With just over a week to go before the 110th edition of Expo Ormstown, the grounds and buildings are ready for the June 11 start to the fair.
The renovations to the Industrial Building will be completed in time, said Livestock Breeders Association general manager Sue Morison. “It was a stressful deadline, but we have a fantastic group of people that work so hard and care so much about the building, from the cement floor to the heating system to all the woodwork that was lovingly taken down, cleaned, and then put back up,” she explained.
The building will play a significant role in this year’s event, as fairgoers will pass through it to pay their admission before entering the grounds. This should eliminate traffic jams on the roads, as visitors will pay after parking.
Morison said space for the midway has also been expanded to allow for improved accessibility and shorter lineups. Online ticket pre-sales are already higher than last year, and Morison confirmed that entries for exhibits are streaming in.
The theme for this year’s parade on Thursday, June 11, is “Agriculture Around the World,” with participants selecting different countries for their floats. The parade will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be immediately followed by the opening ceremonies, a sheep-herding demonstration, and lots of squeals during the pig round-up.
Friday will feature horse shows and competitions including the six-horse hitch, the ASTTQ tractor pulls, and the return of the “Penny for Your Thoughts” public speaking contest for Grade 6 students.
The 4-H showmanship competition and the garden-tractor pull will take place on Saturday. The horse show runs in the afternoon into the evening. An arm-wrestling competition will also take place at 3 p.m. The horse show will continue Sunday morning, before the demolition derby revs up at 12:30 p.m.
The midway will be open throughout the weekend, along with line dancing, agricultural demonstrations, and live music closing each night at the entertainment tent.