On the morning of Wednesday, November 12th, Hawthorn’s LS and US climbed aboard school buses and headed downtown for Exhibition Place to experience the bustle and ballyhoo of the 103rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Upon arrival, we all went to the incredible SuperDogs show and we were absolutely amazed to see how precisely the trainers had taught their top dogs to work at herding sheep, play in shows of athleticism, and dance with humans (!). Some of us went up to pet these beautiful, talented, adorable dogs and chat with their trainers after the show.
From there, we split into grade groups and jumped into a full day of exploring the best that Canada’s finest growers, producers, and homesteaders have to offer. We met farmers and equestrians, got up close to award-winning livestock and Olympic horse competitions, and tasted exceptional food and produce. Bags of farm fresh carrots, anyone? A Butter Sculpting Showdown?
Throughout the day, we were regularly tempted by treats like Tiny Tom’s doughnuts, Dubai chocolate, and one-of-a-kind handmade local creations. Some of us took part in a cooking class at the Michelin-starred Chef’s Table and got a feel for the delicate hand required for making gnocchi.
In the small animal pavilion we were totally charmed by the friendly, cuddly goats, alpacas, donkeys, and sheep. Some of us played the ‘Spin to Win’ game – and everyone won a prize! We had the chance to sample local treats from passionate growers, artisanal makers, and small-batch producers. Vendors were so friendly to us and we loved meeting them. The earthiness of barnyards, freshly harvested vegetables, and delicious home-cooked foods replaced the ‘parfum de Toronto’ that usually surrounds us.
Truly, there were more sights, sounds, smells, and activities than any one person could hope to absorb in a day. We sometimes got a bit lost, literally, but we always stuck with our friends and eventually, thankfully, found our way back to the group (phew!). Overall, we were so excited to bond with each other through this unique, fun-filled excursion to such a huge variety of different Ontario experiences all in one place.
Thank you, Hawthorn, for bringing The Royal to life for us. We loved it all!
