By Jessica Jones for Ponoka News
Ponoka Agricultural Society’s annual Home, Hobby and Horticultural Show went on without a hitch on Aug. 17 and 18, featuring a vast cross-section of local talent.
From paintings, photography, knitting, crocheting, to horticulture, flower arrangements, and the best fruits and vegetables, just to name a few, there was certainly something for everyone at the event. The bench show seeks to honour farms and farming lifestyle and is extraordinarily in its 115th year, along with The Ponoka Agricultural Society.
Kathleen McKelvie, chairperson for the bench show, was pleased to see so many entries from children and youth this year.
“The parents of some of these children put in a lot of work,” she said. “But it’s so great to see these kids get excited about doing things, and doing things with their hands.”
That is exactly what 13-year-old Samuel Kramer, who won a first place ribbon for a wagon he built, did. He lives on a farm with his family just east of Ponoka and decided he was going to build a wagon out of scrap wood in which he could tow behind his bike to feed the family’s goats.
“When you have to load these five gallon pails, the wagon makes it a lot easier,” he said, further noting shyly that he built the wagon in the span of an afternoon.
“It was all very good this year,” McKelvie said. “This (show) really encourages people to get creative and I think we have a lot of creativity in Ponoka.”
Hobby show details
The Home, Hobby and Horticulture Show is a pillar of our community and of the 115 year history of the Ponoka Agriculture Society.
This year’s fair saw fewer entrants and entries then past years, but the enthusiasm of those who did enter was high.
Some divisions such as horticulture, fruit and vegetables saw declines in part due to hail damage and dry conditions. Where other divisions like quilting saw a dramatic increase of 5 times as many entries as compared to last year. The Ponoka Ag Society once again hosted a garden and yard bus tour and new this year was an afternoon tea.
Both were free, but donations for the Ponoka Food Bank were collected at the tea with a total of $83.50 being donated.
Home, Hobby and Horticulture Show - Best of Division and High Points 2018
Winners featured are Best of Division and High Points Winner
• 4-H: Brooklyn Olson
• Photography: Best of Division, Nellie Bos; High Points Winner, Irene Leuck
• Agriculture: Nellie Bos Hiltje Kramer
• Jr. Ag Div. 1: Benjamin Kramer, Benjamin Kramer
• Jr. Ag Div. 2: Jessica Kramer, Samuel Kramer
• Jr. Div. 1: Mylah Rispens, Joshua Kramer
• Jr. Div. 2: Joselyn Bos, Jessica Kramer
• Horticulture: Fred Brosca, Georgina Fath
• Arrangements and Houseplants: Fred Brosca won both
• Vegetable: Fred Brosca won both
• Fruit: Fred Brosca won both
• Culinary Arts: Not given, Katie von Tiesenhausen
• Art: John Courser, Tracy Shaw
• Arts and Crafts Div. 1: Wendy Gardner, Kelly Bell
• Arts and Crafts Div. 2 — Seniors: Nellie Bos won both
• Quilting, Quilts, Rugs and Wall Hangings Div. 1: Not given, Wendy Gardner
• Quilting, Quilts, Rugs and Wall Hangings Div. 2 — Seniors: Maureen Hoogers, Betty McMillen
• Knitting and Crocheting Div. 1: Katie von Tiesenhausen, Crystal Walden
• Knitting and Crocheting Div. 2 — Seniors: Not given, Irene Rausch
• Sewing Div. 1: Donna Rudd, Annette Fenske
• Sewing Div. 2 — Seniors: Irene Rausch won both
• Special Needs: Allison Soosay, Essie Soosay
• From Scratch: Zoran Petrovich
Number of people who entered: 65
Number of new entrants: 18
Total number of entries: 935
