Celebrating 90
Annapolis Valley Ex has plenty of events in store Aug. 15-20
There seems to be an increased interest in agriculture these days, says Rachel Taylor, and that bodes well for the Annapolis Valley Exhibition that will mark its 90th birthday when the gates open August 15.
Fresh off its highly successful Redneck Rodeo, exhibition staff and 160 volunteers have shifted gears in time to open the gates on this year’s Valley-wide exhibition that may just be one of the best yet.
“We’ve actually got some exciting new things this year,” said Taylor.
“The first part of the week we’ re welcoming mounted shooting.”
It’s a demonstration event with cowboys on horses going full gallop and shooting targets.
“It’s really fast and furious and it’s awesome to watch,” she said.
“I’ve been looking at it on YouTube and it’s going to be a really nice show.”
The shots are loud so you might want to bring your earplugs.
“On Thursday, as a change from having a concert down on the hill, we’re going to have car hockey. Which is hilarious,” said Taylor.
“It’s teams of cars and they have to try and score a goal against each other – and instead of having a puck they have a loader tire. It’s just a hoot to watch it - it’s so much fun. “Some things are always fun and exciting and keep people coming back. The big attractions that we have year on year, that are always really popular, are obviously the Wednesday night rodeo. It’s always a real big one; the dog agility is becoming bigger and bigger every year; and the bands of course – April Wine and Emerson Drive this year are going to be huge attractions to the exhibition,” Taylor said.
And the light horse show keeps growing with entries from all over the Maritimes.
“We have a big Equine Canada light horse show this year. So the jumping show is bigger than ever. We’ve got more entries than we’ve ever had,” said Taylor.
“We’ve had to actually build some extra stalls because we have so many entries –
which is a great problem to have.”
And it’s true. Work is almost complete on six new stalls on the east side
of the new light horse barn next to the 4-H barn and other new stalls are being squeezed in elsewhere.
“All the normal western and open light classes will be going on,” she said.
“We’ll be having horse and ox pulls every day. The Wild ‘n Woolie Sheep Rodeo of course will be going on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Farmers’
Challenge is coming back this year; it’s always popular. And the mini classes, the draft show classes will be going on as always.”
And there will be the midway, commercial displays, and all the food anybody could possibly eat at the numerous local concession stands. Head-to-head pole bending is on the schedule, plus team penning, the firefighters bucket brigade, and the craft demonstrations.
Taylor believes that making it to 90 years shows the continued strength of agriculture in Kings and Annapolis counties and that within that agriculture community the exhibition plays a strong part.
“People wait for the exhibition and get back together after not seeing each other for a year – and kind of coming home,” she said.
“It’s essential I think to agriculture – to educate people, and to keep people interested in where your food comes from.”
For many, the week-long Annapolis Valley Exhibition is a part of the way of life.
“We get emails every single year right from September on saying ‘can I have the dates for next year because I have to book my holidays, I need to book my flights, I need to book vacation time,’” said Taylor.
“It’s a very common thing that people will fly in from wherever they’re living so they can come to exhibition and meet back with family and have a reunion. We love that that is the case.” What’s the magic ingredient that makes the Valley Ex a success?
“Mypersonal thought is the community feeling,” said Taylor.
“If somebody new comes in within half an hour someone is showing them where to go and showing them how it works and making them feel at home. So many people are willing to help other people – it’ s such a volunteer atmosphere that I think that makes people want to come back because they feel like they’re part of it right from the first.”