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The Citizen, 2017-09-07, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: IPM - Pg. 10 Committee to bring accessibility to 2017 IPM QUEEN - Pg. 11 Walton's Studhalter set to vie for Ontario crown CHALLENGE - Pg. 12 Local chef to participate in Royal Fair challenge Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 4Citiz Volume 33 No. 35 n $1 .25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, September 7, 20174 School's back With the Labour Day weekend comes a number of things in Ontario. The symbolic end of summer is one of them, as is the end of the annual Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and the return of school for millions and millions of young people. So, with a nip of fall weather in the air, students returned to Hullett Central Public School for another year of education. From left: Taylor Wharton, Donny Miller, Kayla Cowan, Caitlyn Bauer, Joel Vaughan-Missel, Kaleb Martin and Heidi Badley. (DennyScottphoto) Elementary School Fair set for Sept. 13 By Denny Scott The Citizen The Elementary School Fair in Belgrave is marking its 97th year later this month and, after having it grow substantially last year, fair committee President Alice McDowell is excited for what this year will bring. The fair is set for Wednesday, Sept. 13 and kicks off with a parade featuring the schools involved starting at 11:15 a.m. Opening ceremonies follow. This year's theme is Canada's 150th anniversary. This is McDowell's second year leading the fair, having taken the committee president position last January, however she has been involved for the event since she moved to the area decades ago. "I've been involved since I came to this area when my own children were there," she said. "The elementary school fair was something that was important to the communities at the time of transition when several schools were closed and students were sent to Wingham or Londesborough so it's something I wanted to be involved with." McDowell was principal of Blyth Public School, one of the schools that participated, before it closed and was the first principal of Maitland River Elementary School when it was built. "The community identified it as an important program to continue," she said. For a number of years, Maitland River Elementary students, alongside Grade 7 and 8 students from F.E. Madill School participated at the event. Last year the fair welcomed students from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Wingham as well. "The fair went well last year because we expanded the area," McDowell said. "Our goal was really to open the fair up to all elementary students in the area and Sacred Heart was a group that hadn't been involved before." How the increased number of students will affect the number of displays at the event hasn't been fully realized, McDowell said, because some items are yet to come. "We won't really know what we're looking at," she said. "We will see an increase for the school work exhibits and possibly for the showmanship classes." McDowell said there are some minor changes to this year's event including the addition of a dog show for students. She said events have also been scheduled to make sure that all students can participate in all events. Anyone looking for more information can contact McDowell at 519-523-9549 or look up the Elementary School Fair on Facebook. IPM Beautification committee names comp. winners By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A number of local families, businesses and organizations have been honoured by the International Plowing Match (IPM) Beautification Committee ahead of the match later this month. The committee, under the leadership of Chair Deb Falconer, had been working for months to beautify all of Huron County ahead of the IPM. The endeavour took in traditional elements like gardens and home improvements, but also added new ideas, like barn quilts, into the mix. The beautification competition wrapped up late last week with the IPM beautification gala, which was held at the Seaforth and District Community Centre. Nearly 500 people were in attendance. That night, Jack Ryan, the host farmer for the IPM in Walton, officially received his mayoral chain of office, while The Ballaghs brought entertainment to those in attendance throughout the night. At the gala, the Huron County Barn Quilt Trail book was also launched. It details photos and stories from all 164 barn quilts that were entered into the competition and will be sold at the IPM souvenir tent over the course of the match. George and Ruth Townsend won in the most attractive rural home category, followed by Karen and Craig Piett, who placed second, and Mark and Christine Coulthard in third. Honourable mention went to Jan and Chris Neutel. Doreen and Bill Taylor's home was named most attractive farmstead and they were followed by Sharon and Jim Nivins in second and Janet and Brad Betties in third. Huron Feeding Systems was named the best agri-business, followed by Maelstrom Winery in second and EverFresh in third. North Woods Elementary School in Ethel was the winner in the beautification project category, followed by the Howick Bloomers in second and the Auburn Horticultural Society in third. Honourable mention went to the Wingham Horticultural Society. Matt and Aimee Townsend won in the most attractive urban home category, followed by Frank and Marian Hallahan in second and Bob Leeming in third. Joanne and Glen Walker of Costa Plenty Farms were named winners in the gateway entrance category, followed by Ken Papple in second and Maja and Don Dodds in third. Honourable mention went out to Monique and Don Baan. Nancy and Mark Kernighan won in the most improved farmstead category, while Arletta and Steve Hallahan placed second and Glanville Farms placed third. Honourable mention went to Leslie and Steve Forman. Jessalyn Hendriks won the 4-H Gatesign Award, which was sponsored by Dodds Century Farms. Kim and Kevin Murray's eight - foot -squared barn quilt was judged to be the Huron County fan favourite along the barn quilt trail, while Mary and Tony Vanden Hengel won in the four -foot -squared category. For more information on the IPM, visit plowingmatch.org. Goderich named to Project Play top four Goderich has been named one of the top four finalists for this year's Kraft Heinz Project Play, which will award a $250,000 grand prize to the most deserving recreation project in Canada. The announcement was made on Monday and a newly -designed Goderich Recreation Park was one of the four remaining projects. The Huron County community finds itself up against Optimist Hill in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Boyd Stadium at Simplot Millenium Park in Brandon, Manitoba and the Scotia Pool in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. The Goderich project is the lone remaining Ontario representative. The project was nominated by Steve Hewitt, who says that the town has high hopes for the money, should it be the successful contestant. "If successful, the money will be invested in upgrading our `worse - for -wear' summer facilities at Goderich Recreation Park (Ag Park). This will support new facilities for baseball, soccer, field hockey, a skate park, play ground equipment as well as shelters and basic amenities," the nomination reads. "For our summer minor sports organizations to be as strong as they are on these completely outdated facilities is truly amazing and a testament to the strong passion and spirit we have for the youth of our community." Goderich now needs Huron County's help in the form of votes. Voting begins at noon on Friday, Sept. 8 and runs until just before midnight on Saturday, Sept. 9 when the vote officially closes. To vote, or for more information on the remaining four projects, visit kraftheinzproj ectplay. com.