It is quite an accomplishment to earn the title of Champion Novice Beef Show person. The award was presented to Farran Stacy #142 by members of the Moffat family in memory of Carrie Moffat. Tinkess Photo

METCALFE – Fair season in this area wrapped up last weekend with the 169th edition of the Metcalfe Fair, and fairgoers were treated with bright, sunny skies and warmer than normal temperatures for much of the weekend. It provided a great opportunity to take in fair that knows its audience, providing lots of popular activities while still maintaining its rural, agricultural roots.

You see, while the village of Metcalfe may be a part of the Greater City of Ottawa, in its soul it is still a small rural community, knowledgeable of its history and the traditions that reach back many generations.

The fair manages to keep up with the present without sacrificing its past. You will find the latest food trends, but also antique farm implements, livestock and every type of homecraft you can imagine.

Judging by the crowds on Saturday (Carleton Mushroom Day), it was the place to be, whatever your reason for being there.

For many people the big attraction is the midway, and there was an excellent selection to choose from, whether you wanted to be upside down 50 feet in the air, or you wanted something a little tamer. There were rides a family could enjoy together, like the Ferris wheel or the carousel, but there were also plenty of things young children could enjoy on their own and get that first taste of independence.

If you weren’t into the rides, early in the day was a good time to stroll through the extensive display of antique machinery. There were tractors of all colours and sizes as well as threshing machines, graders and even a few items that seemed to defy description. All were impeccably maintained, revealing once again that machinery can be made to last if the will to do so is present. Many of us hope to look that good at that age and with that amount of work under our belt.

If you felt the need to get out of the sun for a bit, then stopping by the family building or the agricultural hall was a great choice. While it might often be said that perfection is the enemy of good, it’s nice on occasion to take a moment and see what perfection looks like. It’s nice!

What would a fair be without the usual food offerings? Food is always a pleasant part of the fair experience and in Metcalfe you wouldn’t have been disappointed, either by the selection or the quality of the food, and the prices seemed reasonable as well. Another bonus: the lines seemed to be moving quickly as well.

The heritage of The Metcalfe Fair is obviously steeped in agriculture, (it has been held annually since 1856), and it bodes well for the future when you watch the many young 4-H members as they develop into the role of a show person, learning how to make their animal look and behave its best while discovering the small details that allow the judges to see them at their best. There was no shortage of both effort and results in Metcalfe.

With so much going on, you can be sure that by the end of the day Sunday, many of the volunteers were ready to head home, sit down and catch their breath, but planning in some form would already be underway for next year.

For those who like to plan, next year’s 170th edition of the Metcalfe Fair runs from Oct. 1-4. I’m sure we’ll see you there.