A “Fair” Day!

I see it every morning when I walk down my bedroom stairs: “Bigger and Better Than Ever.” The sign on my wall portrays the good old days of the Sutton Fair & Horse Show two day event.  It was definitely not “bigger” than it is today, but it may have been “better.”  That I will never know, as I did not live in those days, when the Cannington Silver Cornet Band played, a High Class Concert took place at the Town Hall and the horse racing relished in its prime, with big cash prizes and “Must be driven by a boy” advertisements.  My dad bought me this vintage (reproduction) sign when it was the 150th anniversary of the Sutton Agricultural Society ten years ago.  I marvel at it all the time and wish the real one was in my house – a much larger version of the poster from September 29 & 30th 1910. 

The secretary at that time was Howard Morton.  Since this period many secretary/treasurers have passed through those doors and I wonder how much the office routine has changed since decades before my time.  I am certain QuickBooks was not on the market and laptops were not used to take meeting minutes!  The telephone was a hot commodity in 1910, something I take for granted in the office, but sometimes wish it was never invented when messages start piling up around fair time! 

Times have undoubtedly changed over the years:  agriculture has changed; entertainment has changed; technology has significantly changed; and the cost to run an event such as this has undeniably changed.  Gone are the days of $0.25 admission for adults and $0.15 admission for children.  Furthermore, agriculture is not valued by the public to the same degree that it once was.  Curiosity is still present, but the lifestyle has dwindled, therefore the knowledge and interest has too.  I am glad that our fair continues to promote agriculture to a high degree, through demonstrations and displays to engage and educate youth.  A lot has changed over nearly two centuries, but the joy of being part of such a tremendous four day event is still there – unchanged. 

It’s not every day you see politicians with clowns and farmers mingling with city dwellers, but at the Sutton Fair & Horse Show, you do!  When all is said and done and the rain has fallen or the sun has shone...volunteers have packed up and fair goers have gone home, we can once again pat ourselves on the back for another year that has come and gone successfully. 

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