FERGUS – The Fergus Fall Fair has always been a part of Sarah Shaw’s life — she was born on a fair weekend.
Some of the 22-year-old Belwood resident’s earliest memories are of running around the fairgrounds with family.
Now, she’s selected as 2025-26 fair ambassador, following in the footsteps of other women in her family, including her mother and aunts, who held the roles in 1989, ’91 and ’93.
“It was always something I was interested in, because of that personal aspect as well as just appreciating the organization and the fair,” Shaw told the Advertiser.
She competed against three others vying for title. Shaw was interviewed, created a display about herself, gave a speech and answered questions in front of an audience.
She fielded an impromptu question about challenges facing agriculture — a stressful moment, she said.
Shaw wasn’t brought up on a farm (her family had some chickens) but the fair has provided endless learning opportunities about agriculture, which she has been keen to pick up on.
In her speech, she brought together this year’s “jammin’” music theme, and ideas about connection and agriculture.
“Music and the fair, to me, the biggest part of both of those things is connection, connecting to other people,” she said.
This year there’s a new mainstage featuring country performers such as Chris Clark, Cara Smith, Tianna Woods, Dean James, and Jessica Sevier.
Earning her requisite high school volunteer hours, Shaw began helping with the fair at the former “harvest café” in the fair’s exhibition hall.
“The event is just evolving and changing and growing so much,” she said.
Shaw’s appreciation for how the fair comes together has matured – she has coordinated a roster of volunteers for three years – but she still anticipates the down-home fun each year.
“There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes to make all of this happen, and I love to walk around and see everybody else enjoying the events and things that are happening,” she said.
Shaw is most looking forward to the fair’s evening music acts.
“Those will be really exciting shows to see.”
The 188th Fergus Fall Fair – themed “Jammin’ at the Fair” – runs Sept. 12 to 14 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
