The Canadian National Exhibition has announced Matt Garwood from Elmvale Fall Fair (Flos Agricultural Society) as the winner of the 44th annual Ambassador of the Fairs Competition.
Garwood is the second male to ever win the title, edgeing out nearly 80 ambassadors who competed over three days at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) representing agricultural fairs across Ontario.
Local fair ambassadors Kaitlin Brown from Arthur Agricultural Society and Ashley Ferraro from Mount Forest Agricultural Society were semi finalists in the event.
The top seven finalists participated during the final round of competition Aug. 23 in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and 2014 Ambassador of the Fairs, Jodie Hooker from Dundalk and District Agricultural Society was on hand to present Garwood with his title.
The first male to have won the CNE’s Ambassador of the Fairs title was Chris Enns in 2003.
The Ambassador of the Fairs competition has been a long-standing tradition at the CNE, aimed at educating and promoting Canadian agriculture while bringing together rural and urban communities across the country.
Finalists were judged on their poise, self-confidence, public speaking and knowledge of Canadian agriculture.
As the newly-crowned 2015 CNE Ambassador of the Fairs, Garwood was slated to participate in a series of official duties during the remaining 15 days of Canada’s largest fair and will also represent his local agricultural community.
Garwood will also take home a cash award of $3,500, an all-inclusive vacation courtesy of Transat Holidays, and a number of other prizes.
First runner-up at the competition was Ashley Jeffries of the North Easthope Agricultural Society
The second runner-up was Rachael Needles of the Thorndale Agricultural Society
The Congeniality Award went to Matt Garwood of the Flos Agricultural Society
Semi Finalists included:
– Kaitlin Brown of the Arthur Agricultural Society;
– Ashley Ferraro of the Mount Forest Agricultural Society;
– Amanda Gray of the Stratford and District Agricultural Society; and
– Colleen Danner of the Wilmot Agricultural Society.
