ERIN – The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Ambassador of the Fairs competition returns to Toronto this weekend.
This year several ambassadors from around Wellington County will be competing for the title, including:
- Mary Brander, representing the Fergus Agricultural Society;
- Kate Gorman, representing the Arthur Agricultural Society;
- Julia Gray, representing the Harriston-Minto Agricultural Society;
- Peyton McBeth, representing the Palmerston Agricultural Society; and
- Briar Shepherd, representing the Erin Agricultural Society.
Shepherd, 18, was inspired by friends to take the leap into the world of ambassadors.
She competed in the Erin Fall Fair Ambassador competition in 2023 and was crowned senior ambassador.
Responsibilities during an ambassador’s reign include promoting, educating and informing the public about Canadian agriculture, stated officials.
“The competition was absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend it,” Shepherd told the Advertiser.
Her self-described “shy” demeanor has taken on a secondary role in her personality, allowing a leader shine through.
“I feel like this process has really brought out more personal growth and helped me to grow my public speaking and networking abilities,” she said.
CNE ambassador competition
Her next step in representing the Erin Agricultural Society is to attend the CNE competition, where roughly 55 ambassadors will be competing Aug. 16 to 18.
Last year Leah Lai of the Lindsay Agricultural Society was crowned the CNE Ambassador of the Fairs, beating almost 50 contestants.
Since its inception in 1971, more than 3,000 young people from 100 communities throughout the province have taken part in the contest, officials stated.
When asked how she’d feel if she won, Shepherd replied, “I’d be incredibly grateful because I’m a very passionate advocate [for] agriculture.
“I feel like I could represent and advocate for the younger generation … advocate the importance of agriculture and representing communities across Ontario,” she said.
Shepherd is currently attending her first year at the University of Guelph studying agricultural science.
“It has been an amazing opportunity to share more about my field,” she said.
The CNE is Canada’s largest community event and one of the top agricultural fairs in North America, stated officials.
A not-for-profit organization founded in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, it runs over 18 days in late summer.
Contest history
“The contest has changed drastically throughout its 50-year history,” Kathy McNaughton, 1988 CNE Ambassador winner and past judge, told the Advertiser.
The program rules changed “significantly” in 1991, which is when the competition was opened to both genders, stated McNaughton.
In her earlier years with the CNE, McNaughton sat on the panel of judges and witnessed the first male competitor win in 2003.
She has been involved with the program since 1990 after handing over her title to the next ambassador.
“The program that we’re trying to deliver for current investors is a leadership-type program,” added McNaughton.
Since the program changed, it has focused more on personal branding, public speaking skills, interview experience and leadership skills.
“We work on providing professional life skills for the ambassadors,” she said.
Competition process
McNaughton, who is co-coordinating the contest this year, shared what goes on behind the competition scenes.
The process begins with participants being split into four groups, with former ambassadors returning to chaperone them.
Each ambassador will engage in an interview process with a panel of three judges spanning over two days. One judge is from the CNE board of directors, one is from the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies and the third is a former ambassador.
After the judges have spent the weekend observing the ambassadors interact with the public and each other, they will begin narrowing down the competition.
“On Sunday morning at the semi-finals each of the ambassadors will present their elevator pitch to the public and judges,” noted McNaughton.
This portion of the contest is open to the public and will be presented at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto at 10am.
The final process involves the top seven participants delivering prepared speeches, based on agriculture and current events in the industry, followed by their experiences as an ambassador, stated McNaughton.
The judges will then decide the finalists on the basis of community knowledge and involvement, knowledge of the CNE, agriculture, personality and presentation.
“There’s so many opportunities for youth and teenagers, but it seems like once the students are post-secondary those leadership opportunities dwindle,” McNaughton added, noting the importance of the program.
“For me that’s what the program is truly about … giving them an extra opportunity for growth, personal development, personal experiences and to meet other like-minded people.”
To learn more about the CNE Ambassador competition visit theex.com.
