The Fall Fair (Here's The Scoop)

Tuesday, 01 November 2011 13:47

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Luckily, everyone has their own opinion on that time of year. No, kids, it’s not that school is back in, and your parents are dancing and rejoicing. And, obviously, it’s not Christmas, even though the Sears Wish Book is ready to be delivered! So then, what can it be?

 

It’s the upcoming annual Airdrie Fall Fair. Some of you are saying, “I have no idea what she is even talking about.” And others are saying, “I know, I have been preparing for the past several months.” The anticipation for the upcoming weekend is building for those who are intent on entering.

 

My interest was piqued in the local ‘fair’ years ago, when I was in grade school in Boissevain, Manitoba. The fair in my home town was an agricultural fair held at the end of June. It was a showing of cattle, horses, and other livestock, as well as a competition for sewing, baking, canning, produce, etc.

 

I was encouraged to enter in the fair by some community members that were volunteers on the Ag Society. The interest in the Youth Section was on the decline and so they were on a recruitment drive to encourage involvement in youngsters to enter.

 

I don’t remember needing much encouragement, as I was already doing many of the things that I could enter, like sewing, baking and crafts. Another reason that it wasn’t a tough sell was, I had competition in another farm neighbour family, the Empey’s, and the final incentive might just have been the chance to win money!

 

So all winter long, I can remember working on projects that could be entered, such as thread embroidered pillowcases, liquid embroidered table cloths, and putting together a nursery rhyme quilt. While I watched TV, my hands were kept busy preparing items for the summer. I am sure that youth today are thinking, “How boring!” but I would totally disagree!

 

We also spent time in Home Economics classes in school sewing items that could be potential projects that could be used for entries, such as pyjamas, shirts, shorts and pants.

 

As the time got closer to the Fair Day, recipe books were reviewed for the recipes that would be used for the baking items. The kitchen quickly became the centre of activity the day before the fair and early the morning of the fair. It was essential to have the ‘freshest’ baking possible. Baking ranged from pies, to buns, to decorated cakes, muffins and cookies. I am still thankful to my Mom, as she kept up with the washing of dishes, and ensuring that I heard the timer go off on the oven. (Burnt cookies didn’t really go over very well with the judges!)

 

Once all the entries have been chosen, from baking, to sewing, to produce, prepared as to the Fair book specifications (and they can be pretty fussy!), it was time to pack everything carefully into the car, and make the trip to town, to get things entered in the Fair during the allotted time. Judging took place during the day, and then, in the evening, the public could get back into the building to see who was the winner in each section. It was a mad rush to the youth area to see if my ‘competition’ had beaten me out!

 

Now, fast forward to the present. When we moved to Airdrie, I had noticed the “Fall Fair” advertised in the local newspaper, and I wondered what that was. So, off I ventured to the then Twin Arena, and that’s when I discovered that this was what I used to do when I was a kid! And I thought to myself -- I can do this again!

 

So the next year, I got the Fall Fair entry book, went through the categories and picked out the ones that I thought that I could enter into. I think that first year, I won the adult section, and the following year, I won the Grand Aggregate Trophy. My brothers asked me, “Didn’t anyone else enter?” I responded, “That’s not my fault if no one entered!”

 

The Airdrie & District Fall Fair is into its 48th year. On the trophy that I will have to relinquish, and try to re-win, there are names on it such as Bernice Price, Doris Bonner, Goldie Berreth, Marianne Hawkey, Olive Tebb, to mention a few of them, that have also been Grand Aggregate winners. I am thinking that these ladies have been longstanding Airdrie and area residents.

 

There is opportunity for everyone to enter, as there are age categories from 6 & under to senior. You can enter in categories such as baking, fine art, thread art, hobbies and crafts, vegetables, flowers, and photography. If I can get up the courage to enter, anyone can, and I really encourage you to enter. This year’s fair will be held on August 20 and 21. All the entries need to be at the Genesis Rec Centre by 1 pm on August 20, and then the general public is encouraged to view the fair on August 21 to see who the winners are. If you need information you can go to Airdrieagsociety.com or call Suzanne at 403-266-6223.

 

So, please, even if you are reading this today, you still have time to bake, as that is what I will be doing until the early hours of Saturday morning, too. The more entries in each category the more fun it is for each of the entrants. Competition of this kind can be healthy! Who knows, I even might have convinced my husband and daughter to enter into a few categories! (I just wish that my Mom lived closer so that she could keep up with the dishes!)

Written by: Phyllis McCallum-Hunter
Courtesy of: Here's The Scoop (www.heresthescoop.com)
Published: August 18, 2011