Meet the team of volunteers behind the Drayton Farm Show
The Kinsmen Club of Drayton initiated in 1968
DRAYTON – For over 40 years the Kinsmen Club of Drayton has put on a farm show that attracts thousands of visitors.
This year, show chair Chris Finneran expects more of the same, with over 100 exhibitors representing multiple facets of the farming industry.
“It’s a good opportunity to learn more about farming,” Finneran told the Advertiser.
The Drayton Kinsmen have been “serving the community’s greatest need” since 1968 through fundraising projects and community service – as per their motto.
“The show was started by the original group of Kinsmen that started the Drayton chapter,” Finneran said.
He noted the show’s original purpose was to get the farming community together and make connections.
The Drayton chapter of the Kinsmen Club has been “ingrained” in the agriculture industry since the beginning, as its original members were farmers, Finneran said.
Over the decades the show has turned into the club’s most significant fundraising event, bringing in roughly $50,000 each year.
Finneran doesn’t believe the show was intended to create such revenue, but the pattern has stayed consistent due to its popularity.
Last year, close to 3,000 people attended the two-day event.
“The whole mission of Kinsmen is to serve the local community so all of the money goes back into the community throughout the remainder of the year,” Finneran explained.
This occurs through various events and donations.
“A large part of our world ... is donations,” Finneran said.
Over the past few years the club has provided a donation of $30,000 to the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation’s MRI+ Campaign.
“Last year we donated $10,000 to The Grove,” said Finneran referring to the youth wellness hub across from Norwell District Secondary School in Palmerston.
Asked what Finneran hopes guests take away from the event, he said, “First of all that they have fun. I hope they learn more about farming or a different aspect of farming.”
The farm show will be hosted at the PMD Arena on April 8 and 9.
For more information visit the show’s Facebook page.
