Ministry of Agriculture sponsors three fair projects
Anyone who thinks keeping the paperwork straight and in order is just a simple task of sorting and piling papers on the corner of a desk is quite mistaken. Others might picture a secretary taking notes at a meeting, his or her main task simply writing up the minutes of a directors’ meetings. But just try keeping up with the stacks of paperwork the Cookshire Fair secretary must sort, classify, and file just about every day of the fair.
Manon Corbeil, in her seventeenth year as secretary, barely has time to chat with folks who wander into the fair office. “With hundreds of entries to record and keep track of until judging is complete and prizes allotted in each section and category, even with the latest in technological programs, it takes several days to get everything up to date,” she says, not mentioning the exhibitor memberships and registrations and cards for each animal and exhibit.
“But we are not unique here. Every fair must have records, minutes of each meeting, and finances up to date by the end of the year. And we haven’t mentioned the many forms, usually in triplicate, that go to the government when applying for Ministry of Agriculture projects and programs.”
This year, three programs sponsored by MAPAQ will be ongoing during the fair. Elaine Cooper will present the latest in gardening in small spaces with the introduction of what she calls “tower gardening.” Presentations and a workshop will be set up under the grandstand and her program is designed to make it easy to grow a reasonable vertical garden on a balcony or similar small space. This presentation is scheduled from Friday to Sunday.
Another project will bring veterinarians from the vet clinic in Sherbrooke. For this seminar, the main theme will be taking proper care of pets, including regular observation of an animal’s health and condition, being alert to any changes observed, and what procedures to follow if illness is suspected. Keeping pet owners informed and stressing the importance of regular health checks, keeping vaccinations up to date, and pest and parasite control should be an essential part of a routine that will ensure a long, healthy, and contented life for family pets.
The third project this year has been the purchase of new hand-washing equipment being placed in and around the stabling area. “The folks who live around farm animals and pets have usually built up an immunity to many diseases that could arise when animals are handled or admired with a hands-on approach. It’s very important that we do everything possible to protect our visitors from getting ill because there weren’t enough hand-washing stations in the stabling areas.” So, Corbeil said, multiple hand-washing stations are being set up in and around the barns and the public is urged to make good use of this precaution. Beginning Friday, the stations will be up all weekend.
Another minor change this year is an increase to a $15 admission for adults Friday and Saturday. Thursday, gates open at suppertime and the traditional Bingo gets underway right after subway. “We’ve purchased a big bundle of daubers,” she said last week. “We used to use corn kernels, then plastic discs, but they sometimes slipped around. So with the dauber, there’s no doubt when a number is called.” Admission is $8 Thursday. Sunday, admission is $12 and children under 10 are always free. Parking is also free on the grounds — no parking along the highway and it’s best leave the pet dog at home.
The latest news on numbers of entries — dairy and beef cattle will be the same as other years, heavy horse entries are up, light horse show organizers are reporting a good number of entries in all classes, and the heavy horse folks will be turning out in grand style as usual.
A special display of memorabilia and documentation remembering one of the fair’s staunchest supporters will be featured in the Main Building. Walter Hodgeman, secretary for 21 years, was also the night guard during fair days. His fold-away cot and documentation of his support and tireless work for his county fair will be included in the display. Visitors can find this interesting historical step back in time upstairs in the Main Building.
Poultry exhibits have been slowly increasing in recent years but sheep and goat entries are about the same as other years. Cattle will be judged in the tent near the stage, heavy horses in front of the grandstand, and of course, the horse and cattle parade gets underway Sunday right after lunch. Truck and tractor pulling competitions are scheduled Friday and Saturday evening with the popular horse pulling event, the final item on the weekend program Sunday evening. Amusements Spectactulaire brings the midway once again this year. The Cloggers will be on stage Sunday and there’s country music and dancing in the Macauley Center Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.