Tilbury’s Amy Natyshak has been crowned 2016-17 CNE ambassador of the Fairs at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
Tilbury’s Amy Natyshak has been crowned 2016-17 CNE ambassador of the Fairs at Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
Eighteen-year-old Natyshak was representing the Comber Agricultural Society as Miss Comber Fair 2015 and succeeded in beating out 73 other contestants. Natyshak is the first ever Miss Comber Fair to be named ambassador. The competition started on Friday, August 21 with the top seven finalists taking part in the final round on Sunday, August 21.
“When they announced that I had won, I started crying,” she said. “I think I was shocked and even afterward it was kind of like a whirlwind with the awards and meeting the sponsors. But, it definitely was very exciting.”
After three days of gruelling interviews and impromptu speeches she finally made it to the top three. The trio were each given a different question they had to answer and Natyshak’s question was: How does climate change affect rural communities? She wasn’t ready for the question but decided to focus on the drought in the area.
Natyshak is quick to dispel the notion that the competition is a beauty pageant.
“It’s not a beauty pageant at all, it’s changed over the years,” she said. “We do wear a crown and sash but it’s based on the knowledge you have on agriculture, your speaking skills and personality. It’s also a lot about how your present yourself, it’s not at all based on just beauty.”
As part of her ambassador responsibilities she will be in Toronto until September 5 doing meet and greets and attending various events and dinners.
“I’m going to be promoting the fair,” she said. “It’s a big deal for me to be named the ambassador because I will be going around to all the other agricultural fairs. It’s very exciting.”
Natyshak will be attending the University of Windsor in the fall and plans to become a teacher.
