The Fergus Truck show will have a familiar venue this summer after nearly being forced to move.
Chief Operating Officer Wayne Billings announced on Monday the Truck Show will be staying where it has always been, with some extra land rented to make up for some previously lost.
The show has been reduced to about 100 acres from 120, which Billings called “a little bit of a downsizing.”
Centre Wellington Township and Centre Wellington Hydro General Manager Doug Sherwood played key roles in keeping the show in Fergus.
Sherwood has been a volunteer and has worked with adjacent landowners at the community complex for years, and according to township recreation director Andy Goldie, Sherwood helped persuade an adjacent landowner to lease 20 acres of land to help make up for lands another landowner was removing from rental use.
Goldie said the agreement was reached for lands to the south of the site just prior to Christmas, and it could be renewable each year.
That means tickets for the show, and camp site rentals were to be available on the Truck Show website by Jan. 8 and Billings said ticket sales would begin at the Truck Show office on Gordon Street early next week.
But, Goldie said, the township will hold the lease, and then be able to sublease the land to the Truck Show, and possibly to the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games if that venue needs extra land.
Goldie said that will make the township responsible for the property, rather than the event holders.
Goldie said there was no plan to purchase any land around the community centre, but if it ever becomes available, the township would have to consider it at that time.
“We are home; we are staying home,” a happy Billings said in front of a crowd of over a dozen, many of them representing volunteer groups, which applauded the announcement.
The organizers will have to move the current truck pull area and place it about half way between the current truck pull site and the site used by the Fergus Fall Fair for its event.
Grandstands will be built to accommodate viewers, and there will be some other re-jigging of the site.
Billings said work will begin this spring on the lands to ensure all is ready by July.
“It’s been an up and down battle; it’s been tough to keep going,” he said of the struggle over the past three months to find a venue for the show. He said organizers took part in the two local Santa Claus parades and were heartened to hear people saying “Don’t leave; we want you here.”
Billings said just prior to the signing of the agreement the show sent out a press release announcing it was looking for a new home, and he was overwhelmed with the responses he received. He added that one had come in on Monday morning, and people from Toronto, Cayuga, Orangeville, Guelph Lakes, and Grand Bend had offered land for the show. He added that the Grand River Agricultural Society was very helpful in helping to keep the show in the township.
There will be a few changes, though. Due to some of the land being so far away, there will be buses carrying visitors from the parking lot 1km away to the show.
Billings admitted that keeping the show where it has been since it began will help organizers out somewhat. They usually start renting campsites in early November, and they also had to wait until they had a site to seek sponsors.
Oh, and the show is expanding, too. Billings said there will be a Thursday night concert feature Terri Clark, and he is currently negotiating with a number of top Canadian rock and country acts to appear at the show over the weekend.
As well, there will be some changes for admission. In the past, children aged 5 to 13 were free. This year, though, they will pay an admission of $5, but that will purchase extras. The show has again booked amusement rides, and admission means free rides for everyone. He said that way parents can go on rides with their children and not have to pay, which will help make the show even more family oriented than ever.
Goldie said, “We’re excited the show will again be held at the Sportsplex. As a team, we are always looking for ways to better serve our community and the recreational amenities will benefit once again from the Fergus Truck Show.
Township Manager of Economic Development Dave Rushton said, “I’m happy for the event organizers, as well as the community. The spectacular backdrop of our beautiful area offers a unique experience to those attending. The Fergus Truck Show is one of our most successful and long standing tourism events in Centre Wellington.”
