Hundreds of area residents headed to Busby over the weekend to take in the annual Farmers’ Days festival.
The weekend’s activities are one of the biggest events in Busby each year, drawing people from all over the region.
The weekend’s activities began Thursday evening with the first game of a slo-pitch tournament, which finished up on Sunday. The bulk of the activities, however, took place on Saturday.
The day began with a breakfast served at the community hall, followed by a parade through town.
A farmer’s market then opened up in the school gym, which was a new addition to the festival this year. About a dozen vendors were selling everything from baking to preserves to artwork.
The real highlight for many, judging by the crowds, was the spread of activities at the fairgrounds. While the baseball tournament continued on, there were also inflateable activities for the kids and a money pit, as well as artists providing face painting and temporary tattoos.
A gymkhana also provided some excitement and a real country feel to the event.
One festival-goer from out of the province, Curtis Williams, said he and his wife were just passing through when they saw the action and stopped. They were “very impressed” with the event.
“I never would have expected this in such a small town,” he said.
He added they were especially impressed with the gymkhana, which is something they’d never seen as residents of Vancouver.
“These kids are better on a horse than I would ever be,” Williams said.
About a dozen kids took part in the gymkhana, some of them as young as two years old.
Pat Smith, who was working with some of the young riders, said she was always impressed by the Busby gymkhana because for more than 50 years, it has been such a good family oriented activity.
She has been involved with horses for several decades and said she has seen the benefits for kids first-hand.
“It makes them less afraid,” she said. “It builds their confidence up and gives them a sense of responsibility.”
She added that while many parents of young children think a pony is the best way to start riding, that’s just not true. A pony cannot be properly trained by an adult rider, which can make them more dangerous.
“I’d sooner put a kid on a full-grown horse than a pony any day,” she said.
The Busby Farmers’ Days festival was just one of many similar festivals that will take place in the region this summer.
The next one will be this Saturday in Clyde for the Summer Solstice Parade and Fair, which will also include a parade, a gymkhana, and many activities for kids.
