KAWARTHA LAKES-The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) crowned its 2026 Ambassador of the Fairs, Olivia Avery from Lindsay Agricultural Society in the Kawartha Lakes.
Sixty contestants travelled from across Ontario to compete at the CNE, with seven semi-finalists selected to participate in the final round on Sunday, August 23. Finalists were interviewed and judged on a wide range of criteria including knowledge of the CNE and Canadian agriculture, poise, leadership, self-confidence, public speaking and overall impression.
As the newly minted winner of the 2026 CNE Ambassador of the Fairs, Olivia will receive a cash prize of $3,500 and participate in a series of official duties at Canada’s largest fair over the next two weeks including special appearances, while also representing her local
agricultural community. The exclusive year-long role of Ambassador of the Fairs will take her across Ontario as a representative of the CNE and all agricultural fairs in the province.
The first runner-up was Jared Hunter from Kingston Agricultural Society, one of only four males to compete in this year’s competition, who also notably received the Congeniality Award, voted by fellow contestants. Kymberly Farmer from Six Nations Agricultural
Society was named second runner-up in the CNE’s longstanding annual competition dating back more than 50 years.
The CNE was founded as an agricultural fair, and today, continues to
offer programming that aims to educate and celebrate Canada’s rich
history in agriculture and honour the Fair’s agricultural roots.
The competition is open to both young women and men from agricultural
societies across Ontario; and has seen more than 3,000 contestants from
over 100 communities since the very first CNE Ambassador of the Fairs
competition in 1972, won by Debby Carter-Wood from Richmond Hill.
