ATHABASCA – With help from some new faces, the Rochester Ag Society was able to inject some new life into its annual Summer Fair, which returned for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-day event, Aug. 11-12, had something for everyone, with a dinner and dance Friday night, to a sheep herding display that featured an award-winning border collie corral the livestock into a “pen” of children on Saturday.
Organizers overcame the weather initially and lack of an indoor venue as the Rochester Community Hall is currently closed but by the time the parade and fair started Saturday, the skies had cleared.
“It’s went really well, we’ve had a good turnout, and this is something that brings the community together,” said ag society president Jessie Borris. “We try and keep things relatively cheap so that families can afford to come out, they can bring their kids and enjoy a day out.”
The fair was free, thanks to the help of sponsors and the society. Family-focused activities were abundant and included a petting-zoo, bubble soccer, bouncy castles and chili cook-off.
“Right now we’re really trying to put some more emphasis into what we’re doing and push the ag society out there a little more,” said Borris, who was pulling double duty as the beer garden bartender during the second day. “We’re trying to have more events for kids, more events in the summer and this is part of that effort.”
Besides the fair, the parade, held on Rochester’s Railway Avenue, drew a solid crowd, with families coming from as far away as Edmonton.
“It’s something that’s a tradition and it’s something that people take pride in,” said former Rochester School principal Larry Speers, who says he and his family have entered floats in the parade since they moved to the area in the 1970s. “It’s always been a big thing for the community. It brings everyone together and it’s a chance for everyone to visit.”
“There’s something simple and wholesome about a small town parade,” added David Ries, who moved to the area as an adult and now helps with ag society communications
Kids also got the opportunity to win prizes at small carnival games, including darts and potato-sack races, and the well-attended event spilled over into the arena, where 42 riders competed for a $1,420 pot.
