Going back to the beginning, the heart of the Ottawa Valley Farm Show remains the Seed Show, part of Hall of Fame exhibit mounted by the Farm Show's sponsor, the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, near the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Court of Honour.

Every year, qualified judges come in ahead of opening day to assess the various crop and seed entries and determine the prize winners. Those entries then go on display in the Court of Honour, along with trophies to be awarded at a special ceremony.
The Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association will host a reception for Seed Awards winners March 13, the second day of the 2013 Ottawa Valley Farm Show at the new Ernst & Young Centre. To be held near the Court of Honour beginning at 12 noon, the event will consist of awards presentation open to all visitors, and luncheon reserved for winners and their guests.
The ceremony used to be held on the final day of the show following the annual Prestigious Pedigreed Seed Sale. This was changed in 2007.  "We decided to separate the awards ceremony from the sale and give it stature on its own as an important part of the show," said Seed Committee Chairman Jim Arbuckle.
The Seed Sale has, since its inception, has raised almost $100,000 for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Calling the bids again this year will be Smiths Falls auctioneer and farmer John Joynt, a director for many years with the OVSGA.
ART REFLECTS EMMA CALDWELL'S FEELING FOR FARMING
Click photo for larger image.
Use your Back button to return here.
Emma has already enjoyed considerable recognition as an artist, with a piece of her art sold as a fundraiser at last year's Jersey Ontario annual meeting held in Ottawa, and as designer of the 2012 Carp Fair poster.
A member of a 5th generation Carp farm family, Emma Caldwell is the Ottawa Valley Farm Show's featured artist in 2013. Emma, 21, grew up at Maple Holme Farms which becomes a century old this spring. She cut her farming teeth through 12 years of 4-H showing dairy, beef, sheep and hogs, and is a member of Carleton County Junior Farmers.
And of course, she was expected to do her share of farm chores ... making hay, milking cows, and working with livestock.

Several years ago, she began transferring appreciation of her agricultural surroundings to canvas. In 2009, she enrolled in the fine arts program at Queen's University where she's delighted to experiment with different styles and materials.

The Farm Show asked her to compose an original painting for the 20th annual Prestigious Pedigreed Seed Sale for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, March 14 at 12 noon. She chose a classic barn as the centrepiece set behind a rail fence; both structures have special meaning to her, representing the sacrifice farmers make and the separation between them and urban consumers.

The Ottawa Valley Seed Growers, sponsors of the Farm Show, hope Emma's contribution will help push the 20-year total over the $100,000 mark.  They'd like to thank exhibitor Secan for making purchase of the art possible ... as the company has done over the past several years.

As usual, bidders should come prepared to outlast OMAFRA's Phyllis MacMaster who, over the past decade, has purchased almost all of the CHEO auction art.
Admission $10
Kids Under 12
Free with Parents
This painting, called "Anticipation" by Carp artist Emma Caldwell, will be auctioned off during the annual Prestigious Pedigreed Seed Show for CHEO March 14, beginning at 12 noon, during the Ottawa Valley Farm Show at Ottawa's Ernst & Young Centre.