Burford Fair ambassador going to the Ex
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Rosalind Slaman will be vying with about 60 other fair ambassadors from across Ontario to be crowned the Canadian National Exhibition’s Ambassador of the Fairs.
The 2018-19 Burford Fair ambassador will be travelling to Toronto for the competion, Aug. 16-18.
“It doesn’t matter if I win or don’t win,” said Slaman. “It’s really about using that weekend to go to the workshops and learn more and continue talking to passionate people in other communities to see how I can help mine.”
Slaman grew up in Burford on her family’s farm where they grew flowers. Now, her family has moved to a new farm near Paris, and is raising Angus beef cattle. Her parents, Mike and Linda Slaman, also grew up on farms.
“It doesn’t matter if you wear an ambassador sash, by being from the community and being around the community, you are an ambassador,” she said.
The CNE’s Ambassador of the Fair Competition in its 48th year. Contestants are judged on their knowledge of the Ex, agriculture and overall impressions. Finals take place Aug. 18 in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The winner will spend the next year touring Ontario’s agricultural fairs as the CNE’s representative.
“It’s really just an amazing opportunity,” said Slaman. “Primarily, it’s about having this experience and having it so I can take it back and help my fair.”
Slaman will hand over her Burford Fair title this fall ahead of the 2019 event, which is takes place over Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 11-14.
“Growing up I never missed a Burford Fair,” she said. “It was always really fun, that was what Thanksgiving always was. I spent every day at the fair.”
She began early volunteering at the fair. Her father was a volunteer firefighter and she and the other firefighters’ kids would help out with their booth.
“Don’t tell the little kids this but my siblings and I and other kids from the fire department would dress up as Sparky.”
As she grew older, she realized how much effort was put into the fair every year.
“I want to make sure this thing (the Burford Fair] happens and continues to happen,” she said.
“That means some people need to step up and get involved.”
In the last few years, she has been helping run the gates to the fair and doing odd jobs over the weekend.
Slaman won the Burford Fair title by submitting a biography, being interviewed by judges and giving a speech. Her speech was about being involved with the fair and empowering other young people to get involved in the community.
This year, the recent graduate from Waterloo University is an associate director of the fair.
She said that being a fair ambassador comes down to “passion for community.”
Slaman said she looks looks forward to the “jam-packed” weekend at the CNE and sharing her passion for agriculture.
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