Rain or shine, the 100th edition of the Ormstown Fair is going ahead with a roster of family-friendly events.
“Mother Nature tried to throw us a curve ball yesterday but she’s going to have to do much worse than that to get our spirits down,” said popcorn and chicken farmer Steve Lalonde.
Lalonde told CBC's All In a Weekend host Sonali Karnick on Saturday that he has been going to the Ormstown Fair for more than 20 years. Like many people in town, he eventually found himself involved in the fair; he currently is on the poultry committee, while his wife paints murals at the annual event.
The Ormstown Fair began in 1909, but was put on hold during the war years, from 1940-1944. Its reputation for livestock exhibitions, equestrian events and agricultural and farm equipment displays make it a good opportunity for people to reconnect with their families' country roots.
“It’s a chance to get back and make a connection with farming now. You get to see the actual farm animals, not just a petting zoo-type thing, although we do have that and it’s very well set up. We bring in some chickens from the barn. Right now we have birds in the barn that are 5 days old," Lalonde said.
The Ormstown Fair goes until Sunday, June 15. The 100 bagpipers band will start playing at 2 p.m. on Sunday.