The TD Classic at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is one of North America’s most prestigious cattle shows. The 2025 show took place on November 7 to 16, with the TD Classic showmanship classes on November 10 and the conformation classes the next day. A team of nine Valley residents represented 4-H in Southwestern Quebec.
Ashton Bryson, Connor Bryson, Jacob Dunn, Rylee L’Écuyer, Félix Loiselle, Preston Mason, Maeve McIntyre, Mathieu Proulx, and Keith Quinn all made the trek to Toronto together on November 8.
McIntyre says, “There’s so many people, and you can always tell when there’s somebody who’s from downtown Toronto that’s walking through the barns.” The 4-Hers want to make sure that visitors have a good experience, but they do have a lot of work to get done. “So, it’s hard to balance working with telling people, ‘Please don’t touch the heifer,’ while also trying to let them take it in and ask us questions,” she adds.
Mornings bring early wake-up calls to make sure that the cows are prepared for competition. McIntyre says, “We were lucky, we slept in” on the morning of showmanship – meaning that they were awake at just 4:45 a.m. The following day, they had to be in the barn by around 4:30 a.m. Cows must be washed and groomed, dried, fed, and kept in peak condition so they are ready to be shown.
Some of the team had been to the Royal in the past, including Connor Bryson who was in his fourth year. “This year I’m actually the one who’s been at the Royal the most. I’m not the oldest, there’s two that are older, but I’ve had a lot of younger mentees, whether it’s younger kids on the team or siblings.”
Stephanie Maynard, Keith Quinn’s mother, was also at the Royal helping the team. She called it a “proud parent moment,” to see her son compete at such a high-level competition. On Facebook she wrote, “For those who may not know, this is a huge deal – kind of like making it to nationals on a sports team. The 4-H program teaches so many valuable life skills – leadership, responsibility, and independence. As part of the competition, participants are expected to handle everything themselves: planning, preparation, animal care, showing, and even fundraising.”
The team was happy to get the chance to represent their community this year. Félix Loiselle says, “It feels great to know that people trust you and allow you to go and represent your county.” McIntyre adds that “it’s really amazing because throughout the summer, we’re always competing against each other, our group, because we’re always at shows together. And now we get to come here as a team.”