Grand Champion Best Burger contest winner also announced
The 73rd annual Carleton County Spring Show & Sale (CCSSS) was held at the Northern Carleton Civic Centre on April 6 to 8. One of the region’s most anticipated agricultural events, 49 animals were exhibited and auctioned during the two-day event, drawing farmers, buyers, and spectators alike.
The event opened with the weighing and tagging event, followed by the 4-H judging competition on Monday, April 6, featuring Western District 4-H Market Beef Project members and open show exhibitors, all vying for the title of Grand Champion.
On Tuesday, April 7, the day began with 4-H Showmanship classes, 4-H Breed classes, and Open Breed classes. This year’s show saw a record number of entries, with the Grand Champion prize being awarded to Black’s Cattle Co. and Waken Hill Cattle for their Crossbred.
Debec 4-H Club member Cassi Boot was awarded Reserve Grand Champion for her Simmental. The animals were then auctioned off on Wednesday, April 8, raising a total of $549,872 in revenue, the largest amount in the event’s history.
Andrea Callahan, CCSSS Secretary-Treasurer, said the event has been growing steadily since 2021.
“Beef industry promotion and education have always been top priorities of the CCSSS Board of Directors, and in 2021, we incorporated the Grand Champion Best Burger Contest into the lead up to the main event,” said Callahan.
The inaugural year had six participating Carleton County restaurants. This year, that number grew to fourteen. The winning restaurant for 2026 was The Canopy in Florenceville-Bristol. Unit XIII in Hartland took Champion Reserve.
Callahan also noted that their board directors have been working hard to increase awareness of the event and the importance of supporting local beef producers.
“We have experienced an increase in the number of buyers opting to have the animals that they purchase at our sale processed for their own consumption. Buying local and supporting local is truly the goal of the hard work put forth by our exhibitors and our Board of Directors,” she explained.
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