With the short, reddish-brown hair brushed as straight as possible, an electric clipper is used to tidy up the neck; meanwhile, the person brandishing the clipper tells the subject to remain still, stands back to check the work, then holds her breath while she applies a fog of hairspray. Have you ever seen a cow being groomed for the show ring? What about a 1,000-pound giant pumpkin or prize-winning potatoes? If you are interested in food, a trip to the fair is just the thing.
Food, fun and family
A fair is a gathering, a periodic and competitive exhibit of agricultural products crossed with a marketplace and carnival. Going to the fair is a great way to get a sense of where food comes from and to connect with local food and its producers.
Why a day at the fair?
A fair offers fun things for everyone:
• livestock and horticultural competitions
• home baking and preserves
• animal petting zoos
• arts and crafts
• a trip down memory lane for those with agricultural roots
• serious stuff aside, try the cotton candy and amusements
Across the country
Fairs organized at a municipal, county or district level by agricultural societies occur Canada-wide. Locals enter competitions in such categories as horticulture, preserves, baking, knitting and quilt making. All this is usually accompanied by games and amusements -- and don't forget the candy apples!
For example, the Brome Fair in southern Quebec has taken place since 1856. While the village has a population of just 250, it grows to over 40,000 during the fair! Those interested in seeing red cranberries ready for harvest can attend the Bala Cranberry Festival in Bala, Ont., to visit cranberry bogs, learn how cranberries are grown and harvested, then visit a market with local foods and crafts.
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