The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is planning to hold yet another cruel calf scramble event this year—despite concerns expressed by Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Office (CVO), animal protection organizations, and hundreds of citizens.
In calf scrambles, teens and young adults chase, grab, and wrestle young cows in a loud arena, causing the animals a great deal of fear and distress. Under provincial laws, it’s illegal to cause distress and suffering to animals for the sake of entertainment.
Animal Justice and the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) have filed a formal complaint with the CVO, urging the Fair and law enforcement authorities to cancel the scramble. The groups also have the support of the Brandon Humane Society.
Authorities Warn Fair Organizers About Animal Cruelty
In a letter from March 2024, obtained by Animal Justice through a Freedom of Information request, the CVO explicitly urged the Fair to “carefully assess” whether the calf scramble aligns with current animal welfare standards and its own mission. While the CVO unfortunately chose not to intervene to stop the scramble in this case, it did express serious concern about whether animal scramble events align with animal welfare standards in the province.
The Fair organizers have decided to run the calf scramble event yet again this year, despite the blatant suffering it causes baby cows, and its likely violation of animal cruelty laws.
Fair Cancelled Cruel Events in the Past
Animal scrambles involve children or young adults chasing, wrestling, and grabbing at terrified young animals. In 2022, the Fair cancelled its pig and calf scramble events following complaints filed by Animal Justice and the WHS with law enforcement, and after hundreds of concerned citizens spoke out against this cruelty. The Fair decided not to go through with the events and replaced them with kinder activities that didn’t place animals or children at risk.
But in 2024, the calf scramble came back, under the new name “Barnyard Challenge”—a vague rebrand that masks the cruelty involved. Footage from last year shows frightened animals running and struggling as teens and young adults chase and grab them in a loud arena. The Barnyard Challenge is still on the event lineup for 2025. The Fair alo held a sheep wrangling, or “mutton bustin’” competition in 2024 but thankfully that archaic event does not appear on this year’s lineup.
The #RoyalManitobaWinterFair is planning to hold another cruel calf scramble event this year. Under provincial laws, it’s ILLEGAL to cause distress & suffering to animals for the sake of entertainment! 🐮⚠️ Share on X
Stop Royal Manitoba Winter Fair’s Calf Scramble
Similar events have been cancelled at fairs in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick due to the unlawful suffering they inflict on animals. Please join us in shutting down the abusive and likely illegal calf scramble at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair!
Banner: Tim Smith | Brandon Sun
