UNITY — Following a meeting Aug. 23, the Unity Ag. Society has committed to reigniting their annual Fall Fair and Trade Show. It is slated for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
What will be different this year is both the Fall Fair and the Trade Show will all be on the same surface at the Unity Curling Rink, situated in the Unity Community Centre.
Confirmation of the traditional pancake breakfast that benefits a local charity is not known yet, however, if this portion of the weekend’s activity goes ahead it will be held upstairs in the Community Centre Hall.
Ag. Society committee member Joan Sperle says, “Fall fair books will be out shortly, and we do have some availability for vendors to be part of our trade show. They can contact me at 306-228-2758.”
It will be a smaller host committee this year due to some unforeseen circumstances and at present, Sperle says they are mapping out how they will divide out the ice surface.
There are, of course, other logistics that need to be factored in and that includes the kitchen for the food booth that is always part of this fall occasion, without the upstairs hall as an option and 3-on-3 hockey in full swing on the arena side.
It is a problem plaguing many clubs and organizations that include aging members, smaller membership numbers and lack of volunteers. This event is the Ag Society’s biggest income generator of the year and at present and there is only a small group of people and volunteers to organize and operate the weekend. In addition to organizing both the Fall Fair and Trade Show there is set up, manning the operation throughout its two days as well as the inevitable take down. Many hands make light work but that is not always an option for the small organization, and this year their available committee members are even smaller in numbers.
Sperle said there is always the concerns that include a potential seventh COVID-19 wave, as well as the possibility of a late harvest. She also said the Ag. Society recognizes that since COVID-19, people are enjoying their time off whether that be from volunteering or attending functions.
Vendors have also expressed their difficulty in obtaining inventory with the pandemic still causing delays in shipping and receiving.
2021 would have been the 40th year of the annual Unity Ag. Society Fall Fair and Trade Show. In a normal year, this community weekend has seen between 1,500 to 1,700 people through the doors.
Unity’s Ag Society relies on their greatest revenue source in this venture and the past couple of years the committee has been forced to make some prudent financial decisions. The organization pays for the maintenance and power at the Agroplex. They also provide an annual bursary at UCHS graduation. They are happy to say they were able to host, once again, Ag-Ed Day at the rodeo grounds for elementary students.
The Ag. Society committee say, “This is a great opportunity to gather with friends and neighbours to review the summer, discuss 2022 harvest, shop at the trade show and browse fall fair entries, with the added bonus of some great home cooked lunch and supper options.”
