It’s Fair Day in Meaford. The agricultural fair was a major event in the pioneer towns of the Queen’s Bush (as folks called Grey County back then). Well before the town of Meaford incorporated in 1874, the Meaford & St. Vincent Agricultural Society was holding an annual fall fair that brought families from miles ’round to town.

According to meaford.com, “The first exhibition of the St. Vincent Agricultural Society was held in the village of Meaford in 1855 on a site called the ‘beaver meadow’. The early society struggled and as late as 1865 had only 40 members. In 1867, the township council granted the princely sum of $10 to erect pens and fences on the market square for the annual fair. Two years later, the fair was moved to Purdy’s Flats after a dispute with the township council cost the society the use of the market square. The fair was moved back to Meaford five years later. The society changed sites several times over the next few years until the present site on Collingwood Street was acquired in 1905.”

Now, 106 years later, you can take part in this tradition and attend the Fall Fair in the location it has enlivened every September since then. Even today, the fair continues to showcase livestock and working farm animals, including displays of heavy horses rarely used on today’s mechanized farm. The local 4H club shows off its stuff. Poultry and rabbit shows evoke “Aaaah”s from kids and adults alike. And the traditional pancake breakfast and kids’ pony rides round out the show.

4H kids take the stage at the Fall Fair (photo: www.themeafordindependent.ca)

The fairgrounds are located on Collingwood Street beside the curling club and across from the arena.