The Ponoka Community Fair has evolved again, and with deadlines approaching fast, organizers urge the community break out their talents and participate.
“We need more people entering,” said Janet Hatala, convenor for the home, hobby and horticulture show, previously named the bench show.
The show was renamed for rebranding purposes. Not everyone knew what a bench show was and this name was seen as more appealing and direct.
Age changes within the show include raising the junior division 2 age to 17 from from 16.
Hatala, who’s entered her yard in the show numerous times, keeps an eye out for spectacular yards within the community. “There are lots of beautiful yards out there.”
“We always encourage people to enter, even if they don’t think their yard is qualified to enter,” said convenor Gail Shaver, who has noticed people are reluctant to enter their own yards because they don’t see the yard’s worth.
Hatala urges those who entered their yards in the Town of Ponoka Pride in Your Property competition to enter their yards in the fair too.
When yards are maintained the community gets more respect. “Emotionally it’s nice to sit someplace and feel you have an appealing environment,” Shaver said.
“It also creates a habitat for wildlife.”
One part of the fair Hatala likes is that judges give pointers and comments to those who enter their yards. The competition is another draw. “You want to see how your yard is judged against others.”
There are also new categories in the fair.
The From Scratch Division is new. According to fair co-chair Dona Rudd, this category is for people who design an object by themselves, without a pattern.
“It has to do totally with your own imagination and totally your own skills.”
Another new division is All Things Christmas. It was created so Christmas products, such as crafts, baking and decorations could be judged separately.
Rudd said other categories have been updated to keep them modern. The photography has been modified to encompass the techniques of digital cameras.
There is a new section under the ag division called farm produce. This section judges butter, lard, soap, eggs, wool, and wine and beer products. And, while it’s not new, Rudd is proud of the youth section, which continues to grow each year.
New contests of the fair include bubble gum and hula hoop contests. There will also be greased pig races and a hobby horse race that requires making a hobbyhorse, naming it and racing within one hour.
Rudd is cautioning people to pick up information booklets and specifically read the last two pages. Two areas of the Ponoka Ag Event Centre are being used for the competitions, so procedures for bringing products in are different.
“We’re really excited about being in the new centre,’ Rudd said.
The fair takes place Aug. 10 and 11, judging will take place July 28, and awards will be given Aug. 11.
Information booklets about the fair can be picked up at Busted, Crawford Insurance, CIBC and Ponoka News.