horse sport.”
Ginger McCurdy, leader of rabbit and cavy for the Yellowhead 4-H club, expressed pride for the accomplishments and improvements her team showed at the expo.
She said it’s “wonderful” to watch the kids come full circle when they present projects they’ve worked hard on all year.
“I think they’ve done an excellent job with their showing and their projects.”
The kids couldn’t bring their rabbits to the expo because of the hemorrhagic disease this year. Instead, they had to display what they would have shown the judges through pictures and explain every step of the process.
McCurdy said they learned much more about their projects having to do it this way and she thinks it’ll put them at an advantage next year.
“I think it’s been very successful.”
Yellowhead 4-H member Isabella MacDougall’s rabbit presentation won first place. Harmony Woollard, who joined 4-H so she could hang out with her friends, took home two fourth-place ribbons.
This was both girls’ first year competing in 4-H.
“When I first started, I thought it was all just about my friends and just hanging out, but now I realize it’s more about the animals,” said MacDougall. “Me and my bunny, like, we’re closer than we were.”
McCurdy raved over how much MacDougall and Woollard have grown after just one year in the club.
“If I had been in 4-H as a child, I probably wouldn’t have trouble talking to the public now.”
