Drayton Farm Show ‘a sure sign of spring’
LORIE BLACK COMMUNITY NEWS STAFF
DRAYTON – This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Drayton Farm Show.
“It began in 1981, but a few years were missed due to the pandemic,” said Drayton Kinsmen Club member and show chair Ray Kuper, who grew up on a hog farm and worked at a dairy farm as a teen.
He said the event was well attended last year, “but it used to be even busier.
“It started out as a farm-
ers’ night. They’d have a speaker and a banquet, then they added the farm show to it.”
But the dinner was “getting to the point where it was costing money. It wasn’t feasible anymore.”
Over the years, the farm show dates have been pushed forward.
“We didn’t want to run the same week as the London Farm Show, and then we want to work with Drayton Minor Hockey. If teams get in the playoffs, they need the ice longer,” said Kuper.
It takes two full days to set
up for the show and Kuper noted club officials have streamlined the process over the years and they receive help from high school students who need their volunteer hours.
“The arena staff are really helpful too – the township has been accommodating for us,” he said.
“Last year the Drayton Legion’s ladies auxiliary helped at the door, and want to again this year. It takes about a dozen people running on shifts.”
The Mapleton Historical Society, which will again have a booth this year, have created a special collection to honour the Drayton Farm Show’s 40th year.
“It’s a tribute to the Kinsman for everything they have done over the past 40 years,” said Shirley Hutton, current president of the Mapleton Historical Society.
Community projects, MRI campaign
Last year’s show netted over $28,000 and funds raised at this year’s event will again be distributed to Cystic Fibrosis Canada and community projects such as the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation MRI+ Campaign.
This year, the Kinsmen will be displaying the Polaris Sportsman 570 Trail Edition ATV they are raffling off. The draw will take place on Sept. 13, and all proceeds from the raffle will go to MRI fund.
“The farm show is the culmination of months of work and a project we take great
pride in,” said Kinsmen and local farmer Gary Van Ankum.
“To have a project like the Drayton Farm Show run for 40 years and still be our biggest fundraiser is truly a testament to our community and our exhibitors, who make our show a success.”
‘Mixing and mingling’
The show is so popular with exhibitors, that Kuper has a waiting list this year.
It is also popular with the local Mennonite community.
“They are very supportive; they bring whole families. It’s an outing for them,” he said.
“It’s mixing and mingling, a social event. We just went through winter. People want to get out and talk to everyone.”
He said vendors know that, and as much as they want to show off new innovations, “they want to come out and support the community.”
He added, “The kids get to climb all over the tractors and sit in the cabs. It’s a family event.
Future farmers? – Behind the wheel at the 2023 Drayton Farm Show, from left, were Connor, Kason and Tyler, the children of Dale and Janita Martin, cash crop farmers from the Alma area. Photo by Sharon Grose
at the Dratyon Kinsman’s headquarters, “full of almost every tractor we’ve had since 1987,” said Ray Kuper, Kinsman chair of the show.
Antique models used to be the favourite, but Kuper said that has changed.
And the models are getting harder to come by.
This year’s model, a John Deere 5125R with front loader, will be modified with things like a hammer light and decals.
“John Deere is the most popular. It’s what people want,” Kuper said.
“Some people have been collectors right from the beginning. They won’t even take them out of the box.”
There will be approximately 50 available for sale at the show.
“The next generation of farmers don’t look at the antique ones, they look at a model from the ‘80s or ‘90s and say, ‘That’s what I drove as a kid,’” Kuper explained.
LEFT: This year’s Drayton Farm Show model tractor is a John Deere 512R with front loader. Photo by Lorie Black ABOVE: The real deal, the John Deere 6155R. Community News file photo
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