Kevin Berger – Leader Staff
A Show N’ Shine and Summer Market will be held at the Rich Valley Agriplex next Saturday, Aug. 24, as a fundraiser for repairs to the facility.
The Rich Valley Show N’ Shine will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds to the south of the arena. The Show N’ Shine will welcome all kinds of cars, trucks and hot rods, as well as a category for “Every Day Drivers.”
Marlene DeZaeyer, who is organizing the event with her sister Yvonne, said she has her fingers crossed that at least 100 vehicles will show up for the event.
“It’s the same weekend that our old fair used to be, and we’re hoping to just generate some enthusiasm and … kind of run off what we got going with the Kraft Hockeyville contest,” DeZaeyer said.
Those who do bring out their vehicles can win a Competitor’s Choice Award, which will be decided by the participants, or a Best of Show award that will be chosen by public voting.
“If someone brings a vintage motorcycle with a sidecar (and) that’s the one everybody votes for, that’s the one that wins,” she said. “We want to make it fun for everybody.”
The entry fee for the Show N’ Shine is $20 for the first vehicle, $15 for the second and third vehicle and free for any vehicles after that.
While presenters are welcome to sign up on the day of the event, there is a form available at the website www.richvalleyag.ca that presenters can fill out and then e-mail in to: [email protected]
All proceeds will go to the Rich Valley Enhancement Fund. As reported in the Aug. 6 edition of the Barrhead Leader, the Rich Valley arena is set to be back in operation this fall after raising sufficient funds to repair the facility’s ice plant.
When asked why her family was organizing the Show N’ Shine, DeZaeyer noted her father was one of the original members of the Rich Valley Ag Society that built the arena, and she had brought her children and grandchildren there.
“We were involved with four generations,” she said, noting that when Rich Valley was shut down, they went to Barrhead for public skating but it “just wasn’t the same.”
Besides the Show N’ Shine, there will also be the Rich Valley Summer Market being held in the rink from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market will feature a variety of vendors selling handmade creations, antiques, baking, fresh produce, art and other goods.
There will also be a beer garden and concession that is open to the public, as well as a private ball tournament happening on the north side of the arena.
