Growing by over 30+ booths from last year and adding a carcass and BBQ rib competition made the two-day event a good place to be.

“The second installment of the Alberta Livestock Expo was a success,” states Chris Tokaruk creator of the now annual show in Lethbridge.

A solid turn out of producers came from Saskatchewan, Montana and Alberta. The vibe in the room was positive, even with the prices lower.

One of the many exhibitors NRCB, was on site with their farm display, which was built by the staff and family members from Lethbridge office.

Maple Leaf in Lethbridge, currently celebrating 20 years in Pork in their Lethbridge plant, was happy to help with the Pork Quality competition.

In the Pork Quality Competition there were twenty-two entries, all current customers or suppliers to Maple Leaf in Lethbridge. Contestants were: Albion Ridge Colony, Armada Farming, Baker Farming Co Ltd, Big Bend Farming, Bluegrass Colony Farming Co Ltd, Delco Farming Co, East Raymond Farming Co, Elm Spring Farming Co, Ewelme Colony, Fairlane Farming Co, Green Wood Farming, Hutterville Colony, Keho Lake Colony, Kingsland Farming, Lakeside Colony Farming Co Ltd, New York Farming, Parkland Colony, Rosedale Colony, Spring Point Colony Barn A, Spring Point Colony Barn B, Starbrite Farming and Whitelake Colony were the 22 participants of the Pork Quality Competition in 2018.

Ralph Miller, one of the judges said, the top two had perfect scores and the tie was broken by examining the loin to pick the best.

Miller added, “Carcasses were judged blind, as the tattoo was not revealed to us until the loins and bellies of each hog were scored.” Plant Manager Severin Habetler, Plant General Supervisor Rodney Hanson, along with Jim Bourret and Ralph Miller, completed the hard job of judging.

The cooler to display the winning carcasses was built and donated by Greenwood Colony.

Another addition to this year’s show was the Beef Rib BBQ Competition, teams spent hours basting, smoking to prefect the best taste. Judges Ralph Tuck, Glenn Kuhn and Doug Richards had the hard job to decide which were the best. Categories included flavour, texture (exterior), appearance, tenderness (interior), overall.

Those in attendance anxiously awaited the results for the Xavier Temple Award for Excellence in Pork Quality. The winners were 3rd Place – Ewelme Colony with 66 points, 2nd Place – Elm Spring Colony 70 points and 1st Place to Big Bend Colony also with 70 points tie broken with more abundant marbling. Immediately following the announcement of the winners a live auction took place, with all proceeds to Ronald McDonald House Charities Southern & Central Alberta.

The auctioneering duties were handled by Erik Dunsbergen of Picture Butte Auction Mart.

1st Place – Big Bend Colony (auctioned off for $4500 to Standard Nutrition)

2nd Place – Elm Spring Colony (auctioned off $3000 to J&R Livestock)

3rd Place – Ewelme Colony (auctioned off for $32,000 to Masterfeeds) making a grand total of $39,500

For Ronald McDonald House Charities.

However another big winner was the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, which will receive 93 cartons for a total of 1,860 pork tenderloins, an approximate total of 1800 kgs.

With the growth of Alberta Livestock Expo from its first to second year the organizing committee is excited to share the next five years dates are booked. Mark October 9 & 10, 2019 on your calendars for the third annual Alberta Livestock Expo. •

— By Laurie Brandly