Airdrie Fall Fair A Success (Airdrie City View)
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 14:10
The Airdrie & District Ag Society held another successful fall fair despite introducing new rules and categories and moving to a new location, Aug. 21.
“It was fabulous,” said Brenda Moon, president of the Ag Society. “We had two new categories this year, which were really well received. The judges were absolutely impressed with not only the number of entries, but also the quality of the product.”
The two new categories included awards for the youngest and oldest exhibitors and the Donna McKinnon Memorial Family Award. McKinnon was a long time member of the Ag Society, who passed away this past winter. The prize will be given annually to the family who wins the most awards.
The family award was presented to Anton and Carla Ehrenreich and their three daughters, Heidi, Zoë and Emma. The entire family participated in the fair, with Anton submitting his photography, Carla displaying her home-grown vegetables and the girls exhibiting their homemade crafts.
“We’re very happy and proud,” Carla Ehrenreich. “(The girls) were really excited, and they keep telling me how they can’t wait for next year.”
The Ehrenreich’s have only been in Airdrie for two years, but have participated in the fair both years. Fall fairs are quite familiar to Carla.
“It reminds me of my childhood. I used to go to fall fairs all the time when I was a kid, but we never entered,” Ehrenreich said.
“I always helped my parents garden, and we were a very crafty family. I really want to encourage (my kids) to grow things, learn about where the vegetables they eat come from and have that skill.”
The Ag Society also presented the Dorothy Perry Memorial Grand Aggregate Award to Shirley Fric and Elaine Claussen.
The fair, which has been housed at the Plainsmen Arena in the past, moved to the Genesis Place this year due to the arena currently undergoing renovations (see related story on page 1). The move was a success, according to Moon.
“Genesis Place worked out fabulous,” said Moon. “It wasn’t a bigger space necessarily, but it’s a busier space with a lot more traffic. It was a superb location, and everyone was great to work with.”
She credited an increase in attendance this year to the location change, but also to a growing awareness about the importance of locally produced goods to rural communities.
“The Ag Society’s vision is rural and urban communities growing healthy together, and the fair is an embodiment of that vision,” said Moon. “”It’s getting back in touch with what makes a community tick, what keeps it alive and vibrant and how we keep coming back to those roots.”
Written by: Briana Shymanski
Courtesy of Airdire City View (www.airdriecityview.com)
Published: August 26, 2011