Manitoba’s pork producers were once again vying for who could finish the best market hog and send it off to the butchers at the 2026 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
Spruce Woods Colony took top honours at this year’s pork quality luncheon, with Wellwood Colony finishing runner-up, followed by Riverside Colony — the winners of last year’s event.
Sunnyside Colony and Boundary Lane Colony rounded out the top five.
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WHY IT MATTERS: The pork quality luncheon and pork quality competition is an annual draw for Manitoba’s pork producers to come to Brandon and the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
The competition remains a highlight, even for experienced entrants, said Jason Hofer of Wellwood Colony.
The luncheon, organized in partnership with the Manitoba Pork Council, Assiniboine College, East 40 Packers and Blue Water Wash, pairs a pork-focused meal with a quality competition judged on the animals entered by producers.
As has become tradition for the event, winners also designated a charity of their choice to share in the prize money.
“We’ve won quite a few shows in the past, so we always have fun at it,” Hofer said. “It’s a good experience, it’s for charity, and that’s mainly the reason we like entering, because it’s a charitable cause.”
Wellwood Colony chose to support the Brandon Regional Health Centre this year.
“They’ve been asking for some funds they need to complete that new facility they got there, and they’ve asked for charity, so we decided we’re going to donate to them. We’ve donated lots to them before,” he said.
While a first-place finish is always the goal, placing second still feels like a win, Hofer added.
“You always want to be the winner, but you can’t always win. We’ve won our fair share of first places, and runner-up is good too.”
Producers choose charity
A key part of the event is its charitable impact, said Kristen Laing Breemersch, manager of operations and acting general manager with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, the organizing body behind the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
This year’s selected charities included the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, HEART (a Hutterite-led underwater search and rescue group) and several rural hospitals, including those in Neepawa, Souris and Portage la Prairie.
“It’s one of the aspects of our winter fair that is quite dear to me, to be able to give back to our community and give back to the people that are in need.”
Kristen Laing Breemersch
Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba
Prize money is split between producers and their chosen charities, with at least half directed to the selected organization for top-placing entries. Some winners go a step further.
This year, Laing Breemersch said, the grand champion winners donated the entire prize.
From farm to community tables
The pork itself is also put to use locally. The top two carcasses are sent to Assiniboine College to support culinary training, while the remaining product is processed and distributed to food banks and community groups with help from East 40 Packers.
Giving back is what makes the event stand out, Laing Breemersch said.
“It’s one of the aspects of our winter fair that is quite dear to me, to be able to give back to our community and give back to the people that are in need,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without the generosity and support of all of these colonies.”
