It Was the Little Fair That Could After All

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With more than 550 people contributing 4,000 entries and another 6,000 attending (all records) the recent 103rd Annual Priddis & Millarville Fair was an overwhelming success.
"It all came together in a really positive way," said Fair Chairman Bill Powell. "In the end, we may have had something in the area of 6,000 people through the gates, including kids under 12 and Fair people. That's way more than double what the Fair has normally had in the past and I had people telling me through the day it was the most fun they'd had in a long time. It was just great to see all the smiles and that's a wonderful reward to all of the volunteers who came together to make it all happen after the events of April."
The decision of the Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society to fully integrate the popular Millarville Farmer's Market into the Fair created a carnival-like atmosphere while the additions of a Youth Committee as well as light horse (Pony Club) and cattle (4-H) also infused new energy into the event.
“We want to ensure we were strengthening not only the Fair but also other MRAS activities by reaching out and including other local community groups like the Pony Club and 4-H," said MRAS President John Dakers. "We'll all be stronger and building a better community by working together."
That renewed Fair momentum should carry through into subsequent years as well, says Mr. Powell. "I think this year has re-charged everyone involved," he said. "We were particularly happy to see more younger people stepping forward through the Youth Group."
"Kid's World," a larger, special area set aside with many activities for children, was a great success in enticing young families to the Fair, with more than 500 children passing through. Beyond that, the petting zoo was highly popular and children of all ages were entering the Fair in competitions as varied as junior photography, junior baking or junior woodworking and crafts.
The Fair day wound down with a fitting conclusion to the much anticipated mystery of who might take home "Millie The Massey," the rust-covered but still functional 1950 Massey Harris 44 tractor donated by Millarville-area businessman Paul Teskey. In turning the aging workhorse over to the Fair, he would have no idea the tractor would eventually be named Millie, would be the unlikely subject of dire threats from military fighter pilots and local fire departments, would be hugged adoringly by a famous blonde starlet and would raise $10,000 for the Fair and the Alberta Farm Safety Centre.
More than that, says Mr. Powell, Millie served as a rallying cry for volunteers and a source of humour for the entire community.
"It was an odd thing that became a big thing," said Mr. Powell. "Everybody was really into it and having fun with it."
There were several loud "WHOOP's" from the back of a crowd of several hundred as Mr. Teskey read the winning entry of the tractor at the Fair's Stampede Stage. The source of the outburst was someone familiar to most, Fair photography committee chair Myrna McKay, who ran boisterously through the crowd, arms pumping the air, saying she was the source of the winning entry, having paid for the ticket and written the name of her friend Denis Nate, a city dweller, who apparently had no idea his name was in the mix.
It's only at your local county Fair that such a story would be taken at face value, without a hint of doubt or the raising of an eyebrow, and Ms. McKay could complete the scene by acting as agent for the absent winner in concluding a public handshake deal with Michael Weinberg, Executive Producer of the internationally syndicated TV series "Heartland" to have Millie used as a set prop in an episode, with Millie ultimately being donated back to the Fair.
Without doubt, the 2010 Priddis & Millarville Fair will be forever linked to Millie The Massey.
The Priddis & Millarville Fair, a tradition now more than a century old, brings together not only generations of ranching and farm families from across southern Alberta to proudly participate in displays and competitions involving livestock, garden produce, baking and other aspects of rural life but also local town and city folk who enjoy a day in the country.
The Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society (MRAS) was founded in 1907 and overseas all events/functions at the Millarville Race Track, located about 30 minutes southwest of Calgary. MRAS oversees the upcoming Millarville Christmas Market on November 5th to 7th, the 106th Millarville Races on July 1st, 2011, the 15th Annual Millarville Rodeo in 2011, the 104th Priddis & Millarville Fair in August 2011 and the always popular Millarville Farmer's Market running every Saturday from late Spring to early Fall. More information about the society and its events, including the Market, Rodeo, Fair and Races, can be found at www.millarvilleracetrack.com

Photographs See Page 20