Kathleen Kelly named 2023 Shawville Fair Ambassador

Kathleen Kelly named 2023 Shawville Fair Ambassador

On Tuesday evening (August 15), the Pontiac Agricultural Society held their annual Shawville Fair Ambassador competition.

Youth from the local agricultural community compete for the title with short speeches about a chosen subject relating to the fair. There were four competitors this year: Felix Vereyken (Ag Awareness Division, Kathleen Kelly (Sheep Division), Ben Judd (4-H Division) and Mason Vereyken (Produce Division). Mason wasn’t able to attend the competition, but submitted a recorded speech instead.

Formerly known as the Miss Shawville Fair competition, the event was changed to the Ambassador competition in 2011 to be more inclusive.

Hayley and Holly Campbell, the organizers of the night, explained that the ambassadors are involved throughout the fair weekend, from the opening ceremony to helping with the logistics of various divisions or showing children around during school visits.

The judges this year were past PAS President (and Miss Shawville Fair 1997) Sara Knox and Shawville Giant Tiger manager Brandyn Gauthier.

Kathleen Kelly, a soon-to-be grade 11 student from Bristol, was named this year’s winner, accepting The Equity Rose Bowl from 2022 Ambassador Laura Mayhew. She said that she was a little surprised, as this year was her first time entering the competition.

Her speech was about the sheep division, and she said that she was excited to be showing one again this year.