KAMSACK — Despite it having been a “difficult year” for gardening, the judge of the annual Kamsack and District Horticultural Association’s annual show said she was still “very pleased” with the flowers, fruits and vegetables which district gardeners selected to exhibit.
Held in the OCC Hall in Kamsack on Aug. 14, the show included 204 exhibits by 10 adult members of the association plus two junior exhibitors.
“We’re down slightly from last year when we had 251 exhibits,” said Cindy Koreluik, Association president. “But it is comparable to the number we had in 2024.”
“It is because of the weather,” said Karen Pfeifer, a member of the association, who was also the show’s judge. “First it was cold, and then wet and then much too much water and then very hot temperatures.
“The conditions were just not good for quality displays, so we were down in the number of exhibits,” Pfeifer said. “I had to judge leniently.
“The Kamsack Association is always appreciative of anyone showing their flowers, fruits and vegetables and members are willing to teach gardeners how to show exhibits.”
Pfeifer said that she judged all the classes except the concoctions, creations, photography and quilts class, which includes baked goods and preserves, because she said taste is subjective. She obtained a group of judges for that class and a consensus was reached as to which exhibitor received ribbons.
“That’s in the name of fairness,” she said.
The judge co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan Horticulture Society, Pfeifer, who has been a judge of horticulture shows for 18 years, said that there are very few judged horticultural shows remaining in the province, and regionally, there are no longer judged horticulture shows at Norquay and Sturgis and the show in Yorkton is a non-judged exhibition.
Although the prime blooming season for many of the flowers in the area is over by now, some exhibits were very impressive, she said, mentioning the cabbages shown by Cindy Koreluik.
“I’ve been gardening for 52 years, and I’ve never had such a rotten garden as I did this year,” she said.
With a total of 245 points, Eleanor Lenderbeck of San Clara, Man., was the recipient of the show’s grand aggregate trophy. Cindy Koreluik, with 99 points, placed second, and Bernice Makowsky, with 91, was in third place.
Lenderbeck received the most points in the houseplants, annual cut flowers, perennials and flower arranging classes. Margie Popoff topped the roses class; Vicky Koreluik, the gladiolas class; Bernice Makowsky, floral art, and Cindy Koreluik, the fruit and vegetables classes.
A committee of volunteers selected Karen Pfeifer as the winner of the concoctions, creations, photography and quilts class, while the junior flower, fruit and vegetable category was won by the Victoria School gardeners, and June Chernoff won the horticulture pot contest.
