Fairs bridge the gap, Bibeau says
Summer is always a busy period in the Eastern Townships with its many agricultural fairs held across the territory. Attendees can enjoy rollercoaster rides, bingo, concerts, karaoke, animal showmanship, cattle judging, petting zoos, parades, tractor pulls, horse races, hitching showdowns, dancing, baking contests, and so much more. There is something for everyone at a fair, including Compton-stanstead MP and Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Marie-claude Bibeau.
“I plan on going to all the fairs that I possibly can,” she said in an interview with The Record. “I went to the St-hyacinthe fair and the Ayer’s Cliff Rodeo, the Coaticook Valley Fair, and I hope to go to the Brome and Cookshire fairs too! The local fairs are a must-see. They’re unmissable events in the agenda of an MP, and even more so as the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.”
According to Bibeau, fairs are not just all about good fun and showmanship. “It’s important to bridge that gap between the farming community and the non-farming community. Agricultural fairs allow to make contact between regular citizens and producers in the Eastern
Townships,” she said. “It’s crucial that people understand where their food comes from, and who produces it. In many cases it’s easy to dismiss producers as the ‘farming industry,’ but these are very real people ensuring the vitality in our regions and making sure that food is getting on the consumers’ plates.”
“Of course, people who live in Sherbrooke, or Compton, or Stanstead for example, have had awareness towards agricultural producers. But just because we are particularly close to many farms in different rural areas, it doesn’t mean that we understand what’s at stake for producers, their priorities, and their challenges,” explained the Minister, who just announced a $1.75 B compensation for dairy producers in Canada following trade deals with Europe and Asian Pacific nations. “They have made significant efforts to modernize their equipment, to innovate, to change their animals’ nutrition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to take care of animals in an ethical way, and so much more. Any event that can help bring producers closer to consumers is an initiative that is worth our time.”
“I grew up in front of the old Sherbrooke Fair site and I would go every single year. I also attended many other fairs throughout my youth, and it was always very interesting. One of my favourite events was undoubtedly the horse races. I’m definitely familiar with the world of agricultural fairs,” added Bibeau. “My grandfather used to own dairy cows, as did my uncle, so I got to discover the very human side of farming early on.”
“Like many children who grew up in the Townships, I would spend the fall season at apple orchards picking apples in Compton. I also really liked going raspberry picking. We have great natural resources around the Townships and fairs are an excellent way to showcase the beauty and fertility of our land as well,” she concluded.