Drayton Fair shatters records for attendance, revenue
DRAYTON – Wellington County kicked off agricultural fair season with the 170th annual Drayton Fair on Aug. 7, 8 and 9. Fueled by hot summer weather, the small-town event exceeded expectations by shattering all previous records for both attendance and revenue.
While surrounding areas experienced storms and heavy rain on Saturday, Drayton received only a couple of minor showers that did not deter the crowds from flocking to the fairgrounds and packing the grandstands to witness the truck and tractor pull on Friday and Saturday night, and the demolition derby on Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO 1: Senior showmanship winners Gus Reid and Madi Bott pose with their animals at the Drayton Fair beef show on Sunday. PHOTO 2: Ambassador contestants - From left, Hadley Deckert, Hailey Holzamer, Chloe Mettler, Lila Ottens, and Allyson Rozema smile with their bouquets following the well-attended competition on August 4. Rozema was crowned this year’s junior ambassador, while Mettler was runner up. PHOTO 3: Two soapbox derby competitors have a blast while gripping their steering wheels to keep the cars rolling straight down the track at the soapbox derby held in the parking lot of the Drayton Christian Reform Church. Photos by Sue Hogenkamp
Several new activities were offered this year, including a soapbox derby and a watermelon eating contest. The livestock shows were well-attended, including the dairy, beef, sheep and goat shows, plus the baby show and pet show were enjoyed by a large number of spectators.
Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society president Jim Zantinge said a new shuttle bus was offered allowing fair attendees to leave their vehicle at the PMD Arena so that they would not have to vie for parking on the fairgrounds.
Zantinge was pleased to report that “the arena lot was almost full,” as were the parking areas on the fairgrounds.
Zantinge called the fair “the event of the year” for the ag society and added that he wanted to thank “our great bunch of volunteers who come forward and help for the weekend. Everyone works together and gets along and that’s the way we like it”.
Next year’s fair will once again be held on the second weekend in August.
PHOTO 1: From left, Heidi and Josie Broadfoot enjoy a snuggle with Maple, a one and a half week old dwarf goat at the Drayton Fair on Sunday. PHOTO 2: Avery Broadfoot, left, and Corbin Reid won first and second respectively in the intermediate showmanship class during the Drayton Fair’s beef show on Sunday. PHOTO 3: Wendy Driscoll, centre, is surprised and delighted to receive the red ribbon from judge Delaney Hopkins in the Over-the-Hill showmanship class at the Drayton Fair sheep show on Sunday. Driscoll, who had fun dressing up for the class, is joined by second place winner, Tara Croft. PHOTO 4: The winners of the Peewee showmanship class at the Drayton Fair dairy show on Saturday are from right, Rory Martin, Tyson Dekker and Dallas Noom. They were joined by runner-up Junior Ambassador, Chole Mettler. PHOTO 5: From left, Adam Pilon, Chantell Rowan, Lexi, Rylee and Cali Pilon had a great time at the Drayton Fair on Saturday. PHOTO 6: Junior Ambassador Allyson Rozema leads an alpaca at the fair. PHOTO 7: While surrounding areas experienced storms with heavy rain on Saturday, Drayton was fortunate to receive only a couple of minor showers that did not deter people from enjoying the fair. PHOTO 8: Metal was crunching and mud was flying at the Drayton Fair’s Demolition Derby on Sunday. PHOTO 9: Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson ensures that no hands are used while contestants slurp their way through the first leg of Drayton Fair’s watermelon eating competition. Photos by Sue Hogenkamp
