The
THIS WEEK 4 • Editorials 8 • Sports 10 • Day Trip 19 • Entertainment
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source
Friday, August 9, 2024
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Volume 40 No. 32
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Bluevale 170th set for weekend
Down the stretch It was another sunny day for horse racing on Sunday as the Clinton Raceway helped celebrate the Civic Holiday Weekend with its annual Ladies’ Day at the races, welcoming the women of the community to watch the
races and dress for the occasion. Of course, there are only a handful of race days left in Clinton this summer, with the season culminating with the annual Charity Driver’s Challenge, set for Sunday, Sept. 1. (John Stephenson photo)
Plowing Match coming to Bayfield This year’s Huron County Plowing Match, the 96th in history but marking the 100th anniversary since the first match, will be held on Aug. 15-16 at the home farm of the Vermue family at 36118 Bayfield River Road near Bayfield. The hosts are Koos and Nathalie Vermue and their children along with Huron County Warden Glen McNeil and Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn. Dignitaries from the Huron County Plowmen’s Association who are hosting that day include President Steve Hallahan, Vice-President Ross McIntosh, Second Vice-President Maranda Klaver, Ontario
Plowmen’s Association Advisory Councillor Brian Wiersma, Treasurer Margaret Vincent and long-time Secretary Joan Ryan. The association’s directors include Don Dodds, Paul Dodds, George Townsend, Neil McGavin, Neil Vincent, Brian Wiersma, Steve Corbett, Jeff McGavin, Brian McGavin and Mark Ryan. The match will run right into the Bayfield Fair, which is traditionally held on the third weekend of August. Gates for the fair open on Friday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m., right when greetings will be brought for the match’s annual banquet on the site. There are activities planned for
the fair throughout the weekend. Read more about the fair elsewhere in this special issue. As for the plowing match, it begins on Thursday, Aug. 15 with Junior Day - which has historically served as the achievement day for the 4-H Sodbusters Club, a crucial breeding ground for the Huron County plowing champions of tomorrow. The youngsters will be practising out in the fields between 9-11 a.m. that morning ahead of lunch, which will be served at 11:30 a.m. Following the mid-day meal, the 4-H achievement day will take to the fields from noon until 3 p.m.
Stingers lose their first game By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen With an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the Milverton Millwrights - just their third win of the year - the dream of a perfect season for the
Belmore Stingers is over as the team drops to a record of 13-1. The teams clashed in Milverton on Thursday, Aug. 1 and it was the home team that prevailed after Belmore made it through the first two thirds of the season
without losing a game. Of course, the Stingers are still well ahead in the Huron County Fastball League standings with their 13-1 record and 26 points, trailed by the second-place Continued on page 8
Meanwhile, indoors, the Princess competition will go ahead beginning at 1 p.m. Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes, Sarah Van Nes, Jillian Simpson, Hailynn Greidanus, Emma Greidanus and Lily Shapton will all be competing to see who will succeed Rachel Wilts and be the next Huron County Princess. That will do it for Junior Day as the organizers, competitors and volunteers will then turn their attention towards Friday, Aug. 16 and the 96th annual Huron County Plowing Match. Breakfast will begin the morning and nearby Bayfield Berry Farm will be doing the cooking so you don’t have to. Registration opens at 8 a.m., followed by the land draws at 9 a.m. and the beginning of the competition at 9:15 a.m. The competitors will be busy in the fields until lunch, which will be served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Queen of the Furrow contest Continued on page 2
This weekend, the community of Bluevale will celebrate its 170th anniversary with a special homecoming - three days of fun and reminiscing intent on showing the world that the people of Bluevale are “Here for a Dam Good Time” to quote the event’s slogan. Things get going just after 4 p.m. on Friday night when the refreshment tent opens. It will remain open until 1 a.m. Kids’ activities will go ahead from 4-7 p.m. and there will be a fish fry dinner (a ticket is required) from 5-7 p.m. that night. There will be a family movie night from 7-8:30 p.m. and some musical entertainment will end the night; first Haley McNeil from 7-9 p.m. and then Weekend Never Ends from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday begins with the refreshment tent open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. - the same time that the homecoming parade will begin - 11 a.m. Kids’ activities will run from noon to 7 p.m. that day and Bronson Line will liven up the air with some music from 1-4 p.m. There will be a mechanical bull and a rock-climbing wall available from 1-5 p.m. and the event’s muchanticipated cornhole tournament will run from 2-7 p.m. The petting zoo will be open from 3-5 p.m. and then a beef supper will be served up by Cardiff’s BBQ Catering from 4:40-8 p.m. (a ticket is required). From 5-8 p.m., Blyth’s The Lucky Charms will perform, followed by Highway 21 from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Meanwhile, from 7-8:30 p.m., there will be a family dance as well. On Sunday, there will be a kids’ fishing derby at the dam from 8-11 a.m., followed by a church service (at the church) from 9-11 a.m. The car show in downtown Bluevale will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the history display at the hall will go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Colin Brown Designs will be giving some chainsaw demonstrations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Johnny Borton will perform on the musical stage from 1-3 p.m. and then the Zoo to You animal show will go ahead from 4-5 p.m. in the hall. For more information, visit bluevalehc2024.ca online or find Bluevale’s 170th Homecoming on Facebook.