End ‘inhumane’ sheep, calf-wrangling events at Royal Manitoba Winter Fair: animal advocates

Signs of Manitoba’s deep agricultural roots are everywhere, but some animal advocates say traditions and events that may put animals in harm’s way are better left in the past.

The Winnipeg Humane Society wants to see next week’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair nix the “inhumane” sheep wrangling and calf scramble events.

“There’s potential for injury to the animals as well as injury to the children,” said WHS animal welfare specialist Brittany Semeniuk. “And there’s no educational value to these events, so it’s hard to justify them in 2024.”

The humane society is asking the public to contact organizers of the event and call for the slots to be cancelled, describing them as cruel and inhumane.

“These events rely on these animals being in a frenzied state,” Semeniuk said.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair takes place in Brandon, Man., from March 25-30.

The WHS argues the wrangling and scramble events put young animals in harm’s way, as they are being chased around and ridden. The young animals are thrust into a bright, unfamiliar space, and distressed further when the chase begins, they say.

“These animals do not have a choice,” said Semeniuk. “They have no say in the matter.”

“Calves and sheep are prey animals who experience fear, pain, and distress, as well as are put at risk of physical harm during such events,” the WHS wrote in a social media post.

But Winter Fair officials say animal welfare and safety is a top priority, stressing all of the events are closely monitored. They add it’s offensive to accuse livestock producers of putting their animals at risk willingly.

“The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba has animal welfare and safety practices at the very top of our operational mandate,” said Mark Humphries, general manager of the organization the hosts the fair.

Humphries says there will be animal protection officers at the fair to ensure animals are treated properly. He adds no violations were reported last year.

He says these events showcase and educate people on farm practices at a time when people’s relationship to their food is dissolving.

“We take it very seriously that we need to educate, and to show basic farming practices and how that happens,” he said. “And obviously, contact with animals is a daily occurrence.”

While Humphries says he respects the work the humane society does, he wishes they had reached out directly with concerns before publicly criticizing the event.

And while the Winnipeg Humane Society is not calling for a boycott of the fair, they say people should educate themselves before taking part in these events – as a spectator or participant.

“For those concerned, please write to The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, requesting the cruel sheep wrangling and calf scramble events be removed from the event schedule in favor of humane activities that do not subject animals to unnecessary suffering,” the WHS wrote on social media.