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Never Seen a Cattle Show Before? Start Here.
If you're curious about what happens at a cattle show, here is your guide to understanding the breeds, competitions, and championships that make Farmfair International one of Canada's premier livestock events.
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What Happens at Farmfair?
Farmfair International features purebred beef breeds--not dairy cattle, and not commercial animals (which have genetics from more than one breed).
In Canada, there are about 30 registered cattle breeds in Canada. At Farmfair International, you'll see about 15 different beef breeds.
Exhibitors from across Canada bring their top beef animals to compete in breed and multibreed shows.
Over the four days, FFI typically hosts eleven different breed shows and one All Other Breed Shows (which features animals with too small a number to have their own show). Exhibitors also have opportunities to win at additional multi-breed shows.
Judges evaluate cattle based on factors like structure, soundness, muscling, balance, and volume. This is called "conformation." Each breed has a "standard of perfection" that judges use to assess the animals in the ring.
On the last day of Farmfair, male and female champions from each breed compete for top honours (and large monetary prizes!) in the Supreme.
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Understand The Breeds
The breeds that show at Farmfair are the most common beef breeds in Canada. Each breed has a representative on the committee that plans Farmfair each year.
Black Angus
Are famous for their solid black coat, and admired for their maternal traits, adaptability, and high-quality beef. It has the largest representation at Farmfair International.
Red Angus
Are known for their red coat colour and strong commercial appeal. They share many of the same qualities as Black Angus.
Hereford
One of the world's most established beef breeds, are recognizable by their red bodies and white faces.
Charolais
Cattle were originally developed in France and are known for their white or cream-coloured coats, size, and growth performance.
Simmental
Cattle are known for their versatility, muscle development, and maternal characteristics. They originated in Switzerland.
Limousin
Originated in France and are known for efficiency, muscle expression, and lean beef production.
Maine-Anjou
Is a larger-framed breed recognized for growth, performance, and eye-catching show cattle.
Gelbvieh
Cattle are known for fertility, longevity, and strong maternal traits. They perform well in commercial and purebred operations.
Speckle Park
Were developed in western Canada, and are easily identified by their distinctive spotted colouring and efficient performance.
Shorthorn
Is one of the oldest beef breeds, Shorthorns are valued for their adaptability, maternal qualities, and balanced performance.
Salers
Originated in France and are known for calving ease, longevity, and hardiness. The World Salers Show will be at Farmfair International in 2027.
Other Breeds
Showcases the diversity and strength of the beef industry, including breeds like Braunvieh, Blonde d'Aquitane, Galloway, Highland, and even Wagyu.
Understanding the Competition
Breed Shows
Each breed competes separately, with animals judged against others of their same sex and age.
Breed Champions
After a series of classes based on sex and age, each breed selects a champion female and champion bull.
Supreme Championship
Farmfair culminates with the supreme, where bull and female breed champions compete to be crowned most prestigious title at Farmfair International. A panel of five judges selects the winners with a slap.
Junior Supreme
Farmfair International draws junior champions from qualifying shows throughout the province, including Farmfair International. It is a fantastic opportunity for these young producers to showcase their topnotch cattle and showmanship skills.
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Why it Matters
Farmfair International is more than a competition. It is a showcase of genetics, years of breeding decisions, animal husbandry, and the future of the beef industry. Producers, buyers, agriculture professionals, and visitors all come together to celebrate excellence in Canadian agriculture.
Here are some of the numbers from Farmfair International 2025:
$20.4 million in economic impact
40,299 visitors
17,551 hotel rooms
90 international delegates
12 countries represented
270 western Canadian ranches
1154 cattle entries
158 volunteers
1617 volunteer hours
27 partners/sponsors
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Three Ways to Watch And learn
Not sure where to start? Farmfair offers several ways for visitors to learn more about cattle and the people who raise them.
1) Visit the Ag Education Zone
Explore interactive exhibits focused on agriculture, food production, animal care, and life on the farm. Perfect for families, students, and anyone curious about where their food comes from.
2) Take a Barn Tour
Go behind the scenes and discover what goes into preparing cattle for competition. Learn about grooming, feeding, genetics, daily care, and what judges look for in the show ring.
When it is not their show day, some exhibitors are happy to answer questions about their cattle, breeding programs, and what it takes to compete at Farmfair International. On show days, however, exhibitors will be working hard from the early morning hours and should not be interrupted. Take a cue from your barn tour guides and stay out of their way.
3) Watch a Cattle Show
Visitors can spend as much time as they like, watching a cattle show, listening to the announcers, hearing judges comments. It can be hard to follow if you are not an expert, but grab the judging sheet and it helps a lot! It's chilly at the show ring and in the barns, so dress warmly.
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Want to See the Action?
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