By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
A home county girl captured the crown last night at the annual Queen of the Furrow Banquet held in Barrie, Ont. Celei Diebold was the outgoing Ontario Queen of the Furrow.
Laura Price of Simcoe County beat out about 30 other contestants from the across the province for the title. Queen contestants win at their county level and have a one year reign before they compete for the provincial title.
First running up was Jennifer Vanden Ouweland from Lambton County and the second runner up was Fabienne Kagi from Stormont County. The two other finalists in the top five were Morgan Roy of Frontenac Wolfe Island and Sheena Grieve of Oxford Blandford-Blenheim,
The three day competition included a program showcasing agriculture in Simcoe County, an interview with a panel of three judges, plowing, and a prepared speech. Price will spend the coming year traveling across Ontario in her new Ford Escape vehicle representing the Ontario Plowmen’s Association and promoting the 2015 International Plowing Match to be held in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Other winners of the Queen of the Furrow competition include Miss Friendship, won by Natasha-Lyne Roy of Temiskaming. Meghan Taylor from Northumberland County and Olivia Bolender from York Region were winners of the BMO Scholarship Special. Winners were selected by luck of the draw.
Top five winners for the plowing portion of the completion:
- Jordan Pederson (Wellington County)
- Laura Price (Simcoe County)
- Bonnie Ward (Durham Region)
- Valerie Stone (Brant-Six Nations)
- Laurissa Christie (Bruce County)
The final day of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo is Saturday, September 20th.
(Contributed photo: Laura Price crowed the 2014/15 Ontario Queen of the Furrow).