Grand champion and provincial winners named in 2003 Malting Barley Quality Competition

James and Eileen Stanger of Drumheller, Alberta are the grand champion and two-row winners for Alberta/B.C. in this year’s Malting Barley Quality Competition (MBQC) held by the Barley Development Council (BDC). The provincial two-row winners for Saskatchewan are Ron and Glenda St. John from Kindersley with Ed and Jane Fielder from Spalding selected as the six-row winners for Saskatchewan. The provincial two-row winners for Manitoba are Tom and Laureen Fingas from Inglis and the Manitoba six-row winner is Sean Katchin from Angusville. No six-row winner was named for Alberta/B.C.

“On behalf of our member companies, we congratulate the champion and the provincial winners of this prestigious event”, said Margo Dewar of the Brewers of Canada. “Canada’s brewers are grateful to all malting barley producers for their continued support and dedication to growing the highest quality malting barley in the world. A toast to the best of the best!”

The grand champion and provincial winners were announced at the MBQC district winners program at Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 24, 2003. Barley industry experts judged the 14 district winners’ entries to choose the grand champion and provincial winners.

“Congratulations to all the winners!” said President and CEO of the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute and MBQC committee chair, Dr. Erin Armstrong. “We were delighted with the quality of entries in this year’s competition, which is held to recognize the top malting barley producers in Western Canada. The malting and brewing industries depend upon this barley to make top quality malt and beer.”

The provincial winners and grand champion are invited to tour malting barley facilities in Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, B.C. in early March 2004.

The Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI), a strong promoter of Canadian field crops domestically and internationally, is organizing all winners’ programs in the 2003 MBQC and is proud to be involved with the BDC in the promotion and organization of the competition.

Sponsors of the 2003 Malting Barley Quality Competition include: Gold – The Brewers of Canada and Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute; Silver – Agricore United, Canadian Grain Commission, Canadian Wheat Board and Prairie Malt Limited; Bronze – A.C. Toepfer (Canada) Ltd., BARI-Canada Inc., Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, Cargill Ag Horizons, Quality Assured Seeds, SeCan Association, Seed-Ex Inc.; and Supporter – Hetland Seeds, N.M. Paterson & Sons Limited, North East Terminal, Parrish & Heimbecker, Ltd., Pioneer Grain Company Ltd., Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and South West Terminal.

The Barley Development Council is an umbrella organization that includes representatives from all aspects of the barley and malting industry in Western Canada. Its goal is to promote development of the western Canadian barley industry.

For further information contact:
Dr. Erin Armstrong
Chair, Malting Barley Quality Competition Committee
Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute
Phone: (204) 927-1407
E-mail: info@bmbri.ca