The world’s largest annual indoor fair has a distinctly northern flavour again this year thanks to a partnership between Industry Canada, FedNor, and some enterprising businesses.
The Northern Ontario Agricultural Pavilion has been a big hit with both organizers and the public at the 2003 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, according to one Rainy River District entrepreneur.
Deb Cornell is the manager/co-owner of the Rainy River Elk Company and one of 30 reps from Northern Ontario who have exhibits at the winter fair this year.
This is the third year Cornell has made the long trek from Devlin, but said it’s all worth it because each year she finds new markets for her products.
She also has begun to network with others.
“We sell our products and interact with other northern businesses,” Cornell said from Toronto on Friday. “I’ve started doing business with half-a-dozen of them.
“I’ve met people down here who use my elk to make other products,” she noted.
Cornell said there also has been considerable interest among fair-goers in her products. She not only markets elk meat, but also skins and velvet antler, which is said to have some powerful medicinal properties.
“They’re quite interested,” she noted. “I’m often asked where they can obtain elk meat locally.”
The answer to that is at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, where an elk farmer based near Guelph is marketing some of Cornell’s product as well.
The Northern Ontario Agricultural Pavilion is a 3,500 sq. ft. area that houses all 30 northern exhibitors. It was made possible by a $185,300 grant from FedNor and the exhibitors were selected by an industry steering committee.
The FedNor funding assists with space rental, accommodation, marketing, and promotion.
Fran Duke, the initiative officer for FedNor, said there is more to the exhibit than just marketing. Education also is a major component, and the exhibitors take turns at one of the three educational sites that are provided for the public.
“They’re just great with the kids,” Duke enthused.
Cornell said up to 100 school buses came to the fair every day, so there were lots of inquiring young minds. But it’s not just students who are learning things. Some of the exhibitors have picked up a few things, too.
“There’s a chef here who specializes in northern cooking and has a clinic every day,” noted Cornell. “His name is Tom Reid and he’s called ‘The Nickel Chef.’ He’s from Sudbury.”
It seems Reid works with the exhibitors and has come up with some tasty new variations on northern fare. “I’ve got a new elk recipe I’m going to try,” Cornell remarked.
And perhaps next year the pavilion will be even bigger. At least that’s what Duke believes.
She said FedNor will try to bring even more people down from the north to show the south that agriculture up here is not only different, but in some ways it may be better.
“Next year, we intend to make it even bigger—more space, more exhibits,” Duke stressed. “We at FedNor are really committed to this thing.”
Cornell certainly hopes so. She said her business this year was even better than it was in the previous two.
“Sales are good,” she said. “Things seemed to gain momentum over the week and the last weekend should be great.
“I’m happy.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
