Milford marks 71 years of fall fair fun

The Murray Clapp Memorial Citizenship Awards were presented by Joyce Minaker, Leona Head and Glendon Walker to local residents to mark and honour exemplary volunteer contributions within the community. This year’s recipients were Susan Creasy, Steve Ferguson, Karen Guernsey, Barb Proctor, Wesley Spafford, and Doug McGregor, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Photos and Story by Sharon Harrison
Known locally as “Mr. Milford”, Bruce Dowdell, a long-time fair volunteer, refers to the Milford Fair as a “big family picnic”, but is quick to add he personally hasn’t attended all 71 fairs.

The theme of this year’s fair, held at the Milford Fairgrounds Saturday, was “Come Celebrate With Us” and Dowdell encouraged everyone to also “celebrate the nice weather”. He noted that rain showers are a rare thing in the fair’s history, but “the last three years, it has either rained or threatened rain”. This year, the weather did not disappoint as big crowds basked under hot summer sunshine.

With introductions by MPP Todd Smith, followed by the singing of the national anthem, Mayor Robert Quaiff officially welcomed all to the 71st edition of the fair.

An annual fixture since 1988, the Murray Clapp Memorial Citizenship Awards, presented by Joyce Minaker, Leona Head and Glendon Walker, are given to local citizens to mark and honour exemplary volunteer contributions within the community.

This year’s recipients were Susan Creasy, Steve Ferguson, Karen Guernsey, Barb Proctor, Wesley Spafford, and Doug McGregor, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

The afternoon was packed with activities including a wheat sheaf toss, pumpkin painting for little ones, a garden tractor pull, children’s sack and three-legged races, a dog show and a petting zoo. Indoor exhibits included the best in locally-grown vegetables and flowers as well as a good selection of art work, photography and a variety of crafts.

Starting with a pancake breakfast followed by a parade, the day wrapped up with a “Whatever Boat You Float” finale on the Milford Pond. Dowdell said, it’s basically “anything that can float”, noting in previous years, it had usually been just canoes.

Attractions, animals, music, food vendors and more ensured “the biggest little fair in the County” had something for everyone.

Amid smiling faces and lots of laughter, young and old alike enjoyed all the fun of the fair as families and friends came out to enjoy some good old-fashioned entertainment with the annual tradition of the rural fall fair the County is known for.