It’s the annual 170th Harrow Fair this weekend and there’s lots to cock-a-doodle-do, including the traditional rooster and people crowing contests.
The fair’s poultry committee chair, Luke Korcok, says that the crowing contests have been part of the Harrow Fair for the last 25 years. While he doesn’t remember how exactly they got introduced to the long-weekend fun, Korcok says the contests are some of his favourite to take in.
“I love to have the birds, I like to listen to them and I like to watch them,” he said.
The rooster crowing contest is specifically judged on how much the rooster crows in a certain amount of time, so sometimes Korcok says roosters that are entered don’t even let out a sound.
According to Korcok, a person can do a great rooster crow if they have a clear throat and get a good night’s sleep.
“Most of the time it’s how rested you feel, if you’re very tired, you’re not going to crow very well,” he said.
And the judges aren’t looking for you to wing it.
“We like the entertainment factor, so we like the people who get … involved in it, with the pawing of their feet, boasting out their chest … and trying to be as loud as possible, as accurate as possible,” said Chris Ortner, one of the judges for the rooster and people crowing contests.
“I like when everybody gets together and everybody cheers each other on and it’s a very, very friendly competition.”
WATCH: Here are some tips to perfect your rooster crow
This Labour Day weekend, local roosters will be put to the test in the Harrow Fair’s annual rooster crowing competition. But if you were feeling left out and wanted to get in on the action, you can enter the fair’s “people-crowing” contest. The CBC’s Jennifer La Grassa gave it her best shot, speaking with Luke Korcok, a member of the fair’s poultry committee and Chris Ortner, one of contest’s judges, about their best tips for an award-winning crow.
In case you don’t usually flock to the poultry barn, there are many other activities you can enjoy.
The fair also includes a parade, dairy cattle judging, bingo with cows and a tractor pull. There’s a full schedule of all the events on their website.
The Harrow Fair runs until Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
