To another 150 years!

After celebrating its first 150 years, the Brome County Agricultural Society is embarking on the next 150 years. The continued success of this agricultural exposition has been due to the dedication of a very large number of volunteers who give countless hours of their time and talent. Finding sufficient numbers of willing volunteers is always a challenge, but it is one that Brome Fair has always managed to meet. With over a hundred people pitching in, the job is not always easy. There are often conflicting ideas which have to be dealt with, but amazingly this group manages to pull together and produce a wonderful event.

In 1856 with the passing of the Agriculture Act, the Brome County Agricultural Society was formed and held its first Fair. The aim at that time was to showcase local livestock breeding for the betterment of each breed. This still happens today with the livestock competitions that take place throughout the weekend. Breeders get to see what has worked for their neighbours, and the general public gets to see where their food comes from. Education has always been a high priority at Brome Fair, which is evident with the time taken for the busloads of school kids that come on Friday. Displays explain various aspects of agriculture; the milking parlour is one example, and the “sheep to shawl” demonstration is another. In an era when most families have had no tie to farming for several generations, this is the only chance for some to see a cow being milked or a sheep being sheared. There is also a large farm machinery display of both new and antique equipment.

Over the years the fair has grown from a one-day event to four full days – which requires more work and more activities to interest one and all, young and old! Some of the volunteers have given 20, 30, and more years to the fair, but if we are going to keep going for another 150 years we will need some new, younger blood to become involved. Brome Fair has been very fortunate so far, but to continue we will have to have sufficient infusions of new blood from time to time.

Labour Day weekend always seems to come and go very fast, and with a little luck the weather makes it great (which is the one very important factor contributing to the success of the fair that can’t be controlled!). Since “all roads lead to Brome Fair”, why not make it your gathering place?

Diana Frizzle