The Harrow Fair does more than mark the end of summer.
It carries on the traditions of pie baking contests, cattle judging, lawnmower races, tractor pulls, a roster calling contest, the Saturday morning parade and evening entertainment. There is always something for everyone!
The Brad and Joanne Stannard Memorial Pie Auction at the 2024 Harrow Fair has raised a record-breaking $117,500.
Money from the event on Thursday goes towards the John McGivney Children’s Centre.
Emma Denotter is a director with the Harrow Fair board.
“Our numbers were down from last year, we were more on target from 2019,” she said. “The heat on Friday played a factor, even the vendors noticed it.”
Julie Unholzer is the one of the 4-H Dairy Club Leaders. “We had fifteen members here today for the Dairy Show, ranging in age from nine to twenty-one. They get split into classes, junior, intermediate, and senior classes,” she said. “They compete against each other for how well they know how to show their animal, then on to conformation, which is based more on the age and the look of your cow.”
First place for Grand Champion Show Person was Jane Morrison who shows for Bally Bright Farms.
Nine-year-old Teia Jacques was first for Conformation, showing for Wridair Farms. This was her first year competing at this level, but said “I’ve done Peewee before.”
“We go to a farm three days a week to practice,” said Jacques, who thinks she will compete again next year. “I really liked how people are nice, how people take care of the animals, and how good they are,” said Jacques. “I also learned a couple of new things today.”
The parade on Saturday was lively with approximately two dozen floats. The award for best agriculture float went to South SX Livestock, in memory of Jay Anger, and best commercial float award went to Harrow Home Hardware.
“We would like to thank all the volunteers for their hard work, this fair wouldn’t be possible without them, they make the ferris wheel go around,” said Denotter.
The opening ceremony for the Harrow Fair was last Thursday evening.
Libro Credit Union was a major sponsor and regional manager Lori Atkinson helped present a cheque to the board.
“This event is a cherished tradition in the county, bringing friends, family and neighbours to celebrate the spirit in Harrow,” she said.
The fair celebrates “the deep roots of agriculture” and Atkinson recognized those who helped organize the event.
“It celebrates the vital role agriculture plays in our lives,” she said.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said the 170 years the Harrow Fair has been running “is no small feat.” She referred to it as a tradition for many people in Essex County.
“The fair means so much to so many people,” she said.
Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley represented the County of Essex and joined Bondy in celebrating the 170-year history. He said he always looked forward to the fair throughout his life.
Essex MP Chris Lewis called the fair “a celebration of agriculture” and said he couldn’t serve the community without the service of the farming community.
Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) CEO Gordon Orr officially opened the fair. He thanked the board, the volunteers, vendors, sponsors and the public for supporting it. Generations of farmers have made the Harrow Fair an annual tradition, he stated.
“Agri-tourism is an important pillar for our organization,” added Orr.
Harrow Fair continues its 170-year tradition of celebrating agriculture
By Donna Tuckwell & Ron Giofu
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