There is something impressive and humbling about attending a fair in a small town that has persisted year after year and has now rounded the corner on its 100th birthday.
We learned in doing pre-fair coverage this year that the Westlock & District Ag Society went through rough patches in previous years — rough patches that could have led to its demise, taking the fair with it.
It’s a testament to what the society and the fair mean to the wider Westlock community that both continue to exist to this day, 100 years after first coming into existence.
It speaks to how important the agriculture and livestock lifestyle is to this community that people banded together when times were tough to keep the society and fair alive.
People could just have easily just walked away from the fair and let it die because of the problems — like any other volunteer organization getting bodies to do the work and dollars to keep the lights on is a constant challenge.
But they didn’t pack it in. Those involved instead stuck to their guns and showed the persevering Alberta spirit we’re all proud of.
Why?
There’s no single reason that immediately jumps to mind. Maybe it’s because it’s a nice diversion from the hard work of running a farm, a good break before the real hard work of harvest starts up, or they just like the challenge of bringing in the best garden produce, baking, handiwork or livestock.
Or maybe it’s because it’s something that became so ingrained in their lifestyle that the idea it could disappear was simply intolerable.
There probably isn’t anyone who could say for sure, and if you survey 100 people, you would probably get 100 different reasons why they come out to the fair now.
There’s lots to choose from — the rodeo and the races, the midway rides and games, the old-school farming techniques being demonstrated, the parade that seemed to go on for miles, or the opportunity to cheer on the home team in the league finals.
Whatever the reason people go, one thing is certain.
The people behind the scenes of this fair and all the people who lend their support in one way or another have a century worth of accomplishments to be proud of.
