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Get agri-cultured this weekend

Chilliwack Fair is Aug. 5-7 at Heritage Park with all the most-loved elements, from the horse show, and rodeo, to those cute animals and famous little doughnuts.
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Time to cowboy up as the BCRA professional rodeo circuit comes to Chilliwack this weekend as part of the 138th Chilliwack Fair.

The 'Wack is about to get "cultured."

Agri-cultured, that is.

Chilliwack Fair runs Aug. 5-7 at Heritage Park with all the most-loved elements, from the horse show, and rodeo, to those cute animals and famous little doughnuts.

The weekend long event offers a snapshot of today's modern agriculture, while drawing strength from its rich and proud history in the region, explains event coordinator Nancy Spratt.

"There's just so much going on," she says.

The official name of the 129-year-old event has been shortened to simply "Chilliwack Fair" this year. But the "exhibition" aspect of the event has been maintained, with a splendid slate of 4H open livestock classes, horse show and gymkhana.

Although there's a new name and a new logo brand, the heart of the event is being kept as it has always been — purposely.

"We didn't want to mess with it, or restructure just make a few key changes."

As always there will be scads of cute kids with lamb, rabbits, cows and more, but also a thoughtful showcase of 4H culture and other ag-related displays.

University of the Fraser Valley Agriculture officials will be setting up a large installation at the fair. They'll be unfurling educational offerings, from horticulture or livestock, to agri-business, and on-farm food safety and security.

Chilliwack Kiwanis are launching a dog show for mutts, or mixed breeds, which should be entertaining. The 4-H barns will be packed and the smell of fresh popcorn and cotton candy will be wafting through the air.

Take a walk through Atchelitz Threshermen's Heritage Village, and you might think you've taken a trip back in time.

Wonderfully creative offerings of crafters and artists await the curious in Building 1, which will be packed with home and garden displays from photography, to recycled art, and hobbies.

Peruse the garden produce, floral arrangements, home baking and preserves. There's intricate needlework, crocheting and quilting offerings, and many hobby classes. Many will feature live demonstrations to get folks involved, Spratt says.

"Browse through the Lifestyles lanes for a wide variety of new products and services," she says. "For fun-seekers there's the colourful midway, exciting rodeo and live music performance stage."

The focus is always on the fun to be had by families, and kids of all ages will enjoy the Country Kids Adventure building. They'll have a ball in the petting zoo, baby chicks display, or gold panning with Yukon Dan.

"We support young and developing artists and endeavour to include music students, dance groups and school groups on our entertainment program," she says.

Hawk Radio and Tractorgrease are presenting the live music stage on Friday and Saturday nights, and from noon to 5, it's family-oriented entertainment on stage.

The fair always means chances for local youth to be exhibitors, volunteer to help with production, or attend just for the sheer fun of it.

For the history buffs, it's interesting to note that in 1873, the non-profit Chilliwack and District Agricultural Society incorporated and began producing the Chilliwack Exhibition and Fair. The fair has run ever since in Chilliwack and is the second-oldest fair in B.C. to do so.

jfeinberg@theprogress.com

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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