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--March 30, 2010
The Ayer’s Cliff Fair needs help. That is the message being conveyed by the fair’s board of directors.
In a fundraising letter signed by Cindy Bowen of the Sponsorship Committee and Sandy Johnston of the Grounds Committee, the Stanstead County Agricultural Society, which oversees the fair,is appealing to the public to help fund the restoration of some of the oldest buildings on the fairgrounds. Specifically targeted is the Main Building, adjacent to the fair entrance. For years, this building served as a meeting place for auctions, dances, and other events, but now it is used only at fair time, when it houses the Ladies Department, artisans, Women’s Institute, and fair offices. The building, with its picturesque New England style architecture, “serves as a beacon of the fair at the main entrance,” say campaign organizers. But the old building needs work.
In a recent conversation with The Record, Johnston said that he thought the Main Building was well over a hundred years old. “It may even date to the first year the fair was held in Ayer’s Cliff.” Johnston added, “if we want these great old historic buildings to survive, we need to do something. I can’t imagine this fair without them; they’re a big part of our history.”
According to Bowen, there is a lot to do on the Main Building. “Beams need replacing; windows need repairing; lights need fixing; steps need work; bathrooms need to be fixed; and the Women’s Institute Tea Room needs to more visible,” she said. “We’d also like to remove the paneling that was added at some point on the first floor, and which blocks off some of the windows; and hopefully, we’ll be able to remove the vinyl on the outside walls and restore the building’s original appearance.”
Also targeted in this campaign is the nearby Horticultural Building, where the Stanstead County Horticultural Society judges floral arrangements, crop displays, maple and honey products, homemade preserves, and entries in the children’s QFA / UPA section. Bowen, who happens to be the president of the horticultural society, which has a seat on the fair board, says that the building, which is probably as old as the Main Building, is “shifting off of its foundations and needs attention.”
Campaign organizers admit that the exhibition has had some bad years recently, thanks to poor weather and the sagging economy. In 2007, they say, the fair lost $20,000; in 2009, $46,000. 2008 was a good year, with the fair turning a profit of $25,000, but that profit was absorbed by regular maintenance costs.
The Ayer’s Cliff Fair is steeped in history. What started out in 1845 as an agricultural exhibition moving from town to town in Stanstead County, is today one of the oldest events in the Eastern Townships, and one of the oldest fairs in Quebec. The Stanstead County Fair, as it was originally called, is celebrating its 165 th anniversary in 2010. For the last 139 years, it has been held in Ayer’s Cliff.
Like other expositions in the Townships, the fair is rooted in the traditions of New England, where agricultural societies were formed to provide farmers and breeders with a forum for exchanging ideas about the latest farming practices, breeding techniques, and mechanical improvements.
An outgrowth of the agricultural society, a county fair gave breeders a chance to buy, sell and improve their stock. It gave farmers an opportunity to show off their produce. A fair was also an occasion for people to celebrate the harvest and to socialize. Over time, entertainment and competition took on a greater role.
The Ayer’s Cliff Fair features a range of competitions, where breeders vie for prizes in different classes of horse, cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, poultry, and other animals. There are horticultural awards in various categories, as well. The Ladies’ Department oversees knitting, quilting, and embroidery, as well as children’s art and hobbies. The rides at the fair are always a popular draw, especially with kids. And, from the grandstand, spectators can watch harness racing, concerts and other entertainment.
The fair board hopes to raise at least $100,000 in this campaign. It is asking for help from the general public, suggesting a minimum donation of $18.45 (as in 1845, the year the fair was inaugurated), and from organizations and businesses that would like to sponsor the project for a larger amount.
Donations are tax-deductible. Contributions should be made out to Stanstead County Agricultural Society – Sponsorship Fund, and can be mailed to Stanstead County Agricultural Society, Attn: Cindy Bowen, 977 Main, Ayer’s Cliff, QC, J0B 1C0. For more information, please contact Cindy Bowen at (819) 842-1079 or Sandy Johnston at (819) 678-0577.
