Holstein Sale March 16

A Holstein auction will be added to the Ottawa Valley Farm Show's 2001 program, bringing to three the total of cattle sales held during the event. Dates for the 74th edition of the popular agricultural trade show held at Lansdowne Park are March 14, 15 and 16.

"The cattle sales have generated tremendous interest over the years," said Ed Findlay, president of the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association (OVSGA) which sponsors the show. "The Simmental and Hereford breeds have participated for years and we now welcome the Holsteins."

That sale will be held on Friday (March 16), with Herefords on the block in the morning and some 40 Holsteins presented by Eastern Breeders Inc. sold in the afternoon. The 40 head will be on display in the Sprung structure - where all sales are held - during the course of the show. Simmentals are sold on the first day of the show (March 14).

The OVSGA president revealed that a fourth cattle sale on the second day (March 15) involving one or more additional breeds is a possibility: "Discussions are now under way."

At their last meeting of 2000 held November 20 on the Kemptville campus of the University of Guelph, OVSGA directors confirmed many other elements of the next show , including the official opening at 11.30 am March 14 and the annual Seed Awards Banquet that night.

Show manager Tom Van Dusen said all exhibition spaces are booked, with up to 300 exhibitors expected again in 2001. Admission to the show will remain $6, with children under 12 free of charge.

"As usual, we have a long waiting list of companies wanting to get into the show and not enough room to accommodate them," Van Dusen said. "Last year, we opened up 20 new booths and we would certainly do the same this time... if we only had the space."

When attending the meeting, directors were delighted to see the trophy cabinets installed by Kemptville College administration in the W.B. George Centre.

Not only will the cases contain about 20 OVSGA seed trophies, but those of a number of other organizations: "It looks great," said seed fair committee chair Graham Hudson who coordinated the display with the college.

Posted: Thursday, February 01, 2001