Milford continues status as ‘greatest little country fair’

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
During opening ceremonies, South Marysburgh councillor and Milford Fair Board President John Hirsch reminded guests the Milford fall fair is often described as “Canada’s greatest little country fair”.

Big crowds came out to experience all the fair has to offer, including the many locals who have been attending the annual event for years, and those enjoying it for the first time.

The day was packed with things to do with all kinds with activities, events, exhibits, vendor stalls, live musical entertainment, games, information booths, where the name of the game was to have fun and enjoy the day.

As usual, it all started with a parade, as any good fair should, which paraded from the former school, then up the hill to the fairgrounds.

The 8 Wing CFB Trenton Pipe and Drums Band led the parade which included an assortment of colourful, decorated floats and participants, with a distinctive fall theme of pumpkins, squash, straw bales, fall ‘mums, seasonal produce, corn stalks and more.

Some of those spotted parading included the Royal Canadian Legion (Picton branch), 851 Prince Edward Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, and the ROC Youth Services, among them. But there were also vintage cars and wagons, and people and dogs, kids too, and tractors (so many tractors), and community floats, and one even came with a kissing booth.

And, of course, the famous Cherry Valley Fraser family’s very old, vintage automobile, which while it was going under its own steam, did require a little help from a tow rope to get it and its load up the hill on this occasion. Its presence delighted many who spied it coming in the distance.

Brief opening ceremonies included a few words from each of County mayor Steve Ferguson, Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette, and Bay of Quinte MPP Tyler Allsopp, with Malette officially declaring the fair open.

“These [fairs] are the essence of what makes the County and our communities in Ontario so great,” said Malette. The Milford fair is one of the more unique, wonderful and truly down-home fairs in this part of the province, and you should all be proud.”

Lammes family members (Emma Dougherty, John Lammes, Ritchie Lammes, Harry Lammes), with John Hallam, Randy York, Cameron Talbot, Natalie Wallenberg and Joyce Minaker.

This year’s Murray Clapp Memorial Citizenship Awards, which began in 1988 by Murray Clapp, were presented by Joyce Minaker and included recipients, Natalie Wollenberg, Cameron Talbot and John Lammes (posthumous).

Talbot, a member of the South Marysburgh volunteer fire department and works as a licenced mechanic at a local garage and as a first responder, was called “an important part of the fire-fighting capabilities of the volunteers”.

Wollenberg, through the various businesses she owns and operates, was noted to support numerous charities and sporting teams. “Thank you for your commitment to these causes in our community.”

Lammes” was a fixture in South Marysburgh over his lifetime. He worked for several people in this township over the years. He was the community handyman and there are many stories of his adventures,” stated Minaker.

“We know that John was a hockey coach of 14 to 16-year-old boys for many years; he was responsible for establishing the dog show here at Milford fair. He donated funds to the Ann Farwell library in Milford when they were needed, and he was benevolent to many people who found themselves in financial distress. To those who knew him, he won’t be forgotten.”

This is the first posthumous award given by the committee. He passed away June 28 at age 90. The award was presented to his family members, including his partner Emma Dougherty, who were in attendance for the occasion.

Fair board director John Hallam noted Minaker and Glendon Walker were being honoured with a plaque to mark their service with the fair board as both will be stepping down after this year. Walker was not present and his award was presented to Wollenberg to pass along.

The weather stayed fine and while it remained grey and overcast for most of the day, with the sun peeking out a few times, the rain stayed away for another year of Milford fairs. Word has it that in its 77-year history, it has only rained twice on the Milford fair, or maybe three times (depending on who you talk to), but no one is really arguing the point – just that its record for avoiding the rain is impressive.

Having run continuously since 1946 (excepting a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Milford Fall Fair, a non-profit event organized totally by local volunteers is known as the community fund-raising fair as proceeds are donated back to local community causes each year.

Allsopp expressed how these types events are so important for building a sense of community “and bringing people together, realizing that there is so much more that unites us than divides us. And when there are events like this when the whole community can come out and be together, it’s absolutely incredible,” he said.

Noting too that at the heart of most of the agricultural fall fairs are farmers.

“They say if you’ve eaten today, you should thank a farmer….and not just for feeding us, for feeding our communities, but also for all the work they do in our economy.”

Information and interesting booths this year were represented by the South Shore Joint Initiative, the Prince Edward County Public Library, the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists, Air Cadets, the Baxter Arts Centre, and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Belleville Centre) among the many, along with countless vendor booths.

There many judged exhibits inside the shed from grown things (pumpkins, flowers, vegetables, along with some really big pumpkins) to made and created things (from art work, photography, textiles, baked goods, and hobbies and collections).

Whether vying for the largest head of sunflower or the oddest shaped vegetable, there the countless judged vegetable categories all beautifully presented, the selection amazing given the challenging hot, dry growing season.

Special exhibit awards included the Howard Gyde Trophy (judge’s choice in fruit, in memory of Howard Gyde), the Vegetable Trophy (given to the grower of the finest vegetable specimen, in memory of Barry Laramy), and the Leona and Murray Head Trophy (judge’s choice in flowers).

Outside on the ball diamond, games for both adults and children included hitting a nail into a piece of wood as fast as possible, and log sawing too (it’s far more difficult than it looks, until you get a rhythm going), and there was even a good old-fashioned fun game of tug-o’-war for the kids, along with other games and races.

There was also an array of fun things to do such as pumpkin painting, Lego building, a library book sale, bingo, a fish pond, and the always very popular face painting – and a dog show too, showcasing plenty of pups.

County Acrobatics and Pure Joy Dance put together a great show as the acrobat team performed different sequences to an appreciative crowd.

And live musical entertainment through the afternoon kept things rocking, whether it was from Rock Cut (with Steve Empringham, Drew Ackerman and Clint Ryan) or Peter Rea of The Reasons.

And a country fair wouldn’t be a country fair without a whole host of food trucks, so many food trucks, to choose from, the difficulty was, which to pick.

“Every year it is a terrific occasion, and it’s wonderful to see so many people here,” said Mayor Ferguson. “The Milford fair, I’ve loved it since the first time I came when I visited in 2008, and I’ve been coming back every year since.”

The third and final County fall fair is set for Saturday, Sept. 20 in Ameliasburgh.