TOPIC #1: TEN WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FAIR

• Signage is very important (x4) eg on roads leading into grounds-2.5 miles away and main highways – include in city: directional (permanent)
• Utilize your ambassador-on fairgrounds
• Advance sales, midway online
• Website is crucial (x2)
• Facebook- good avenue (x4) draw for passes; announce/remind deadlines
• Displays – in showcases
• Admittance increase for special attractions
• Thursday evening Ag Dinner- BBQ, Spaghetti, etc
• Talent Showcase – local kids free participation
• Sunday Family entertainment –separate admission
• For kids- greasy pig (prize for all) pre-register
• New attractions every 2-3 years ie highland games competition, "taste of oxford"
• Judges – explain while doing job (reasons) to viewers or ongoing commentary
• Have a midway!
• Advertise- roadside bale display; community events; kijiji
• Moving displays- create a new look
• Schools- bring in displays – finish and hang in building – youth groups
• Change your dates
• Change your schedule (x2)
• Expand programs – add programs
• Ambassador/Junior Ambassador
• Talent Show/Fair Idol/Variety Show
• Create network at local fairs/festivals
• Get media to broadcast from site
• TV and radio station marketing (x2) – weather reports specific to fair names; running contests or promotions with coupons or admission tickets
• Camping on grounds
• Kids scavenger hunt (eg to find the ambassador)
• Parade
• Sponsorship- prizes
• Diamonds and Denim- ladies night event. (Glencoe) Women want a night one- men serve, comedians present; mens fashions show.
• Cut long programs short- revamp schedule
• Kid friendly program available
• Change classes (or drop some) try new
• Sponsorship: organize levels- name days – guarantee publicity – give something in return
• Look at fair with "new eyes" evaluate – visit other fairs with a checklist to share later
• "Whats on today" at the gate- good event signage- daily updates!
• Rearrange buildings- give new look
• Consult with youth ie: if we took out the midway what would you like?
• "School Challenge" – unusual games & challenges – school vs school- happens on first night of fair
• Involve people in entertainment ie DJ with learn to line dance
• Focus on creative programming!
• Promotions
• Tourism boards- calendar events
• Make sections of your fair to other ethnic cultures
• Add farmers market
• Use more events at your fairgrounds
• Big name entertainment – grant
• Demolition derby
• Qualifying horse event
• Beer tent/dance/bands
• Kids tent- stuff for them to do- a little down time and no cost- colouring books face painter etc

TOPIC #2: HOW TO ATTRACT OTHER CULTURES TO YOUR FAIR

• Add categories for beadwork, dream catchers etc
• Tap into special Olympics
• Demos of quill work, basket weaving etc
• A display of exotic vegetables using labels and how to use it
• A display of different eggs (auracana) lays coloured eggs
• Contact group homes for possible additions to the fair (special needs section)
• Special education within the school system
• Have a display of another culture of their customs
• Find the correct label for this section
• Specific classes (ie aboriginal, first nations etc), traditional paintings
• Create a piece of art that closely depicts your heritage
• Include an entry or tap into the Chinese new year

TOPIC #3: CHANGING YOUR EXHIBIT AREA

• Controlling the removal homecraft early pickup took staffing at exit
• Most keep the baked goods out on shelves and dispose- end of event
• Managing storage
• Controlling theft by keeping
• Quilt revival- how to display- steel posts with pvs pipe- made for quilt show- rope off for security
• Photography display: zig zag dividers- pin on or sheets of lattice with bulldog clips- take up considerable space
• People expect to see things in same place each year- don't like change
• Make change! Same old isn't always good
• Do change for just 1 year- see what happens
• Bring in other materials-wagons, bales, fencing
• Utilize different heights, tiered

