Fair ambassador prepares for CNE competition
By Chad Ingram
Last
year’s Kinmount Fair ambassador is ramping up for the ambassador
competition at this summer’s Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
year’s Kinmount Fair ambassador is ramping up for the ambassador
competition at this summer’s Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
Growing
up and living in Bobcaygeon until he moved away to attend university,
John Dewhurst told the Times he was always fascinated with the
Bobcaygeon Fair.
up and living in Bobcaygeon until he moved away to attend university,
John Dewhurst told the Times he was always fascinated with the
Bobcaygeon Fair.
“It
was something I looked forward to as a kid,” says the 22-year-old, who
just completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University
of Waterloo and is set to undertake graduate studies in math at the
University of Guelph this fall. While when he was younger he was
attracted mostly to the entertainment and the midway, “As I got older, I
came to appreciate more of the livestock stuff,” he says. While
Dewhurst doesn’t have an agricultural background himself, agriculture is
something he’s come to learn more about in recent years.
was something I looked forward to as a kid,” says the 22-year-old, who
just completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University
of Waterloo and is set to undertake graduate studies in math at the
University of Guelph this fall. While when he was younger he was
attracted mostly to the entertainment and the midway, “As I got older, I
came to appreciate more of the livestock stuff,” he says. While
Dewhurst doesn’t have an agricultural background himself, agriculture is
something he’s come to learn more about in recent years.
His inaugural visit to the Kinmount Fair was about five years ago, and he was impressed at the scope of its offerings.
“It’s
quite large for being in such a small town,” Dewhurst says. Taking
place each Labour Day Weekend, the Kinmount Fair is one of the largest
fairs in the province, attracting thousands upon thousands of visitors
each year.
quite large for being in such a small town,” Dewhurst says. Taking
place each Labour Day Weekend, the Kinmount Fair is one of the largest
fairs in the province, attracting thousands upon thousands of visitors
each year.
Since
that first visit, Dewhurst has become a volunteer with the fair,
helping with a number of programs. He also helped fair organizers to
come up with the fair’s new website.
“During the fair, I’m on the ground, helping,” he says.
that first visit, Dewhurst has become a volunteer with the fair,
helping with a number of programs. He also helped fair organizers to
come up with the fair’s new website.
“During the fair, I’m on the ground, helping,” he says.
Dewhurst was the lone entrant in last year’s Kinmount Fair ambassador contest, essentially being acclaimed to the role.
“They
didn’t have any interest in their ambassador program,” he says, adding
he thinks that’s too bad, since the experience allows an opportunity to
work on one’s public speaking, as well as make connections with people
around the province. Dewhurst also notes that contestants need not
necessarily be residents of Kinmount, and that the local competition
includes a larger area encapsulating areas such as Fenelon Falls and
Bobcaygeon.
“It’s a pretty big geographic area,” he says.
didn’t have any interest in their ambassador program,” he says, adding
he thinks that’s too bad, since the experience allows an opportunity to
work on one’s public speaking, as well as make connections with people
around the province. Dewhurst also notes that contestants need not
necessarily be residents of Kinmount, and that the local competition
includes a larger area encapsulating areas such as Fenelon Falls and
Bobcaygeon.
“It’s a pretty big geographic area,” he says.
As
part of being the ambassador for the Kinmount Fair, Dewhurst gets to
attend a convention by the Ontario Association of Agricultural
Societies, in addition to his appearance at the CNE. The agricultural
competition at this year’s exhibition runs Aug. 16 to 18.
part of being the ambassador for the Kinmount Fair, Dewhurst gets to
attend a convention by the Ontario Association of Agricultural
Societies, in addition to his appearance at the CNE. The agricultural
competition at this year’s exhibition runs Aug. 16 to 18.
Contestants
must give a one-minute speech, choosing from a list of topics they are
presented with, as well as an “elevator speech,” promoting themselves
and the reasons why they should be made CNE ambassador. They are also
interviewed by a panel of judges.
must give a one-minute speech, choosing from a list of topics they are
presented with, as well as an “elevator speech,” promoting themselves
and the reasons why they should be made CNE ambassador. They are also
interviewed by a panel of judges.
Such
competitions are traditionally populated largely with female
contestants, and Dewhurst is asked if he believes being one of the few
male competitors – there are three in this year’s CNE, he says – might
give him some kind of advantage.
competitions are traditionally populated largely with female
contestants, and Dewhurst is asked if he believes being one of the few
male competitors – there are three in this year’s CNE, he says – might
give him some kind of advantage.
“It
certainly is something, you don’t see as many of them,” he says, but
adds he thinks it bears no real advantage and that ultimately, it comes
down to the answers participants give the judges. “I wish everyone luck
that’s going.”
