The community is gearing up for the Arthur Agricultural Society’s 157th Arthur Fall Fair Sept. 5 to Sept. 8.
The fair has always been a major attraction with its myriad of events, shows, exhibits and dinners and this year’s edition promises more of the same. With this year’s fair theme “4H in our Community – Learn to do by Doing,” the fair and agricultural society are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of 4H in Canada.
The beef barbecue officially kicks-off the fair on Sept. 5 starting at 5pm. It is being held at the arena community hall with tickets priced at $12 for adults and $5 for children six to 12. Children under five years are free. On Sept. 6 the fairgrounds officially open at 9am for the placing of exhibits with exhibit judging from 1pm to 5pm. In the evening, the parade starts at 7pm from the Arthur Public School, down Conestoga Street down the main street and then to the fairgrounds. The midway opens at 7pm coinciding with the hall opening. At 8pm the variety program starts with the official opening of the fair, cake auction, entertainment and the Fair Ambassador competition in preparation for the crowning of a new ambassador on Sept. 8 at 3:30pm when reigning ambassador Nicole DiPucchio will pass on her crown.
DiPucchio has found her year as ambassador rewarding and a learning experience.
“What is it exactly that makes this town and community so incredible?” she asks in her page of observations in this year’s Fall Fair book. “It’s the people.
“As my role as Ambassador is coming to a close, I have made many great friends, learned many lessons, and made many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” she said. “This opportunity has been a life changing experience, I have improved on so many skills that I thought I would never have. I would like to thank everyone who I’ve had the pleasure meeting, working with and who believed in me.
“This is not a farewell, goodbye, it is a new beginning and I would recommend to the youth that this is the best opportunity that you will ever have in your life.”
Competing for the title will be Lindsay Lightheart, Jennifer Culp, Samantha Binkley and Nicole Stewart.
Sept. 7 will see a full slate of events starting at 8am with the grounds opening and receiving of livestock exhibits which start at 8:30am with the Welsh and Sport Pony Show followed by 4-H beef and dairy shows, open dairy and open beef shows take place starting at 1pm. The midway gets underway at noon with demonstration in the main hall starting at 1pm. The always popular baby show will take place at 2pm and the children’ activity centre opens up at 3pm.
There is a chili cook-off slated for 5:30pm with tickets on sale for a chili dinner.
Rounding out the day will be the lawn and garden tractor pull.
On the last day of the fair, the Arthur Lions Club is hosting a brunch from 8am to noon. Wellington North is hosting a Farmers’ Market starting at 10am. It is the first time a market has been hosted by the township at the fair.
The Western Horse Show is set for 11am on Sept. 8 followed by the pedal tractor pull at noon. At 12:30pm the midway gets underway coinciding with the six-person team tractor tug competition. The Ontario Hereford show starts at 1pm, just as the pet show and frog jumping competition gets underway at the pavillion.
Also at 1pm hall demonstrations will continue followed by the crowning of a new ambassador slated for 3:30pm to wrap up a full slate of events.