TOPIC #4: FAIRS WORKING ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET

• Need sponsors
• Trying to recorporate old ideas- bingo
• Running events throughout the year
• Biggest problem recruiting volunteers
• Volunteers know each others jobs
• Service groups give a specific task- give them a donation for helping out
• Get community involved
• If student has 300-400 hours volunteered can get gratuities of $500
• Get students involved
• Hang sign up "students- get your volunteer hours at the fair"
• Seniors- love to help at fair- gets them back involved
• Need younger people to explain how to do facebook-social media
• Young people are shut down by those who have been on board a long time
• Successful junior program- fair board decides something that they can give up and junior members run it
• Something happened 20 years ago can't let it
• Use ambassadors- all contestants are involved
• Need bigger network for getting recruits
• Go everywhere for sponsors
• Pet show run by pet store or vet who then become judge
• Community events- run by service group
• Fairbook- do the corrections and changes yourself (cuts cost)
• Encourage vendors to give our samples
• Fairs working on a shoestring budget- 60% in that position
• Arthur a donation fair
• Encourage directors to bring in events throughout year
• Fading due to lack of volunteers
• Grounds owned by Ag. Society chews up a lot of budget for maintenance
• Look for prizes everywhere
• Biggest shoestring savings are the volunteers
• Ask for donations wherever. Only 2 answers, yes or no!
• Find a ticket into school- find a student who will get in
• Orono- about 30% needs to be run by volunteers
• Parking
• Make own table cloths- not use plastic- green
• Go to a store-sponsor 1 event- find the help- can advertise their business- takes pressure off directors for finding volunteers
• Entertainment is usually expensive, DJ not work. Talent show worked- 3 categories: supply keyboard, drums
• Focused on getting people to come back- Fun Factory- old fair games, simple- now have 26 games, 50 cents a game, trade chips for toy
• Website- countdown clock
• Fair/prize book- online for all but those with no computers
• No midway (man died) – bouncy castles
• Nixon program cut costs- data base programme- export to website
• Fair book on municipality website
• Garden tractor pull for kids- 2 age categories
• 4-H club runs dance for kids- snack food only cost
• Need lots of people to man door
• Celebrity dessert auction- no cost, made +$2,000 last year, Volunteer auctioneer- while ambassadors decision being made (went to businesses-2 days got 40- now have to limit entries)
• Drive in bingo
• Combine events that mesh
• Agracadabra- not too expensive
• Local talent (x2)
• Tom Bishop Wild West Show. 3,500-self contained (3/4 paid through sponsorship
• RCMP ride. Too expensive unless close to city, travel cost (but Bayfield getting for free- horses fed and stabled)
• Opening ceremonies- competition for dignitaries
• Fairs on same weekend- share entertainers
• Commodity groups- fairs combine to buy signage
• Local country talent 7pm, Battle of the Bands 9pm- prize: a recording with Tragically Hip (local to fair)
• Farmers Olympics-
• Out house race, zucchini race (Maberley)
• As many volunteers as can
• Really advertise what can see for your gate fee
• Have musical ride- its free- have to be prepared for crowds
• Canada Day games- to advertise and community service
• Battle of the Schools changed to Minute it Win It (google) fun activities ie empty a Kleenex box
• Fair Factor- Similar to Fear Factor
• Family Rodeo
• As sponsorship- grocery stores- discount for food for volunteers etc (tea, coffee, cookies, squares)
• Do own food booths
• Kids games
• -Arm Wrestling; everyone throws a loonie in a pot . winner gets the pot.

