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, on the Concourse level of the Civic Centre at Landowne Park.

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 17, the second day of the 2010 Ottawa Valley Farm Show at Lansdowne Park. To be held on the Civic Centre Concourse 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.
Held on the Concourse, the Seed Sale has, since its inception,
has raised $80,537 for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
This will mark the 18th edition of the Prestigious Pedigreed Seed sale which, to date, has raised $80,537. Calling the bids again this year will be Smiths Falls auctioneer and farmer John Joynt, a director for many years with the OVSGA.
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SELF-TAUGHT RURAL ARTIST FEATURED AT 2010 FARM SHOW
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Shortly after graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Crystal became the youngest elected fellow of the Ottawa Watercolour Society. Working in watercolour, oil, pastel and acrylic, she has completed several corporate commissions, including for the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Crowne Plaza Hotel. In 2007, she was nominated as one of Ottawa's "Best Emerging Artists" and elected into the International Guild of Realism. When not practicing fine art, she teaches it at her studio located in Ottawa's Nepean sector.

She can be reached through  www.crystalbeshara.com.
She grew up on a small hobby farm in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and now Ottawa artist Crystal Beshera reflects that experience in her paintings.

The self-taught, award winning artist and illustrator finds many of her subjects in rural Eastern Ontario, including the crumbling barn and surrounding scene which appears in the original oil on panel painting "Vanish" which Crystal is holding here. The 18 x 24" painting will be auctioned off during the annual Prestigious Pedigreed Seed Sale March 18 at 12 noon, with all proceeds going to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Crystal will be on hand for part of the show, displaying some of her other works and copies of her illustrated children's book "When I Visit the Farm". The colourful book was inspired by her daughter's joyful experiences exploring Ottawa's Central Experimental farm and Canada Agriculture Museum.