For more than six decades Doug Anderson has been among the volunteers the Harriston-Minto Agricultural Society has counted on for help with everything from staging the local fall fair to running the organization.
The connection began in the early 1950s, shortly after Anderson moved to a Minto Township dairy farm with his family, following the sale of their previous farm in Maple, Ontario, at what is now the corner of Finch and Jane Streets in Toronto.
“I was a 4-H leader and they just asked me to go on the board,” recalls Anderson, who says volunteering for organizations like the agricultural society and 4-H was just a natural outgrowth of family farm life and a desire to help out.
“Just human nature I guess,” he says.
Anderson says when he started the local fair “wasn’t much different than it is now, only it wasn’t as big.”
He notes the Harriston-Minto fair has evolved from a Class C to a Class B affair since he first became involved.
Over the years Anderson has handled a variety of fair-related duties, including set up and tear down, working at the gate, or helping out with the beef barbecue on fair weekend.
As a director, he also attended regular board meetings and has taken a turn as president.
“The only year I remember we were rained out, I was president,” he recalls.
That occurred during the late 1970s, when the old Harriston arena had been torn down and, with the new one not yet built, there was nowhere to shelter exhibits or patrons from the rain, Anderson noted.
A skilled self-taught carpenter, Anderson is often called on when the organization needs something repaired or custom built. A set of glass-top showcases to display baking at the fair, which he made in co-operation with fellow volunteer Joe Reynolds, is just one example.
In addition to the agricultural society, Anderson has shared his talents with a number of other local organizations. He was a 4-H leader for 25 years, taught square dancing for 20 years and umpired and coached local youth softball teams for many years.
Currently, he can often be found helping behind the scenes building sets and props for the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild, or ushering or working the box office for the local theatre troupe.
Anderson is also among the organizers of the Minto Retirees Activity Group, which arranges activities and trips for area seniors.
As for the fall fair, he never misses one. “I still go down, take the money at the barbecue and that kind of stuff,” he said. “But I leave the heavier work to the younger people.”
