HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-03-17, Page 32THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005. PAGE A7.
Homecraft president says fair ties community together
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Little ones get a chance to try out the show ring with the
junior show at the Brussels Fall Fair. (Filephoto)
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It has been a unique part of our
culture, combining the rural with the
urban, attracting people from all
walks of life for over a century.
And the people who volunteer
their time to the Brussels
Agricultural Society recognize its
value, particularly in today’s fast
changing world.
“We live in a rural community,”
said Jeff Cardiff, “but even here
there are so many who don’t know
what goes on in farming. It’s
important for the fall fair to
showcase what we, as farmers do. As
farmers we should educate the
consumers and the annual fall fairs
are a good way to do that.”
Cardiff’s link to the agricultural
society was ingrained from as far
back as he can remember. “My
grandparents and parents were
always involved, and as children so
were we.”
Just home from college in 1980
Cardiff was approached by the ag
society about coming on board as a
director and has been part of it ever
since. He was president from 1993-
1994.
His wife Cathy “married into the
ag society”. While she had done 4-H
as a youngster, the agricultural
society had not been “an official”
part of her life until she became a
newlywed in 1983. She is now
president of the society’s Homecraft
division.
She feels that the fair “ties the
community together. From a
Homecraft perspective, we welcome
exhibitors from urban as well as
rural, from the schoolchildren as
well as adults. It’s not just farm
ladies.”
Further to the community spirit, is
the support from organizations
which the society receives she adds.
The student component is a strong
focus for the Brussels Agricultural
Society, according to Dorothy
Cummings. She recalls how
important the fair was to her as a
youngster and 4-H member. Her
father was a past president of (he
society and when she moved to
Brussels in 1988 it was a natural
thing for her to get involved.
“This fair board is very willing to
promote and is
concerned about keeping schools
involved.”
Both Jeff Cardiff and. Cummings
recall the days of the Crystal Palace
where the fair was held for many
years. A unique structure that
captured the charm of the annual
fair, its rustic reputation provided the
backdrop for competition and
country socializing.
“In those days, there was such
competition," recalls Cummings.
“From the first day of school in
September we practised our
marching. There was a big
competition within schools.”
The 4-H program in those times
took up a big part of the day. with
shows for horses, pigs, sheep, dairy
and beef.
In addition to the midway there
were horse races and a number of
competitions for young and old to
test their mettle.
It was a full day of simple
entertainment and while some of that
has changed, the modern version
still has a good deal to offer,
according to the volunteers who pul
it together.
“Things have moved away from
the livestock end, because of the
restrictions in place for fear of
disease. If you were to bring a pig to
show, for example, that pig is not
coming back to your farm,” said
Cummings.
With horse races, said Jeff Cardiff,
there is the concern for liability, and
“we can’t afford the insurance.
Things have changed.”
Cathy Cardiff puts some emphasis
on the bigger farms as partly to
blame. “4-H numbers arc way down,
but there are tower smaller farms, so
lower members."
“There used to be a farm family on
every 1,00 acres,” added Jeff. “Now
it's from 2.OOO-3.OOO.”
“Everything in our fair today has a
purpose,” said Cummings. “We’ve
tried to bring more livestock in with
sheep and the little folks show. A
local couple brought animals to the
show last year and invited children
to show them. Another woman
invited Grade 7 and 8 students to try
and show a sheep and see what it
was like.”
While the livestock component is
less than it used to be, Cummings
notes that many other aspects have
grown recently. There are more
commercial and field crop entries
she said and the Homecraft division
has “grown considerably.”
Part of this has been aided by the
move from the muddy, confined area
of the Crystal Palace to the paved
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parking lot and spacious area at the
community centre. “We can gel
more displays and exhibits inside,”
said Jeff.
“The kitchen is there for the lood
booth and we get people who come
to the fair now, just for the pie,”
added Cummings.
“It’s not the history of the Palace,
but it’s better,” said Jeff.
While it can often be difficult to
keep such traditions thriving, the
group said the Society’s biggest
challenge today is in findi/ig people
not to support the fair, but to take a
leadership role in the organization.
“They like to help but are reluctant
to take a leadership role,” said Jeff.
Keeping the fair successful is an
on-going challenge said Cummings.
“The challenge is to keep it fresh, so
people don’t say they don’t need to
attend because they’ve seen it all
before.”
"Fresh, entertaining and
educational,” agrees Jeff.
“There has to be something for all
ages,” adds Cathy.
Continued on AS
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Paul Steckle, M.P.
Huron - Bruce
Salute to
Agriculture 2005
Agriculture is of paramount
importance to the people of
Huron-Bruce. While there are
many challenges that threaten this
industry, we must be vigilant in
our efforts to work together
towards maintaining agriculture in
our communities and our nation.
As your Federal representative I
am committed to working with
you to ensure that there will be a
future for Canadian Agriculture
and Agri-business.
For more information please contact:
Paul Steckle, M.P., Huron-Bruce
Constituency Office
30 Victoria Street North, Goderich, ON, N7A 2R6
519-524-6938
HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS
Call for details about winter discounts
Bus. (519) 887-6289 JOSEPH SEILI Fax (519) 887-9500
WESTEEL
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