Boots and ponchos were key accessories this year at Expo Ormstown, as torrential downpours mixed with sunbursts, rainbows, and a lot of puddles graced all four days of the fair. Luckily, fairgoers were game, and the rain didn’t stop a thing.
“We are a-okay after this,” says Livestock Breeders Association (LBA) manager Sue Morison, who admits the numbers will be down from the past two years, but not significantly. “The rain did not scare people away,” she confirms, noting the parking lots were closed on Saturday night because they were full.
Before the event even began, the LBA inaugurated the new dining hall with a roast beef dinner on the eve of the fair to celebrate the partnership with Campbell Amusements. The dining hall also hosted a stage, and meals were served throughout the weekend. “It was so nice to see it there and watch people come in,” Morison says. “We are so pleased with it,” she adds, noting the door frames and doors in the building were all constructed using recuperated wood from the original hall.
The fair kicked off Thursday evening with the traditional parade. This year’s theme reflected the 50th anniversary of the Campbell Amusements midway, and the floats included everything from an iconic Ferris wheel and carousel to that most infamous stomach churner, The Zipper. “I loved the effort that all of the schools and everyone put into the parade,” says Morison. The winning float was entered by École Notre-Dame de Rosaire, while Hemmingford Elementary placed second, followed by Franklin Elementary.
All of the scheduled events took place in spite of the weather, which turned rather threatening at times. “We were concerned about whether to run the tractor pulls or not, but we did,” shrugs Morison. When it rained, the indoor activities saw heavier traffic, including the fantastic Ag Awareness displays and activities hosted by Ormstown 4-H members in the barns. The horse show and cattle judging also benefitted from some extra viewers.
The resilient workers manning the midway rides and games made sure everyone was safe but got the rides spinning again as quickly as possible following each shower. The grandstands were full all weekend, and no one watching the demolition derby on Sunday was turned off by the extra mud in the pit.
When asked whether he was bothered by the rain, one young fairgoer shook his head decisively. “No! I am having fun anyway,” he said, before jumping back in line for another go-round on the bumblebees.
“Everybody is happy,” says Morison with a smile, before emphatically thanking her team of volunteers, who once again made sure everything fell into place for a great fair.