聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Maryfield Fair excitedly held a successful 100 year celebration on Thursday, July 23. Whether attending for the first time or a return visitor to the annual event, people of all ages enjoyed themselves.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The fair has endured for a century and remains a mainstay in the community as it draws in new visitors each year, while also bringing back relatives and others who once lived in Maryfield or the surrounding area.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year the Ag Society was elated to have a large crowd attending and offered numerous attractions which were well enjoyed by all ages.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day began with a pancake breakfast prepared by the Maryfield Auditorium Committee and was sponsored by the Borderland Co-op.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Held along Main Street in the late morning was the annual parade, which saw numerous entries coming from within Maryfield and the surrounding area. During the large parade, kids clamoured after candies, while a greenhouse drove in the parade passing out geraniums. An agricultural community the parade boasted entries of horses, 4H-ers walking their calves, tractors, and more.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Found this year on the fairgrounds was the annual Man-Sask Border Circuit horse show, as well as a Hunter/Jumper horse show.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Man-Sask horse show welcomed 45 entries and has been a part of the fair for many years. Entrants participated in numerous classes for varied age groups, types of riding, and the gymkhana.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A total of eight participants entered into the Hunter/Jumper horse show, which is down from last year, but as the judge, Amanda Abraham, said, 鈥淧eople are out haying this time of year and it鈥檚 hard to get away at this time of year always, but the number of entrants we do have are enjoying it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚鈥檓 a little surprised there鈥檚 not more because they do a very good job here, they have nice jumps, and there is good prize money that can be won.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day also boasted fun for youth of all ages with a petting zoo set up, bouncers, a mechanical bull, the SGI safety squad with games, and entertainment by Hoop Girl at 1 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Delicious pie was made once again by Shirley Campbell, while other food was available from the canteen. A chili cook off was held once again, which was well enjoyed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to members of the Maryfield Ag Society numbers were up this year within the fair exhibits ranging from field products to garden goods to plants to schoolwork, photography, crafts, and more.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the evening, before supper, the annual exhibit auction was held with all proceeds going to STARS Air Ambulance this year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day concluded with supper followed by a performance by the Spotted Rain Dance Troupe from the Cowesses First Nation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Found enjoying the day was Hubert and Audrey Freitag from Alameda. It was Audrey鈥檚 first time to the fair, while Hubert said he had been to it in the 1970s when he was a judge.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e thought we鈥檇 come for old time sake, it鈥檚 a fair that I don鈥檛 have to work at,鈥� Hubert smiled.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Audrey explained that Hubert has a petting zoo which he travels with, but it was a day off for the both of them.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice little country fair,鈥� Hubert added.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Working at the gate for part of the day were Don Renwick and Garry Sweeting who were very happy with how many people they had seen coming through.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good community event,鈥� Renwick said. 鈥淚t brings people into the community. This is a unique thing they have going on.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sweeting stated, 鈥淚t brings home families and friends every year, with this being its 100th there鈥檚 even more who have made the effort to come home for it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗opefully they鈥檒l be going for another 100,鈥� Renwick added.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Those on the Maryfield Ag Society were all pleased with the turnout as well. Helen Johnson and Faye Gray were working at the informational table when walking into the rink. They echoed Renwick鈥檚 hope of another 100 years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 hope we can keep it going, if we had more people to come out and help then it鈥檒l go for another 100 years,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a fantastic turnout today.鈥�
