CORNWALL, Ontario – Fabienne Kagi, Stormont County’s Queen of the Furrow, is looking to extend her reign as International Plowing Match royalty.
For more than half a century the Queen of the Furrow has been an important part of the IPM. Encouraging leadership in the agricultural industry, the first coronation took place in Elgin County in 1960.
This important tradition will continue at the 2015 Stormont Dundas Glengarry IPM and Rural Expo in Finch, from September 22 to 26.
During their reign, Queens of the Furrow act as ambassadors promoting agriculture in their region and representing their county at the IPM each autumn. Young women 18 to 24 years of age are judged on their plowing skills, public speaking and on the outcome of an interview process.
Stormont’s current queen, Fabienne Kagi, represented her county at the 2014 IPM in Ivy, Simcoe County last September placing second runner up. She competed and retained her title at the county match in October and will vie for the provincial title once again in Finch at the 2015 IPM.
A 4H Calf Club member for 12 years and a Stormont Holstein Club director, she has shown dairy heifers at local and regional shows, winning an All Canadian nomination for her 4H calf a few years ago.
“I was very proud of that nomination and still own that cow,” said Kagi.
She continues to show daughters of that cow at both regional and national levels.
It has been a particularly busy year for the Stormont Queen with added responsibilities and expectations given the 2015 IPM will be held in SDG.
During her two-year reign as Stormont Queen of the Furrow, Kagi has spent many hours volunteering and promoting agriculture. She looks for any opportunity to promote the event, including driving the 2015 IPM demo car at the Stormont County Fair Demolition Derby.
“I am both excited and proud to have the IPM here in SDG,” she said. “Something like this doesn’t happen every day and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Earlier this year she took on the role of chairperson of the IPM Farm Shows Committee. Organizing volunteers and looking after the logistics of putting information displays at farm shows, fairs and special events is a demanding and time consuming job in the months leading up to the match.
Helping to make the 2015 IPM a success is doubly important as the match really is in Fabienne’s own backyard. The farm north of Finch has been her home since she moved there with her family from Switzerland when she was three months old. The Kagis, Holstein breeders and cash croppers, are one of seven farm families providing acreage for the 1,100-acre IPM site.
Kagi obtained both an advanced business-accounting diploma from St. Lawrence College and a Bachelor of business administration, from Laurentian University in just four and a half years. Currently working for a public accounting firm, she continues to seek options to advance her career and obtain additional accreditations.
Kagi appreciates the professional networking opportunities of the Queen of the Furrow competition. She also enjoys attending events and acting as an agricultural ambassador in her own county and on the provincial level. But the best perk is the young women she meets.
“One of my best friends today is a queen I met from Peterborough County over two years ago,” she said.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/2015ipm.
