Last week, Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair kicked off its 103rd celebration of agrarian splendour inside the vast halls of Exhibition Place. Over its ten-day run, the world’s largest indoor agricultural and equestrian extravaganza—set in the heart of a traffic-burdened metropolis—offers a cornucopia of legacy entertainment, including old-fashioned horse shows, farm-to-table cuisine, pony races and petting farms.
The fair is a living piece of history in a city often tripping over itself to progress. The tradition draws generations of families who return each year for a close-up glimpse of rural Canada: its prized livestock, its farm-fresh bounty, and the people who raise, grow and care for both. In an age of scrolling, the Royal stands as a reminder of what’s real, rooted and (fingers crossed) enduring. Below, some of the faces who keep that legacy alive.
While many nine-year-old boys were at home battling the Ender Dragon, Gavin Jones spent months raising and preparing his heifer for competition. The Jones family has been competing at the Royal for two decades
Canadian actor, singer and equestrian Amber Marshall—star of the CBC ranch drama Heartland—saddles up with a smile, gearing up to host the Royal Rodeo, featuring pole bending, bronc riding and bull riding
Jored DeBruin, 25, has been working on dairy farms since he was 11. Pictured here feeding a calf, he’s now the dairy herd manager at Pinehill Dairy. DeBruin stopped by the Royal to care for the cows featured in the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s interactive and educational exhibit, the School of Moo
Japanese expat Kiyoshi Kamei moved to Beeton, Ontario, in 1973. After working for a decade as a farmhand on local dairy farms, he started perfecting his craft as a hoof trimmer. One of few who still work entirely by hand, Kamei insists that trimming is a fine art, best left unmechanized
As a devoted member of the 4-H Goat Club, where kids “learn to do by doing,” J. Inrig leans in for a few cuddles before it’s time to show what he’s learned in the ring
Ten-year-old Sophie Cameron strikes a confident pose with her beautiful Shetland pony, Olney Victor. This year marks the return of the Shetland pony race, which hasn’t been held since 2018, and Cameron is clearly shooting for the stars
As head chef of Restaurant Pearl Morissette, Eric Robertson knows a thing or two about dining in the heart of agriculture. This year the Michelin-star winning chef participates in the Royal’s series the Chef’s Table, which includes daily cooking classes and a dining series, showcasing the very best in Canadian culinary talent.
Meet Fluffy, an angora goat whose charm makes a strong case for the absolute necessity of the Royal’s petting farm
Hundreds of volunteers descend on the fairgrounds each year to help the Royal live up to its name, but few have the history and devotion of Harold Sifton, who first attended the fair with his grandmother in 1963. Thirty years later, he donned his volunteer’s cap—and he hasn’t taken it off since, spending decades helping to keep the Royal running smoothly for generations of fairgoers
The man behind the bounty: CEO Cyrus Cooper
Thirteen-year-old Quinley Harpell and her family’s cow, Mulan, are from Kerwood, Ontario. They’re at the Royal as part of the Beef Education Centre, educating visitors about Highland cattle, one of the oldest breeds in the world.
