Thunderstorms predicted for Friday did not materialize allowing organizers of the Drayton Fair to experience near perfect weather for the annual event. The fine weather from Aug. 5 to 7 brought steady streams of fair goers to the Drayton fairgrounds.
“It was a great weekend all around. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. The crowds exceeded our expectations. Entries were up in almost every event,” fair president Jim Zantinge said.
The weekend began on Friday night with the local truck and tractor pull on the track. Pulls lasted until the wee hours of the morning due to the high number of entrants. Spectators watched as a few trucks and tractors broke fuel lines and drive shafts. Others successfully navigated the track to earn full pull status. One new event on Friday night was a Fair Euchre inside the agricultural building. Organizers plan to host the event again in 2017 and add a knitters circle and rest station.
Mid morning on Saturday the heavy horses took to the track. A record number of horses were entered in each class. Area resident Chet Martin of Chets Custom Colts, Martin Farm located outside of Arthur explained and demonstrated western reigning. Martin trains horses with behavioural issues and competes in reigning competitions across North America.
The popular goat and dairy shows kept judges busy throughout the afternoon. Children enjoyed Air Bounce Inflatables, Drayton Kinettes’ games and more. Plenty of food vendors were on hand selling everything from Scout Tails (similar to a Beaver Tail) to ice cream. Many vendors commented they sold out of supplies and had to replenish their stock overnight.
New to the Saturday afternoon line up was Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo. Children and adults gathered around to experience hands on leopard tortoises, reticulated snakes, lizards and other reptiles.
The OTTPA tractor and truck pull brought bigger horse power to the track on Saturday evening. Before the event began a trophy was presented in recognition of a dedicated volunteer with the Drayton Fair. The trophy in memory of Daryl Cooper fondly known as “The Happy Hooker” was presented to long time fair volunteer John Zantinge. Daryl Cooper had volunteered at the truck and tractor pulls for a number of years hooking and unhooking vehicles to the pull sled, until his sudden passing in July of 2016. Over 90 competitors from across Ontario entertained spectators. A number of competitors complimented fair organizers on the quality of the track and on how well the event was organized.
Sunday morning’s events began with a breakfast hosted by the Drayton Legion at the fairgrounds.
For the third year in a row the challenge was put out to anyone who could complete the task assigned in the excavator games. This year’s challenge took participants back to their childhood with the game of placing the round peg in the round space and various other shapes in the correct space.
Organizer Brad Schieck said, “We are always looking for ideas to make the challenge harder. Next year there will be a Men’s and a Ladies category. It’s a fun time and we hope that everyone has a good time.”
Entries were up in the youth sheep show and the beef show had four competitors enter the senior division proclaimed by the Judge to be the “Over the Hill” Class.
By 2 pm on Sunday the stands were filled for the final event of the weekend. The Demolition Derby took center stage with 18 registered vehicles. Paw Patrol, Lightning McQueen, Draytona Beach, Ninja Turtle and a Holstein Cow were a few of the vehicles vying for the $1,500 in prize money.
Throughout the weekend antique tractors and equipment were on display. Inside the exhibit building, space was required for an additional 90 exhibitors in classes ranging from baking to woodworking. Anyone interested could walk an alpaca for a nominal fee.
“We had a busy weekend but are extremely pleased with this year’s fair. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered, our sponsors, donors, members and hard working directors. Without all of these people, the fair would not be the success that it is, “ fair board treasurer Arlie Zantinge said.
In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 the theme of the next year’s fair will be “O Canada.”
