Hundreds visit revitalized 167th Eastern Kings ExhibitionSOURIS — People poured into the 167th Eastern Kings Exhibition on the weekend, delighting in a reborn agricultural fair that is the oldest in Prince Edward Island and the second-oldest in Canada.
“Oh, this is fantastic! It hasn’t been like this in 35 years,” said one woman as she walked into the arena in Souris where a revitalized country fair was on the go.
Inside things were buzzing as hundreds of people crowded around exhibits, sizing up the entries and pondering winners and losers. On exhibit were cakes and pies, paintings, flowers and veggies, knitting, hooked rugs, sewing, weaving and all the other staples of rural life. An outstanding quilt exhibition added special life of the event.
An example of the changing direction of agriculture in eastern Prince Edward Island was exhibitor Becky Townshend of Fortune Organics, whose sunny exhibit of organic vegetable production greeted visitors as they walked in the door.
This venerable exhibition had all but expired over the past 15-20 years, with a few dedicated committee members struggling to keep it going.
Then along came Melvin Ford this year and everything changed. Hired by the Eastern Kings Community Enhancement Corporation to turn it around, Ford achieved the impossible. By exhibit weekend entries were pouring in, trade booths were sold out and it was like a step back in time.
Ford was all smiles as he looked around.
“This new life will take us to new money which will mean greater presentations in the future and the ability to put on a show that will represent an ever greater spectrum of our region.”
This year's fair sported 40 different kinds of exhibits with hundreds of entries.
Although rain dampened the outside activities somewhat, horse shows, poultry competitions and horse pulls all went on as planned.
Copyright 