TOPIC #5: INEXPENSIVE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES

• 3 legged race (x2)
• Treasure hunt through fair
• Money hunt in soil, bale of straw or shavings (x2)
• Hay ring toss
• Water balloon toss
• Egg relay on spoon
• Large bale races, with wheel barrows
• Stay on bale of hay
• Rope horns on square bale/lariat roping (x2)
• Team rolling of large bales 4-6 youth on team
• Tug of war (x2)
• Trail maze using large bales-watch playing on top
• Pedal tractor pull (x4)
• Pedal tractor maze – through maze of haybales
• Log sawing (x2)
• Nail hammering (x2)
• Baby shows (x3) (category suggestions: chip off the old block; look alike)
• Male clothes hanging contest (x2)- 1 minute timed, see how many clothes can be hung on line in time period (and stay on line) – celebrities
• Bale toss
• Watching the youth and their talents ie singing and dancing
• Zucchini race-design ahead of time (with wheels etc) then race the zucchinis
• Teddy bear parade (dress the teddy bear up to theme) for kids under 5
• Guessing contest for amounts of candy-any age. Use large pickle jars- different variety each year
• Have big pails (ice cream are best) clipped together then have youth pitch beach ball to pail when lands on pail youth get prize in pail
• Fashion show watching youth model clothes
• Music from local schools-use music teacher to help organize (x2)
• Sponsor a pie- then auction off pies. Prize $100.00 for best pie- turn it into a fundraiser.
• Sell off the pies that have been put into competition-entertainment of the auction
• "Got Talent" contest- pay entry fee, prizes
• Folk Clubs-come and bring entertainment- only cost to fair is passes to performers
• Fold out stage- tractor/wagon
• Local talent combined with ambassador contest
• Home depot- free craft activities for children
• Fiddle/step dance contest- full day activity at Collingwood
• Pet shows (x4) (chip off the old block; look alike competition) (local vet or pet store to judge) any kind of pet goes
• Demos-sheep shearing, cow milking
• Arm wrestling
• Antique machinery demo- threshing machines etc
• Lawn mower races (x2)- old lawn mowers, no deck- ages 10-16
• Horse pull
• Field tractor pull
• Turkey chase with dignitaries – on stage
• Local entertainment- up and coming bands
• Give the stage to talent show winner
• Talent show/search (x5)
• Rotate performers every year or two
• Set up kids zone
• Kiddie corral- partner with Early Years Centre
• Partner with organizations
• Provide interactive exhibits
• Pork chop scrabble
• Incorporate Ag Awareness interactive with animals
• Local dance school perform
• Mini tractor pull for the kids
• Balloon catapult competition
• Duck bingo/bossy bingo
• Duck races
• Ice cream sundae decorating contest (x2)
• Bale decorating contest
• Scarecrow decorating contest
• Battle of the bands for the teens- sponsored with local radio
• Kids tent-free for participants
• Fairboard sponsored car in demo derby- set up in kids tent-could sign
• Balloon artist
• Face painting (x2)
• Crayons and picture to colour
• Grain tables with farm toys
• Petting zoo (x3) with animals bought fair volunteers or locals
• Cookie decorating
• Craft make and take
• Food demonstrations- Judy and Scott Weldon judyfoodie.ca
• Commodity groups-demos
• Euchre tournament- on seniors day. Pay to play- prizes
• Education day- schedule with schools- various stations= cow milking, sheep shearing
• High school cheerleaders
• Square dance clubs
• Dance groups-demos
• Toilet bowl races (porcelain pony)
• Game shows: deal or no deal, minute to win it – pay to participate- prizes given
• Hillbilly race
• Sewing demonstrations
• Ag awareness
• Set a theme and go with it
• Harness Olympics (age 12 and under) bale toss, water bucket carry
• Kids tent- all activities and play area at back of tent and entertainment
• Musical chairs (x2)
• Karate showcase
• Tractor pull
• Arrow shoot-bales and brick building for safety backdrop
• Singing competition
• Penny sale- only cost involved is ticket printing (x2)
• Wheel of cake - $2 per spin winner gets free cake (cakes are donated)
• Racing- 4 wheel racer- kids push with plunger
• Kick the shoe- get in to tractor tire
• Outhouse races – look online for requirements (x3)
• young karaoke contest- divide into 2 age groups (younger youth and older youth)
• Tent with music
• Maple syrup making relay
• Feeding/milk of cow relay
• Sponsors (eg McDonalds) for youth prizes
• Family area
• Sandbox (filled with corn) donate things to play in corn
• Wiggle cars in roped off area
• Use local kids to paint scenes to have pictures taken with
• Farmer Olympics
• Bubble gum spit contest – tissue to youth to pick up gum
• Have a farmer bale a large hay bale with popsicle sticks then at fair have the youth find them, then they get money for the stick
• Cow pie bingo
• Cake walk- roulette wheel- if lands on square then you pick the cake-members bring in the cakes-spin when all the squares are picked
• Theme basket sale- sell tickets on children and adult themed baskets. Sell tickets ahead of time 3 for $5
• Little ticket draws- have tickets near displays. Youth then sign name after looking at display and then they have a draw and youth gets small prize.
• Big tires set up in area- play around them
• Arms and bodies wrapped in duct tape (backwards) the youth roll in candy – candy sticks to duct tape
• Rabbit petting- get to sit and hold a rabbit to pet
• Picture taking with animals
• Jungle cat world- bring exotic animals- show it then let kids touch (get sponsors for this)
• Give time for youth to perform (showcase)
• IDOL contest
• Horses-putting on horse shoes
• Sheep shearing
• Bed races- local teams race beds. Stick to theme (during fair) decorated beds. Timed and length
• Mom calling contest- youth calling for mom
• Rooster crowing contest- adults and youth
• Celebrity milking contest
• Kids perform and are given a ribbon and a twoonie ( or ride ticket)

