A Throwback in Time: Priddis & Millarville Fair

Do you remember waiting, with eager anticipation for the local annual fair to commence?   As the date grew ever closer, it was a time that my parents found themselves with children eager to clean house, weed the garden or anything that might earn them a little extra pocket money.  While the fairway, petting zoo, grandstand show and pony chucks were often the main attraction, equally important were the many competitions, ranging from pie eating and rooster crowing contests, to heavy horse pulls, light horse shows and other livestock competitions, and let's not forget the bench exhibits, from field crops to flowers, vegetable gardens, arts and crafts, home cooking and baking, and woodworking.

Competitors took their competition very seriously.  The fruits of your labour, so to speak, not only had to be expertly crafted, but skillfully displayed as well. I can remember thinking how wonderful being a baking judge must be, if only because they actually got to sample every single entry! In hindsight, it was probably more of a challenge, knowing full well that each contest literally pitted neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend.
  

When all was said and done, there were important lessons to be learned from these experiences. Above all else, it was imperative to maintain the spirit of good sportsmanship and, if you were lucky, perhaps the proprietor of the winning entry would be kind enough to share a secret or two, that could be applied to your own arsenal of skills.

The Priddis & Millardale Fair, one of several events hosted by he Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society, has successfully lived up to its vision of preserving its history, traditions and natural environment while promoting rural and agricultural experiences in a welcoming and cooperative manner.   

As I visited the many displays I couldn't help but be reminded of the myriad talent and an eye for beauty that surrounds us in any waking moment of each and every day. While I studied the children's crafts, I knew there was someone in the background helping small hands mold one material or another into a work of art.  

How difficult it must be to come up with an original idea displayed in such a manner that will be sure to catch the eye of a judge or two; but to be the one who had to determine the winning entry must be challenging indeed!

2017 marks the 110th anniversary of the Priddis & Millarville Fair.  One of Alberta's oldest and largest country fairs, it has become a place where one can learn about the area's vast agricultural history, hold and pet animals, view the creations of local artisans, gardeners, photographers and wood workers.  From field crops to honey bees, these products are made, baked or grown in Alberta. 

While remaining true to its roots, the Fair has also evolved through the years. I'm not sure that someone would have deemed a salt lick a work of art but, I admit, it was one of the many competitions that caught my eye.   Nor would it have occurred to me that someone could build an electric guitar out of old fence boards but, now that you've seen it can be done, it's rather eye-catching, is it not? And I don't even know what to say about the cleverly crafted owl made of dryer lint!

If you enjoy rubbing shoulders with a close-knit community; if you take pleasure in admiring the fruits of someone else's labour of love; if you feel the need to share a walk down memory lane with someone, the Priddis & Millarville Fair is deserving of your time. There's something of interest for everyone.  Who knows; perhaps you'll be inspired to enter something yourself. . . everybody's welcome at the Fair. . .

Resources:
http://www.millarvilleracetrack.com/millarville-events/fair/