About the fair
The Beaver Valley Agricultural Society
History and Evolution of the Beaver Valley Fall Fair
The Beaver Valley Agricultural Society is the oldest organization in our community.
It formed in 1870, as the Collingwood Township Agricultural Society, with those original members breaking off from the Euphrasia Township Agricultural Society which had formed almost a decade earlier.
The agricultural societies in Ontario formed with an eye to improving farm stock and crops, with this particular area’s climate being well suited to the production of pasture to feed the various cattle, horses, sheep and swine of those pioneering farmers, plus having excellent grain-producing qualities.
“I have long been of the opinion that much benefit would result to farmers by often meeting at this season of the year and comparing their experiences,” wrote William J. Marsh, the society’s first president, in his annual address in 1878.
From 1850, when Thornbury was little more than a sawmill, to 1870, when the agricultural society formed, Collingwood Township grew to have 3,576 people on 557 farms with 17,055 acres under crop, according to the census records. This fast became a thriving agricultural community.
The agricultural society renamed itself in 1967, becoming the Clarksburg Agricultural Society, in honour of Canada’s centennial year and because the fall fair was held in Clarksburg. When the fall fair moved in 1972 to the Beaver Valley Community Centre in Thornbury, another name change was in order and it became the Beaver Valley Agricultural Society.
The purpose of the annual fall fair hasn’t changed much over the last century and a half. People still show their various homecrafts, baking and preserves, bring their fruits and vegetables, flowers, and hay and grain crops. Animals are still a mainstay, though the huge numbers of cattle, horses, chickens, sheep and pigs that crowded the fairgrounds before the First World War has obviously seen changes.
The fall fair is more than just farmers comparing their annual notes on livestock and crop success and failure. In the days before the telephone, never mind the Internet, people had to meet to communicate. Now we choose to meet to celebrate the annual harvest, to educate tourists and residents alike on our farming history and culture, to promote the local agricultural industry and lifestyle, and to celebrate our community’s life and pride by providing the longest-running community event in The Blue Mountains.
Long live the Beaver Valley Fall Fair!
Beaver Valley Agricultural Society - Past Presidents
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Beaver Valley Agricultural Society - Past Secretaries
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Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies - Service Award Winners
Each year, the Beaver Valley Agricultural Society nominates a dedicated volunteer to be the recipient of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies Service Award. Below is a list of past winners.
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Officers and Directors 2024
President – Serena Wilgress
Past President – Emily McKague
First Vice – President – Vacant
Second Vice-President – Anna Hudson
Secretary – vacant
Treasurer – Tracy Smith
Past Secretary – Joan Corbett-Fujiki 2022
OAAS Award Winners – Wenona and Bill Hammond 2023
DIRECTORS
Heather Kehoe
Sherrie Lee
Becky MacDonald
Terry McKague
Bonnie Rolleston
Peggy Slama
Jane White
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Kim Hall
Lois Lanktree
Andrea Matrosovs
Jason McKague
Lois Plummer
Harvie Reekie
Marianne Reid
Kate Simpson
Linda Venning
Sponsorship Opportunities
Support Your Local Community Fair
The Beaver Valley Fall Fair is the area’s longest continuously running event, celebrating its 150th Fall Fair in 2022.
The cost of organizing and promoting successful events is forever increasing, thus, our reliance upon generous donations grows each year.
We recognize that sponsors are major contributors to the success and future of our fair. Your support and assistance is always greatly appreciated. In return for your financial support, we provide as much promotion and reward as we possibly can.
Any amount or type of assistance will be received with heartfelt thanks. You will be supporting the foundation of this community.
Opportunities include:
- place an ad in our fair book (business card or 1/4 page available)
- become a patron
- donate a prize for one of our many winners
For more information email us at fallfairbeavervalley@gmail.com.