聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 It was a community come together on Sunday, July 3, with the Arcola Antique Ag Daze hosting another great success.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was a very good day,鈥� Al Fletcher with the Arcola Fair and Stampede Society explained. 鈥淲e missed the rain and had very good attendance, and a good turnout for both the tractor pull and horse pull.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day began with a pancake breakfast in the morning followed at 10:30 a.m. with the parade along Main Street. The parade was dotted with a large crowd along both Main Street and Balmoral Ave. as the floats made their way to the fair grounds. Kids flocked to the candy tossed from the floats and waved eagerly to each coming parade participant.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day then moved into action at the fairgrounds with a car show hosted at the rink.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he day went really well, a lot of people were saying the parade was really good, and there were a lot of people along the way,鈥� Brian Crump with the Arcola Fair and Stampede Society stated. 鈥淭he Show 鈥楴 Shine was down a little bit this year, but with the threat of rain a lot of those guys don鈥檛 want to risk their car. But overall it was a great day.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Later in the day the Prairie Place Hall was used for the supper and Saskatchewan Express performances.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Also found on the fairgrounds was a quilt show and various exhibits, including a display on brick making which is part of the town's heritage. Freitag's Petting Zoo was on hand for kids to enjoy with chickens, goats, a pig, and more to pet and learn about.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The heavy horse pull and antique tractor pull both drew crowds who were impressed by the abilities of each.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The slo-pitch tournament hosted four teams and drew a sporadic crowd throughout the day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Returning this year were also demonstrations including threshing, the stationary bailer, rope making, and blacksmithing demos. This year Aird Romich of Ponderosa Forge in Swift Current not only came to showcase blacksmithing, but he helped youth hammer their own small novelties, which was a hit.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he day went very well; we had upwards of 1,000 people attending throughout the day including adults and kids,鈥� Autumn Downey with the Arcola Fair and Stampede Society explained. 鈥淓veryone looked like they were happy and having a good time; the kids in particular were really enjoying all that the day had to offer.鈥�
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The pie eating contest champion defended his title from last year and John Davies Jr. walked away as back to back (2015 and 2016) champions.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day finished with a delicious meal created by David and Shelley Slykhuis as the second performance of Sask Express began following supper.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Finally the finishing touches of the day were fireworks and cupcakes in celebration of Canada Day, which was on the Friday before the event.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he town holding off on the fireworks until Ag Daze finished the day off nicely,鈥� Crump said.聽