TOPIC #6: HOW TO SET UP A FARMERS MARKET

• at fair time
• still have to pay for entrance to fair
• "at farm gate" vendors
• local municipality put out maps of at farm gate vendors
• have to check by-laws- all areas are different
• yearly rental of space
• cooperative venture- market open for the special events held on the fairgrounds
• open the same hours for the a) home and garden show and b) fall into winter show
• market closed during the fair-space problems
• problem: how to restrict the market to farm produce- small businesses trying to sell jewelry etc
• watch out for competitors. E.g. same producers are at most markets.
• Think of the traffic flow
• Watch day of week; traffic flow e.g. home from work/on the way to cottage country; at fairs on the way out so they don't carry it
• Fee for season or commission space charge
• "flea market" vs farmers market- try to include both?
• Include artists
• In an arena- some feel it needs to be visual so the arena was difficult
• Farmers market- every second week of summer
• Flyers around town
• Concerns: health inspectors for food to be eaten at the event
• Have space where vendors can leave supplies, equipment
• If meat is frozen, can come to market- fresh meat presents a whole different issue.
• In Niagara, one "work station" per building, connecting with health and food
• Organic –specialty – showcasing- put into publicity
• Vehicle to spot so they can unload/pull out of back
• Esthetics is very important- people will walk away if it looks junky
• People don't "dig" like hey used to- set it up so it is shiny eg apples
• Close to parking
• Hwy frontage
• June to September
• Paid weekly or for whole season
• Health and safety check?
• Lot of fairs want to start market just at fair time
• Certified kitchens
• Constant vendors
• Signage- well before market so people can plan to shop
• Letters to farmers or anyone who sells produce to create a market
• Tourist draw- people on way to cottage
• Vendors licences
• Everyone pays same rental
• Vendors need to come prepared for weather
• 10 x 10 space
• some charge by square foot
• honey/flowers
• maple syrup
• eggs
• fresh vegetables
• coolers/refrigeration

TOPIC #7: MAKING OPENING CEREMONIES EXCITING

• Em cee- radio personality; ambassador
• Em cee – ad lib
• Em cee- play to the crowd
• Time for opening ceremonies (length)
• Must change both arrangement of activities
• Ambassador program- part of ceremony (x2)
• Donors- part of ceremony
• Band
• Separate evening- social- invite local fairs
• Limit time of ceremony
• Limit of who comes (students only)
• Draws
• Location of ceremony
• Parade-important
• Alumni- award or speech
• Ambassadors/presidents (x2)
• Ambassador competition-surprise grab bag of questions
• After 'treats' – social
• Local talent
• Generations attend
• Local celebrity
• Auction off the 1st place baking
• Mayors challenge after official opening – sack race etc
• Lipsync during ambassador competition- showcase not judged (x2)
• Past ambassador/dignitary in community – prethank/done faster
• Connects with theme of fair
• Be creative
• Turkey chase-live/live goat milking
• Follow parade
• Announce
• Chilli cook-off
• IDOL entertainment
• Past presidents
• Celebrity
• Talent show
• Bursary award- come to open/passed away volunteer
• Arrange around event
• Auction off pies
• Tug of war
• New culture showcase
• Youth involved
• School choir
• Parade- school aged children
• Antique tractor parade
• Entertainment
• "fun" beauty contest (males dress up) voted
• pipers
• introduce dignitaries from the floor
• Cake decorating
• Pie auction- knowledgeable auctioneer- knows crowd
• Good MC- helps to keep things moving; hired entertainer; radio station announcer; get fairboard member
• Presidents message- announces new activities
• In advertising- unexpected visitor/guest
• Set the mood for fun
• Screen with video- local entertainment
• Celebrity marshall (ie Brantford- Walter Gretsky)
• TOPIC#8: PARTNERING WITH OTHER FAIRS
• Sharing equipment(x2)
• Advertising – radio
• Tri-country calendar
• Database of equipment (mini tractors)
• Applying for grants (computer program)
• Training-judging schools, execute workshops (x2)
• Share fair beer garden volunteers
• Small boards need to work together
• Lots of sharing of manpower, supplies
• Sometimes hard at first- live in a cocoon
• Fairs go together for grants etc (x2)
• Sharing of entertainers (x2)
• For government funding
• Understand each others frustrations
• Don't have to "train" them
• Extra-fundraisers- steal ideas
• Truck and tractor pull and go to other fairs and help out at other fairs
• Ag awareness
• Harmonize entering
• Pizza days at schools and assist
• Challenge of helping out at other fairs due to farming
• Develop resource base
• Give tickets to other fairs when kids win first prize when they enter
• Communication- clear
• Leadership training
• Recreation department help with garbage and gates, town truck
• Parks and recreation- face painting etc child find
• Soccer, baseball, 4-H, snowmobile clubs
• Farmers markets
• Flyers, fair books and sponsorship
• Paper placemats done ahead for advertising sold ahead of time

