The link between the Golburn Agricultural Society and the Golburn Gallopers 4-H Light Horse Club was on full display at this year’s Golburn Fair.
The 4-H club held a ribbon-cutting of their gift to the fairgrounds, a new gazebo, during the 76th edition of the fair Aug. 12. The opening also served as a way to celebrate the 100th year of 4-H in the province.
“4-H is all about giving back to the community, so we figured, what better way? We spend so much time out here at Golburn that that’s what we should do, give something back to the Golburn Ag Society,” saidTara Teale, the leader of the club.
Tatum Teale, the club’s president, had the honour of cutting the ribbon.
“I was excited because we’re going to get to use this building for years to come, so I was happy.”
Karen Smith, the chair of this year’s exhibition, said she thinks the new gazebo is great.
“People are using the fairgrounds that way. The 4-H club rides regularly here and so the grounds are being used more.”
The project was kickstarted when Carlie Bowditch, a former member of the club who still helps out when she’s home from university, applied for a $2,500 Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities grant from Monsanto on behalf of the club.
“4-H has been a part of my life and really taught me lots about public speaking and record keeping, and it’s given me lots of opportunities like scholarships and traveling around Canada, so I wanted to promote our club and area and I think they are a deserving cause for the Growing Your Community grant,” she said.
The total cost of the project, which was completed in 2016, was around $6,000. The club kicked in the rest of the money.
“There used to be lots of buildings in this little area and the hall’s the last one that’s kind of standing, so we decided that the gazebo will be a great addition and we [painted] it the Gallopers’ blue,” Bowditch said. “We’re hoping it gets used lots, by more than just our 4-H club.”
The 4-H club featured heavily among the 67 horse entries seen at the fair.
Fair a success
Smith said this year was a good one for the Golburn Fair.
“The weather has been really nice and has co-operated with us, so that’s been great. Everyone’s just come out and everyone’s having a good time today.”
Along with the horse show, slo-pitch games, exhibits and children’s game, the fair brought back two newer events.
“We brought back the chili challenge and the pie-eating contest,” Smith said. “Those are two things that we started last year and we’ve got a lot of good comments on them, so we thought: let’s make them annual events and bring them back this year.”
Lonnie Bulmer successfully defended his chili challenge title, while Fred Enderson seized the pie-eating title from Devan Tasa.
Smith said she believes it’s important to keep the tradition of the countryside fair alive.
“We have a community that all come together. We have a great group of volunteers who help pull the fair off, so it’s just really nice to just come out and spend the day visiting the people that maybe you don’t get to see very often or only kind of see them once a year,” she said. “You get together with friends right before harvest and everyone gets really busy, so it’s really good for everyone to come out.”
