There's something for everyone at the fair
Published Friday July 25th, 2008
The Westmorland County Agricultural Fair offers a chance to get back to your roots and experience true country fun
The Village of Petitcodiac will be humming with activity as it hosts the Westmorland County Agricultural Fair (WCAF) from July 28 to Aug. 3. The theme for this year's fair is Bring the County to the Fair and most events will take place at the Petitcodiac Arena and fair grounds located at 41 Corey Avenue, Petitcodiac.
WCAF Vice-President Rick MacLeod anticipates that this year's list of fun events will help the fair exceed last year's attendance of 4,000 people.
"This year the committee has focused on making the fair one of the best traditional agricultural fairs around," says Rick. "We've increased the draft horse program from and expect to have as many as 60 to 80 horses registered and we've changed the gymkhana to Sunday, so we should definitely draw more people."
The Westmorland County Agricultural Fair has been in existence for more than 40 years and offers a wide array of activities for all members of the family.
Events will consist of traditional fare such as exhibits that range from handcrafts and baking to produce and preserves, with several youth categories; 4-H displays; livestock and horse competitions; live entertainment; carnival rides, and much more.
The Coverdale and Westmorland 4-H Clubs will be setting up displays that reflect the activities of their respective clubs and will range from the "Great Outdoors", dairy livestock, light horses, and possibly some smaller animals.
There will also be many events that involve horses such as hitch classes junior driving classes, unicorn hitches, and 4-in-hand and 6-in-hand classes, along with many fun classes involving draft horses. A Light Horse Show and Gymkhana events will feature horses and riders turning a barrel, zipping through the poles, playing musical sacks, and much more.
Lana Lounsbury, secretary of the WCAF, is looking forward to the Drill Team display where a group of six horses and riders co-ordinate riding and guiding their horses in patterns, while accompanied by music.
"It is really an awesome sight to see," says Lana. "You hold your breath while watching them ride so close in front of each other, despite knowing that they won't collide."
Some of the more unusual events include a Pig Scramble where children try to catch pigs, which have been donated by Metz Farms in Canaan. With their parents' permission, the children can keep the pigs that they catch or receive a cash prize. The remaining pigs will be auctioned off.
Another unusual event is the MacLeod Natural Horsemanship where Rick MacLeod demonstrates his ability to work with a horse and how, by developing a strong trust, to make the animal a willing partner. Natural horsemanship does not use artificial aids or any physical punishment.
This year, the fair will host the Second Qualifier for the Stihl Timber Sports Canada Series. Lumberjacks from eastern Canada will compete in popular events such as underhand and standing chop, springboard chop, stock saw, single buck, and "hot" saw. Local lumber "Jacks and Jills" will also be competing for top Lumberjack of the WCAF.
Monday and Tuesday will mostly be taken up with organizing and judging exhibits, with the official opening of the WCAF taking place at the Petitcodiac Arena at 6:45 p.m. on July 29.
The Queen pageant will immediately follow at 7 p.m. with 10 young ladies, between the ages of 15 and 18, who live in Petitcodiac and the surrounding areas, including Salisbury, Havelock, and Elgin, vying for the title.
The queen and her royalty will receive numerous gifts and prizes donated by local merchants in Petitcodiac and the surrounding area, including Moncton and Riverview.
On Wednesday, a range of activities have designed specifically for Children's Day at the Arena, which will include an obstacle course, magic show, face painting, and much more; and Senior's Day at the Petitcodiac Legion, which will feature entertainment by Ivan and Vivian Hicks, a hot meal, and more.
Everyone is welcome to attend the $5 Country Breakfast on Saturday morning at the Arena and a turkey supper at the Petitcodiac Legion on Saturday evening that will be hosted by the Air Cadets.
Entertainment will take place throughout the week, including an open jam session hosted by local fiddler Clayton Magee, a stage show featuring Vance McNeil and Colleen Bannister, a youth talent show with winners going on to the Provincial Youth Talent Search, a gospel show, an ATV pull, and fireworks.
No fair would be complete without a parade and this year's WCAF parade will consist of teams of horses, non-commercial and commercial floats, antique tractors, bands, Shriner's, and a variety of other entries.
For more information and a complete schedule for the Westmorland County Agricultural Fair, go to http://wcafair.piczo.com/
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