TOPIC #9: MAKING DISTRICT MEETINGS WORTHWHILE

• Use of door prizes
• Use of silent auctions
• Use of speakers
• Use of luncheon to make at all day
• Use of workshops
• Use of different topics for guest speakers i.e HST, LCBO, related to fairs
• Use round table topics/multiple
• Use of ambassadors/mini workshops for them
• Make communication between fairs easier to release positive and negative aspects/ be more open instead of keeping all trade secrets private within 'your own fair'
• Take survey from district delegates to ask them what delegates are looking for in guest speaker topics
• Review and update district constitution
• Send out survey after meeting to get results on fall/spring meeting
• Fair reports prepare ahead of time and put into booklet, released to take back to your own fair
• Need good guest speaker
• One district has entertainment at noon
• Venting session for some
• Local speakers are good
• Ambassador program – district 13 – etiquette – make them interesting
• How to get people out for meeting
• Whoever is running the meeting should be organized
• Good pre-planning meetings
• Send letter to fairs ahead of time for concerns etc. 2 months ahead
• Plan a small tour after lunch to a quilting store, or farm to wake up everyone and revitalize the meeting
• One district (12) has district meeting in morning, then has lunch and after lunch does a judging school. Anyone who is not interested in being a judge is free to go. Some stay just for the interest
• Sometimes we have done a craft for about an hour after lunch to wake everyone up. Plan a small craft that can be completed in one hour.

TOPIC #10: SIGNAGE ON THE WAY TO THE FAIR

• "welcome to my town" signs- ask municipality to put up as people enter your town
• many regulations/costs to put up on highway
• Make a big sign, put on wheels and put in someone's field (less regulations)
• Haybale signs in fields – good but lots of work
• Nail 24x24" to fence posts
• Sandwich boards in the village
• Paint on side of buildings – up all year
• Say "weekend after labour day" "first weekend of June" instead of changing dates (x2)
• Plaster your town like election time
• Keep info on signs basic so they can be reused
• Lawn and garden decorating contest
• Light post signs
• Try to find an option that is year round, not just two weeks before- need a mix
• At fair- a frame sign by office, gate pamphlet, big map on coreplast, pocket sized cards that fit in pocket
• Brochures- exhibitors, gate brochure, kids/school book (11" x 17")
• Add website address to signs
• Billboard – try applying for a grant
• Try having a contest (lawn display of fairs theme, judged by local fair members)
• Flyers around area
• Lawn signs around town and area
• Large sign on fairgrounds building
• Signs around fairgrounds
• Event sheet handed out to people as they come in (have major sponsors on it) this can be done in house or by printer
• Make up flyer to be handed out to school children listing events of interest to them
• Ask people as they enter where they heard about the fair
• Use Jack Lynch to advertise on TV. This is free. He also puts your info on websites and radio for free. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Put in local paper for weeks before in coming events
• Round bale at different corners with signs to the fairs
• Sign competition with agricultural prod.
• Scarecrows put up to fair weekends
• Signs inside with fence rails
• Corplast signage easy to work with
• Signage may have to be bilingual
• Sign companies may upkeep signs at a rate
• Check with MTO and County regulations
• A-Frame signs
• Banners for homecraft disciplines
• Local sign shops sometimes will give a discount
• Keep colour uniform
• Some companies will do signage at a general rate
• Link with other festivals
• Mobile signage about same price point as newspaper ads
• Signage 1 month before fair (and 1 month after to get them all removed)
• Partner with your city of commerce
• Signage- be prepared for them to be removed by municipality (grass cutting) or just theft/vandalism
• Celebrate Ontario Grant (available to include signage)
• Pocket signs
• Signs with changeable dates
• Signs on farm fence
• Competition to decorate your yard
• Store fronts
• Make it a town event
• Maps to make finding events
• Road signs
• Colour bright/large letter
• Barrels in horse ring with website info
• Road banner promoting the fair
• Theme as your advertising
• Sandwich board directions

