Last year’s centennial at the Maryfield Fair marked a huge moment for the community and surrounding area. Although a centennial is big, this year marked the first of their next 100 years. Hosted on Friday, July 22, the Maryfield Fair celebrated 101 years welcoming many to enjoy a day in the community.
The event kicked off with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Borderland Co-op and the opening of the fair was enjoyed at 9 a.m.
Activities throughout the day included the annual ManSask Border Circuit horse show. The exhibit entries were judged in the morning and were opened to view by the public at noon.
The day included a chili cook-off or a hamburger lunch cooked by the local Lions.
Entertainment by The Three L-Tones and The Circus Man were enjoyed throughout the day as well as carnival games for kids and a petting zoo, while many were excited by the delicious pork supper the Lions were making that evening.
One of the biggest fundraisers of the day, which has given to various aspects of the community over the years, is the auction of the exhibits before supper.
Rob Hill, President of the Maryfield Ag Society, explained, “It’s a unique auction we’ve been doing the past few years where we have people donate their fair entries to be auctioned off. This year we will donate the money to the rink roof project. We’ve raised about $20,000 over the past seven years of doing this. Pies can get up to $100, and since Saskatoon pies are loved by many they’ve gone for $300 to $350 before, and jam can go for between $80 and $100.”
“We’ve donated the money we’ve raised through this to STARS in the past and to other projects in the community.”
“We have really good sponsors and wouldn’t be able to do this without the people in our community and our surrounding communities.”
In at the horse show registration was down slightly from the centennial, but was up from the average of years past. Forty-two participants registered, which included a large contingent of young participants, and enjoyed the day as guest judge Terri Smith was welcomed back to the community. Smith had judged approximately three years ago and was asked back, those involved with the horse show try to get different judges, so no one is judging two years in a row. But they were very happy to have Smith back.
“Thank you to everyone who chose to come to our fair today,” Hill said in his President’s Message. “Your presence and support is the reason the fair continues to be an annual event in our community.”
“This year will mark the 101st year for the Maryfield Agricultural Society. People of all ages can enter exhibits into more than 200 classes. These classes encourage skills that have long been a way of life in our country as well as newer skills such as computer-generated greeting cards.”
“Thank you for all of your support.”
