Fair goes this weekend
By Bill Rea

The 157th edition of Schomberg Agricultural Fair is set to go this weekend, and people planning to attend are asked to keep their fingers crossed in the interest of good weather.

In addition to crossing fingers, Schomberg Agricultural Society Secretary-Manager Andy MacPherson asked people to cross anything else they might think will help. "Legs, toes and anything else they can cross," he said.

Whether the weather co-operates or no, there is going to be lots to see and do at the fairgrounds, from the opening of the Midway Thursday night to the naming of the next Fair Ambassador, traditionally one of the last events of the weekend.

This year's fair is going to focus on the dairy industry, and MacPherson said there are going to be a number of exhibits and events to highlight that important part of agriculture.

Maple the mechanical cow will be on display on the arena floor, and he said there will be some live cows throughout the grounds. MacPherson was also looking forward to the annual Farm Olympics Saturday night, expecting dairy cattle to play some kind of role in that event.

As well, MacPherson said there will be antique milking equipment and accessories on display over the weekend.

Another new attraction this year is the Schomberg Idol competition. This project, run by the agricultural society, in cooperation with Arcadia Academy of Music in Nobleton, is aimed at promoting community pride and involvement, cultural environment, youth involvement and youth opportunity.

It started with 13 local young people who have been performing at various local events. The field has been gradually reduced over the last couple of months, and the finalists will be on the line this weekend. They will be performing Thursday night at the annual event for the sponsors, and then take to the stage for real at noon Saturday. A couple of hours later, the name of the first ever Schomberg Idol should be known.

MacPherson is also enthused about the appearance of the Ladies Belgian Mounted Brigade in the Show Ring. Their display of precision formation riding will go at 2 p.m. Saturday, and he said it should be impressive to see these "young ladies riding the big heavy Belgian horses."

Tall Tex, the stilt walker, will be returning by popular demand, and Alex, the CNE Beaver, will be on hand as well. They will be touring the grounds, making sure everyone is having a good time.

The arena will be an important place to visit too, for various home crafts exhibits, as well as displays of the work of local school students. It will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 until 4:30 Sunday.

The Fair Farm will be in operation too, allowing younger folks the chance to see some farm animals up close.

There are a couple of other new wrinkles for people to see at this year's fair, but the traditional stuff that people have come to expect are still in the works.

"Plenty more good stuff," he said. "The things people like."

In addition to the opening of the Midway, Thursday night will also feature a showcase of bands in the big tent, with the talents of local groups O.P.D., Eclypse and Dawn's Shadow on display.

As usual, Friday is going to be a very busy evening at the Fair.

Numerous local celebrities and other dignitaries will be taking part in the opening ceremonies, starting at 6:30 p.m. those who are seeking excitement after the grand opening will be able to take in the euchre play in the community hall, starting at 7, or wait until 7:30 and watch cars crash into each other in the annual and always popular demolition derby.

The Midway will also be open for the evening.

The schedule for Saturday is nothing if not packed.

The gates will open at 9 a.m., and the first big event of the day is going to be the Heavy Horse Show, starting at 10.

The Midway is going to open at 10:30, but the real excitement will commence at 11, when the annual Fair parade starts making its way along the streets of the village toward the Fairgrounds.

At that same hour, the Sheep Show is slated to start, and there will be shearing demonstrations throughout the day.

The Bavarian Garden will open in the big tent at noon. At the same time, the first of three Dog Smart Canine Shows will get under way.

The remaining Idol hopefuls will start showing their stuff at that time too on the main stage.

Other attractions will include the showing of the six-horse hitches in the show ring, starting at 1:30. That will also be a good time for the younger folks to head over to the tennis courts at the north end of the grounds to register for the Peddle Pull.

After a full day at the Fair, those who haven't devoted too much time to all the goodies available at the numerous booths on the grounds may want to think about dinner. Schomberg United Church will be hosting a roast beef dinner at the community hall from 4:30 until 7 p.m.

Or if you would prefer chicken, The folks at the Presbyterian church will be barbecuing chicken from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in front of the church on Main Street. They will be selling complete chicken dinners (both quarter and half chickens) or just the chicken sold separately if you choose.

But don't take too long for dinner, because Saturday evening will be busy too.

There will be another Showcase of bands in the big tent, starting at 6:30. The groups on the bill are Rock King City, Muscle, triple threat, Before the Dawn and Ascending Pilgrims.

And there will be plenty of excitement in the show ring, starting at 6;30, as various teams will entertain the crowd at the annual Farm Olympics.

The evening will wrap up with the vintage tractor pull, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Interested in a good Sunday morning breakfast? Members of the Schomberg Lions Club probably have just what you're looking for. Their annual pancake breakfast will be served at the community hall from 8 until 11 a.m.

Between breakfast and waiting for the Midway to open at 10:30, fair-goers will be able to check out some cute little critters at the Rabbit and Cavy Show, which starts at 10.

The South Simcoe 4H Clip-N-Fit slated to go at 10:30.

The arena will open at the 11 a.m., and that's the same time the Goat Show is scheduled to start. MacPherson said this year's show promises to be "huge."

The Open and Junior Beef and Junior Dairy Shows will also start at 11, and that will be the hour to register for the Pet and Mutt Show, which will get going at 11:30.

There will be horseshoe pitching in the derby pit, with registration starting at 11:30 and actual competition going at noon.

If you have a beautiful baby, the Baby Show will be the perfect place to show him or her off. Registration is at noon, and the show begins at 1 p.m.

And when the stage is not occupied by Idol contestants or the pet show, it's certainly not going to be deserted. There's going to be entertainment throughout, including many performers of local note.

Saturday will include performances by the Twist and Shout Cloggers at 1 and 2:30 p.m., students from Purdy Centre for the Arts at 1:30, Bond Head Olde Tyme Fiddlers at 3:30, local singer Paul-Luca Canzio at 4:30 and Canadian Idol contestant Brock Groombridge at 5.

Sunday's performers will include the King City Secondary School Jazz Band at 1 p.m., students from the Arcadia Academy at 1:30, Schomberg singer Geoff Perry at 3 and Kim Baldesarra at 4.

Getting to the Fair will be made a little easier to get to thanks to a shuttle bus, which will be running from the local LCBO store to the gates.