Maberly Fair, 137 years and still kicking

Craig Bakay | Aug 30, 2019

“Without the community helping out, we’d be over with, so thanks to everyone,” Maberly Fair board president Bill Cameron said in his opening remarks at the 137th annual Maberly Fair Saturday.

It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and enough of a breeze to discourage the bugs.

There was pie, zucchini races, displays, entertainment, just about every kind of farm animal imaginable and even a kilty band wearing cowboy hats.

“It’s good to see this today, I know the board has gone through some challenges,” said Tay Valley Reeve Brian Campbell. “But we’ve got the beautiful weather today.”

In its 137 years, the fair board has performed many community functions, the fair being only one of them.

“Years ago, the society owned a bull,” Cameron said. “Farmers couldn’t afford to own a bull so the society got one.

“It cost $1.50 to have your cow serviced.”

He said in the early 1900s, it cost a dollar to be a member of the Agricultural Society.

“Today, it’s $5,” he said. “But it’s still a good investment.”

It’s an investment Cameron, who’s been on the board eight years, the last three as president, would like to see more people make, not so much in terms of finance, but in terms of commitment.

“We have lots of volunteers for fair day,” Cameron said. “But the rest of the time  . . .

“I’d like to say we’ve got a handle on it but the struggle for us, like all organizations, is age.

“We’re all getting older and there’s few people to replace us.”

Still Cameron is optimistic about the future of the Society and the Fair.

“There are good people here,” he said. “When you come from away, you become part of the community.

“Everybody helps everybody.”

And he’s willing to do what he can for as long as he can.

“I’ve got my cowboy boots on and I’m paying for it,” he said.

If you’d like to help out with the Ag Society or the Fair, contact Cameron at 613-268-2549 or secretary Rosetta McInnes at 613-268-2548 or check out the Mabely Fair website.