MAPLETON – Officials say last weekend’s 167th Drayton Fair was a “resounding success.”
Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society treasurer Arlie Zantinge explained the entertainment had guests busy all weekend with jousting competitions, pet shows, tractor pulls, demolition derbies and a range of exhibitors and vendors.
The community showed its support, resulting in two record-breaking days, Zantinge said.
“We had a wonderful amount of cars for the derby and by the amount of mud on everybody I saw, everybody had a good time,” she added.
Mapleton firefighters attended, keeping a watchful eye on the cars when things began heating up on the Derby track.
An orange and black striped derby car with a big tiger stuffy sitting on the roof was a crowd favourite, officials stated.
Luckily the weather was great for the first two days, before the rainfall on Sunday.
But even with the rain the fair welcomed nearly 5,000 people in total, running out of wristbands on the first night after handing out 1,000.
Crashing cars weren’t the only excitement offered over the course of the weekend.
The Junior Ambassador Competition was held, with five young girls competing for the title.
Lauren Hennessy was announced as the competition’s 2024/25 winner, with Molly Korowa named runner up.
“It sounds like the local tractor pull on Friday night is the best event,” noted Zantinge.
And a record-number of 80 kids signed up to compete in the kiddie pedal tractor pull.
“We were expecting 50,” she noted.
Zantinge also mentioned the “wonderful” attendance at the birds of prey show, where Shaun Cowan and Luke Heffernan of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy introduced Amanda the bald eagle.
The Drayton Fair’s sheep show had plenty of competition, with Brock Bartlett placing first, Cole Grinwis in second and Madison Bartlett in third.
And Mount Forest-based musicians Cara Smith Band attended the fair entertaining guests with lively tunes.
“This is the best fair we’ve ever had, financially at least,” said Zantinge.
“And (judging) by the amount of smiling faces, I think every other corner was covered.”
After such a successful weekend, work on next year’s festivities will begin soon – but not just yet.
“We’re all too tired to think right now,” said Zantinge.
Agricultural society president John Klaassen mentioned talk of next year’s themes, stated officials.
“It’s going to be hard to top (this year’s fair) … but the wheels are starting to turn already,” said Zantinge.
She expressed her thanks to the local community for supporting the fair and the society.
“I haven’t seen so many smiling faces in a long time,” she said.
