RIVERS
BANNER July 29, 2016
ersary v i n Celebrating our 108th An
Gazette-Reporter Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 107 years
Volume 109, Issue 5
89¢ + tax
Harding still accepting donations By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
H
arding’s very first fair was held in October 1904; except for a few Depression years, it has been a staple in that community for 107 years. This year, light horse exhibitors were pleasantly surprised when they saw a new 40-stall pole structure measuring 20 by 100 feet. Pioneer Grain contributed $5,000 to the project, which has been denied government funding for two years, so Harding Ag Society proceeded with their building plans. At the official opening on Friday, July 22 president Travis Hunter gladly accepted another $3,000 grant to the barn, from RM of Wallace-Woodworth reeve Denis Carter. Denis expressed well wishes on behalf of council and said Harding is the “first best fair in the RM, then Elkhorn” which is the only other community in that municipality to host an agricultural fair. Emcee Jim Wilson then announced a list of individual and business sponsors who provided smaller donations and advised the crowd that money will continue to be accepted for that barn and other improvements. (Travis has a personal plan, not yet supported by the board, to build a new shelter for miniature horses.) The new horse barn was built by a volunteer crew in three days; prior to that, the old rabbit and poultry barn was demolished. Also participating in the opening ceremony were MLA Doyle Piwniuk who brought greetings on behalf of Premier Brian Pallister. Doyle has “been to some States fairs and lots of people in Manitoba talk of the Harding fair and call it a state fair. I come every year and I think it’s better than states’ fairs.” The official opening was done when Catherine Carter completed her speech which included, “Although the fair has changed over the years, it continues to thrive. There is al-
Photos by Sheila Runions
Clockwise from top left: RM of WallaceWoodworth reeve Denis Carter hands president Travis Hunter a $3,000 donation. Catherine Carter was asked to officially open the fair. Arthur-Virden MLA Doyle Piwniuk brought greetings.
ways a strong determination to make this year’s fair the best one yet. As you can see, there are three and four generations here today; that’s assurance that the responsibilities will be handed down to guarantee the future of our fair.” She later spoke with this reporter and mentioned that being asked to open it, serving 25 years as a director and winning the best of show award in quilting (for the same quilt in which she won best of show in Rivers and Oak River), was a “good culmination” of events for her that day. Other domestic winners include Alberta Myshrall of Winnipeg, who received the Red River Ex best of show ribbon for
her framed cross-stitch; Eileen Kent of Kenton won the Fleishmann’s Yeast national recipe contest for best bread; Beatrice Janssens of Kenton won the Eldon Robinson memorial for most points in horticulture and the Edna Sangster memorial for the best arrangement of lilies; Mary Gervais of Griswold won the Winnie Wolfe memorial for most points in preserves; Marlene Hunter of Kenton claimed the most points in produce; Leah Obach of Kenton had the most points in home products/ cooking; Jaylin and Ricki Hill of Lenore won the 13-16 years and 12-and-under respectively for high points junior cooking; Evan Whetter of Brandon had
the most points in schoolwork; Ashlyn Whetter of Brandon was the top junior gardener; Foster Tolton of Kenton had the best junior sheaf. Of the 173 head of purebred cattle, these were named winners: RamRod Cattle Company, Medora, champion Angus bull, NYK Cattle Company, Douglas, reserve; JMB Charolais, Brookdale, champion bull, Springside Farms, B.C., reserve; Campbell Limousins, Minto, champion bull, NYK, reserve; Twin Meadow, Treherne, champion Simmental bull, Cody Carson, reserve; Uphill Shorthorn, Hamiota, champion S/H/M (Shorthorn, Hereford, Maine Anjou) bull; RamRod,
supreme bull; NYK, champion and reserve Angus female; Alton Century Farm, champion Charolais female, JMB reserve; NYK champion Limousin female, Eden Meadows, Sask., reserve; Twin Oak Livestock, Treherene, champion Simmental female, Twin Meadow, reserve; Leveldale Herefords, Douglas, champion S/H/M female, Uphill Shorthorn, reserve; NYK supreme female; Boden Bond champion steer. There were also 29 commercial pens with Dana Johns of Kenton winning; Alan Hill of Lenore won the guess the weight competition and Mike Dequier of Haywood won the heifer bonanza. continued on page 7