The 154th Listowel Agricultural Fair is back for another exciting year, making a splash with this year’s theme of Let it Flow with H20.
Listowel Agricultural Society president Penny Hawthorne said the theme was chosen to recognize one of our most important natural resources, as well as explore and demonstrate the many uses for water.
This year’s fair events get started on Thursday, July 15 with the parade through Listowel starting at 7 p.m. followed by the opening ceremonies and fair ambassador competition at the fairground grandstand. This year’s special guests include Jason Gerber, the winner of CMT’s Karaoke Star competition last year. With eight contestants vying for the ambassador crown this year, Hawthorne expects a long, but fun night.
“It’s going to be a later night, but it should be good,” she said.
The fair continues through Friday and Saturday, with all the events that locals have come to love, like the full midway, kids’ programs and barbecue challenge. One of the new features at this year’s fair is the North American 6-Horse Hitch Classic Series, which has been called the most prestigious draft horse event on the continent. Listowel has been added to the schedule of qualifying shows.
“The participants go to all the shows across North America and get points on their way to the final,” Hawthorne said.
Hawthorne said the Agricultural Society wanted to include the 6-Horse Hitch Classic Series because it has been a great draw for other areas, and it’s important to keep the fair close to its rural roots.
“We are an agricultural fair and sometimes we can get away from that,” she said. “We wanted to incorporate those elements into our fair.”
The fair wraps up on Sunday with a vintage farm show, horseshoe tournament, and the ever-popular demolition derby starting at 7 p.m. As Hawthorne prepares to step down after her second year as president, she hopes the weather co-operates so she can go out with a bang.
For a complete schedule of fair events, visit www.listowelfair.com.