CALEDONIA—The Caledonia Agricultural Society kicked off the 152nd Caledonia Fall Fair by embracing this year’s theme: “Sew It, Grow It, Show It.”
The theme highlights the fair’s commitment to showcasing the talents of local exhibitors. The Homecraft & Junior Fair Prize Book explains, “In six short words, our theme describes the purpose and goal of our Homecraft Committee.”
Homecraft President Beth Wise added, “Our exhibitors spend their valuable time creating beautiful needlecraft, nurturing their crops and flowers, training and showing their livestock, capturing stunning photographs of our community, and so much more.”
The fair is renowned for its generous prize offerings, providing over $50,000 in awards across agricultural, homecraft, and school categories. Participants brought their entries to the Caledonia Fairgrounds the Wednesday before the event, where they were judged by certified Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OASS) judges on the Thursday before the fair opens to the public.
Fairs across Ontario are in need of new judges across various categories – including quilts, antiques, baking, and produce; anyone interested in becoming a certified judge or learning about OASS judges should visit ontarioagsocieties.com for more information.
The weekend festivities from September 26 to 29, 2024 featured a packed schedule across the Caledonia Fairgrounds and inside the Riverside Exhibition Centre. This included the World’s Finest Shows Midway and performances on three stages. Attendees enjoyed acts like Bandaloni, illusionist Lucas Wilson, Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo, and the Global Pet Foods Superdogs, among others.
The Haldimand 4-H Association held their Livestock Achievement Day on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Caledonia Fair as well. Almost 90 members competed in beef, dairy, and rabbit. The show finished with the Overall Grand Champion Livestock Showperson competition, which was won by Rebekah Passow with Elizabeth LeBlanc the Reserve Champion. See more on Page 8.
The winner of this year’s highschool challenge, held annually on the Friday evening of the fair, was McKinnon Park Secondary School. This event sees a group from each of Haldimand’s four high schools competing in team events for bragging rights and a cash prize.
A highlight of the fair was the annual 50/50 draw, this year offering online ticket sales as well. The lucky winner took home $8,885 this year.
The Caledonia Fair extended heartfelt gratitude to its dedicated volunteers, visitors, vendors, and exhibitors. In a post on social media, the fair organizers stated, “Your hard work and commitment is the heart of our events. Thank you for making the event vibrant and lively.”
With its rich history and community involvement, the Caledonia Fair continues to be a cherished tradition, bringing together people from across the region to celebrate agricultural heritage and local talent.