TOPIC #11: ENCOURAGING PAST EXHIBITORS TO RETURN

• Have your database. Keep track of previous exhibitors and in what section. Send them a letter/contact them (x2)
• Get them as volunteers
• Emailing the sections
• Get their opinions on categories
• Special categories for past exhibitors
• Exhibitor workshops
• Have committees phone past exhibitors
• Exhibitors are allowed to attend judging school.
• Ask past exhibitors to make items for judging school
• BBQ inviting past exhibitors
• Ask to join committee
• Giving supplies to exhibitors to work with
• Send out prize list to current and 1 year past
• Print names of winners past- they might see name from years past
• Be welcoming- take care of items entered
• Appreciate with ribbons
• Advance list
• Put in flyers
• Put on municipal website
• Ambassador
• Get into schools
• Column in paper
• Volunteers get passes
• Recognized by volunteer
• Why did they leave? What can we do to get you back?
• Change list to fit their needs
• Gather information through suggestion box
• Draw for exhibitors
• Change how you display
• Up prize list
• Encourage new exhibitors
• Mail prize list to past exhibitors
• Put out prize list early
• Put in classes for guides, scouts etc
• Contact home school
• Collect email address to advise when prize lists are ready
• Personnel contact phone
• Website for breed group- send list
• Put prize list in craft stores, feed stores
• Go through other fair list
• Prize list online
• Coffee pot early in the morning for livestock
• After fair, pot luck thank you dinner
• Prize list for new exhibitor
• Talk to exhibitor about what they would like to see
• Have church service at fair to expose people that do not know what the fair is

TOPIC #12: LEARNING ABOUT NEW CRAFTS

• New crafts- whats new category
• Suggestion box
• Internet
• Craft stores, quilting stores, yarn stores- sponsor new class for new ideas only
• Pair adult and youth for same thing eg. Paper bag vest – individual and pair prizes
• Guilds- workshops and demos at fair
• They can see their stuff
• Craftideas.info craftgossip.com familyfun.go.com
• Example: workshop at 2pm, judging at 3pm. Local merchants to sponsor. Quick make and take.
• Listen to your exhibitors!
• Either attach to exhibitors item or give to them at end of fair- a form to fill out to request any new crafts that they might like to see
• In your fair book- have an item that is "any new craft, not previously listed"- could have many entries to judge that are different – next book pick some of the popular items to create classes
• Go to Google "Pintrest" or "craft ideas" to get new
• Type of craft "pet sweater"
• Category " fun stuff" – mom and tot craft
• Pick a "wearable art" craft and have a fashion show at 3pm at the fair- paper vest, duct tape creation
• Do a kite, lampshade
• Felting, raw edge appliqué
• Thread painting

TOPIC #13: HOW TO KEEP HAND QUILTING ALIVE

• Quilt in frame at fair- anyone can drop and put stitches in
• Teach terminology
• Prize list has quilt tops
• Categories for church groups and other groups
• Regular classes
• Approach quilting guilds (x2)
• Local quilter club give info at fair
• Fairboard- buys materials- give blocks to people to quilt and bring back to fair to judge. Then someone puts blocks together. Sell tickets for quilt next year
• Quilting workshop to teach how to quilt
• Workshop on what prize list means
• Mystery top class prize- ie pickles, quilting, pies etc
• Demonstrations- start on small project
• Quilt blocks- beginner, intermediate and expert
• Display quilts attractively
• Get prize money up so worthwhile
• Get sponsors
• Use small frame so don't overwhelm new to quilting
• Co-ordinate quilting guild rules and fair- OAAS rules (x2)
• Don't put emphasis colour coordination
• Get 4-H involvement (x2)
• Bring in collapsible frames
• Quilting school- with that the quilt is done to sell tickets at the fair (community quilt)
• Encourage a quilters guild to have a competition (x2)
• Encourage junior fair to quilt a block for a competition (x2)
• Advertise quilting lessons
• Have a quilting fair display
• Encourage as a judge to your exhibitors what they could do to make a "first place winner" on the back of exhibitors entry card
• Add new sections- especially smaller articles- placemats, pot holders
• Change OAAS rules for smaller quilts ie crib
• Get back to being practical- cost, time- just show pieces no done for family members only-risk of damage
• March break- quilt day/craft day
• Get part of fair books out to fabric stores/quilt shops

