Winning Malting Barley Growers Announced for 2004 Barley Quality Competition
For the second year in a row, Saskatchewan producers Ron and Glenda St. John of Kindersley have been recognized for their award-winning malting barley during the 2004 Malting Barley Quality Competition (MBQC).
The competition, put on by the Barley Development Council (BDC), recognized the couple as the provincial winners in 2004 for two row malting barley in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In addition, the St. Johns were selected as Grand Champions in the annual Malting Barley Quality Competition. Keith and Kelvin Waker of Swift Current were selected as the runners-up for two row malting barley in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Two-row malting barley winners in Alberta are Robert and Linda Johnson of Milk River, and runners-up are John and Joan Mezei of Bow Island. The Mezeis are previous Grand Champions (2002) and district winners (2003). No six-row winners were named this year. Barley industry experts judged all entries received to choose provincial winners and runners-up. The grand champion was identified from the two provincial winners. Due to the very late harvest and therefore late arrival of entries, no district winners were identified for 2004.
During the week of March 13-19, 2005, the winners will be honored at an awards luncheon in Winnipeg and will participate in industry tours in the city before departing for Halifax on March 16th for further industry visits.
“Canada’s brewers congratulate the winners of this prestigious event,” said Mr. Kim Crouse, Chair of the Brewers of Canada Barley Working Group. “Canada’s brewers appreciate that there were particular challenges this year especially because of the late harvest. We are grateful for the continued interest by Western barley growers in harvesting the finest malting barley in the world. Obviously, Canada’s brewers depend on this dedication to ensure we are able to keep producing the world’s best beers. I also want to acknowledge and thank all entrants for their involvement and to wish them success in next year’s competition.”
“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’re very pleased to be able to recognize the top malting barley producers in western Canada for 2004, which was another very challenging year. The malting and brewing industries depend upon quality barley for quality in their products.”
The Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI), a strong promoter of Canadian field crops domestically and internationally, is organizing the winners’ program for the 2004 MBQC and is proud to be involved with the BDC in the promotion and organization of the competition.
Sponsors of the 2004 Malting Barley Quality Competition include:
Gold – The Brewers of Canada and Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute;
Silver – Agricore United, Canadian Grain Commission, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, Canadian Wheat Board and Prairie Malt Limited;
Bronze – BARI-Canada Inc., Cargill Ag Horizons, Quality Assured Seeds, Rahr Malting Canada, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, SeCan Association, Seed-Ex Inc.
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 more information, please contact:
Dr. Erin Armstrong
Chair, Malting Barley Quality Competition Committee
Telephone: 204-927-1407
E-mail: info@bmbri.ca
