Fog for fair, finished fine
- Details
- Published on Saturday, July 16, 2016
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
Rivers Ag Society members may have been concerned when Wednesday, July 6 dawned with heavy fog and occasional mist which remained in the air until late morning, but those conditions did not affect attendance at the annual pancake and sausage breakfast; 280 people were served, slightly more than last year. The parade featured business and emergency vehicles, one decorated bicycle, a pair of miniature horses driven by cart riders and some floats, all of which passed by spectators in 12 minutes.
For the first time in history, this year’s parade was recorded by three WCG-TV Rivers Channel 12 video cameras; the effort has been edited to a 28-minute program which features footage from the sidewalk, a dash cam and action from the truck tailgate. This show will be aired to Westman Communications Group subscribers July 18, 19, 20 and 22 at 7 p.m.
The society contracted Bouncy Castles Party Games and Inflatables for two castles, cotton candy, popcorn, glitter tattoos and box hockey as the primary part of children’s entertainment, and face painting proved to be popular again. This portion of activities was slated for four hours and when they packed up at 2 p.m., attendance on the grounds definitely dwindled. However, gate receipts show an increase so the perception that patrons were fewer is refuted, even though admission rates were raised this year.
The ever-popular tractor pull had 23 implements, three more than last year. Winners of this go-round were: under 10,000 pounds, Mark Gill, Oak River and Kyle Gurr, Minota, second; under 8,000 pounds, Murray Gurr, Miniota and Jerry Wilson, Hamiota; under 6,000 pounds, Mervyn Harkness, Souris and Billy Carter, Alexander; ladies, Kerrie Gurr and Ashley Dawson both of Miniota.
The fair day horse show was down by four animals yet the MGRA show the evening before had an increase of eight equine. Because the horse director had a medical emergency in Winnipeg, champion results from this section were not available by the deadline.
Domestic exhibitors numbered 51, the smallest number in years, but not much less; there were 56 last year, 55 in 2012 and 2014 and 53 in 2013. In domestics, Nathan Stewart of Oak River had the highest points in the junior division; Dianne Kowalchuk, highest points in quilting and sewing; Isabel Dixon, Plumas, highest points baking; Jean Ryall high points horticulture; Mary Gervais of Griswold, high points Classes F-L; Catherine Carter of Kenton and Allison Hamm tied for best of show Classes F-L.
Waves of Hope once again participated in the parade with people and the vehicle they are raffling off, which was later parked at the fairgrounds under a pink canopy where members sold tickets. Riverdale Palliative Care also had a float in the parade and a display at the grounds, where they provided emergency response information kits. Recycle Oil Everywhere was the third parade participant to park on the grounds and then offer information and give-aways. Johan Lok and Val Collins, both of Rivers, were promoting Strathclair Co-op with a display of lumber and building supplies; Val is the manager and Johan is a contractor who does a lot of work for the company. Ramona Kuhn had the last “display;” she was selling hard ice cream in case diners were not satisfied with the selection of pies and other cold treats at either the United Church or Lions Club canteens, which also served main fare in the form of sandwiches and burgers.
Ag society president Alice Fast says this year’s pet show “presented an educational opportunity” when an unknown person brought a bearded lizard, leopard gecko and butter python, which won first-third respectively. She also says,“Because of this experience, all future pet shows will be for domesticated mammals.”
For the first time since 1987, the annual beef supper was not a joint effort with the society and Rivers Collegiate Band Parent Association. Rather, Riverdale District Health Auxiliary partnered with the society to serve barbecued beef supper to 387 people — the same number as last year. With new organizers, a new menu was offered so in addition to beef, brown beans and buns, caesar salad and baked potatoes were also supplied in the buffet line. Marlin Beever was still the meat man but rather than cooking in a pit, he made use of a Louisiana Pellet barbecue (which he sells); Sundance Farms of Rivers donated all the potatoes.
Rivers 4-H Beef Club was joined by members of the Metcalfe 4-H club for the parade float and during the cattle show and evening sale of steers. Metcalfe was here July 5-13 for a reciprocal exchange trip (Rivers members are now in Ontario) and some of them are not beef club members so the experience was completely new for them.
Other evening activities included two ball games, one fastball and one softball. Following the games at the diamonds on the fairgrounds was a brief recess before free hot dogs were supplied at Millennium Park, the location of the fireworks. Although the day began damp and dreary, it ended with a bang and had plenty of super sunshiney weather throughout, making for a very enjoyable Rivers fair.