TOPIC #14: MANAGING PETS AT YOUR FAIR

• Responsibility/liability for pets
• Pet owners need to understand their pets' behaviour and reactions- there is a lot of stimuli at fairs- people, other animals, noise, machinery
• Signage- no people read signs/take responsibility for cleaning up after their pets
• People with allergies should be aware of their own limits and be prepared to deal with their reactions
• Charge for pets
• Muzzle dogs (x2)
• Animals showing (calf) are insured- pets are not
• Direct people with pets to gate after pet show
• Advertise well in advance no pets allowed
• Cochrane- pet show Friday night; Saturday morning livestock comes in and many pets around not on leash
• Remedies- rules state all dogs and pets must be on leash
• District 10- all pets MUST be on leash. No pets allowed unless working dogs and must leave after show. Pet show-arrange later in the day- approx. 2 hours children tired after and want to go home.
• District 2- problem with dogs urinating on kids area- hay bale maze- made rule "no dogs allowed" but want to have dog show
• District 10- problem with working dog- feeling they have the right to take dog right up to cow with calf and cow almost jumping gate to protect
• Dogs taking part should have a ribbon or something to identify them
• Program – all animals (including house bold pets) must be leashed
• "please use common sense"
• owners are responsible for all actions of their pets
• Problem: neighbours bringing their dogs for walks or free ranging- plus pet show dogs getting loose
• For clean up signage "children play here-please clean up"
• Dogs tied up, jumping on people
• Suggestion- $5 admission for dogs
• Tried no pets, but some midway people, exhibitors bring dogs
• Restrict dogs in certain buildings/barns
• Dogs "part of the family"
• Grounds are walking area for community
• Dogs needs to be under control at all times
• Incident- Doberman tied to fence, growling at people, security called, owner asked to leave
• Dogs left in car at fair
• Pet show day: some people aren't taking the dog home afterwards
• Cancelled pet show
• Bags are checked for knives and pets
• After pet show all pets leave grounds
• Horses are banned if not in show or competitions

TOPIC #15: FREE AG EDUCATION/ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR KIDS

• Petting zoo (x2)
• Colouring pages
• Crafts
• Machinery, threshing machine, corn being ground
• Pony rides
• 6'x6' box with beans or corn and little tractors for kids to play with (x3)
• Someone is in the area watching
• Home depot supplies craft materials (x2)
• Wood carving group came with carved cones and kids painted them
• Lowes, Rona will also supply materials(x2)- boy scouts helped kids make items
• Get high school kids who need community hours to help
• Farmers Olympics- bale tossing, wheelbarrow race, wash tub hang up clothes)-timed activity, nail driving, cow milking, cow patty bingo
• Barnyard Olympics ages 8-12, teenage group
• Mini tractor pull
• 3 compartment box- kids put their hand in and guess what is in it related to agriculture
• spinning wheel (crown and anchor type) with categories-questions on cards according to age- they can win a little prize
• baby chicks being hatched
• rabbits
• mini horses
• Signs with animals & their babies, painted, very eye catching
• Passports- go to each area and get a sticker
• Dress up area (dress up as a farmer) (x2)
• Plant potatoes
• Pick apples (wooden apple tree, plastic apples)
• Picking up eggs in a basket
• Bags of grains (guess what they are)
• Things in boxes (guess what they are)
• Farm tour
• Farm gate to your plate
• Lumberyard scrap wood- make birdhouse
• Approach guilds to do demonstrations
• Local aboriginal – talk to elders to come & do beading, working with leather
• Add aboriginal component- help with grants
• Oprah and Andy- tractor drive around (x2)
• Dairy board display
• Chicken farmers of Ontario
• Kiddie Corner- colour table, playdough, different activities
• Work with early years centre to help with you children programs (x2)
• Button machine- partner with local ag society
• Education day for kids at fair- education encouraged by school board, all day Friday eg. Pizza project
• Separate area for kids
• Separate ag education day with stations explaining agriculture
• Do demonstrations- make necklaces "how does a seed grow"
• Tool displays- 100 mile radius of what is grown
• Children love to touch
• Hear bugs "eat"
• Ag awareness program available
• Use 4-H as resources/volunteers
• Peoples choice pet show for farm animals
• Primary division (0-6) elementary (7-12)
• New activities could be based on fair theme
• Approach colleges for early childhood education students as volunteers
• Interactive displays for younger children
• Rabbit show- each child gets $1 for bringing it
• Use ambassador
• Water trough full of barley, easter eggs with paper and prizes
• Pizza project
• Partnering with the schools