41st Annual
Nicola Valley & rodeo Fall Fair 58th Pro
Fall fair features the best of the best Stars come out at the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo Ian Webster THE MERRITT HERALD
Decoration for the Fall Fair was well underway on Tuesday, Aug. 30 as organizers set up a special welcoming committee, along with booths, displays and floral arrangements. Cole Wagner/Herald Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD
The annual Nicola Valley Fall Fair is a long-standing tradition of the Labour Day weekend, a celebration of the harvest season, a way to mark the end of summer and — for the organizing committee — it is a labour of love. This year’s edition of the fair is no different in that regard. There are over 1,600 categories set to be judged at the event this year. With prizes awarded for the first, second, and third place finishers in each category, there is ample opportunity for locals to earn a blue ribbon, and a small cash prize. But while the prizes are one draw for the Fall Fair, it is only the tip of the iceberg for attractions at this years’ festival. Vintage cruisers will be on display outside
the Fall Fair building, along with antique tractors. A tractor pull is planned for the weekend — an event in which participants will attempt to drag a sled behind a tractor as far as they can. The “Harvest Moon” dance is another chance for locals to win some prizes, as there will be awards for the best (western) dressed dancer, as well as door prizes donated by a bevy of Merritt businesses. But true to its roots, the Nicola Valley Fall Fair prides itself on the traditional aspects of the festival. Baking, canning, flowers and produce are all set to be judged, and kids can even get on the action as well. This year, the fair boasts an impressive youth category, featuring all kinds of different hobby classes for judging — from crayon
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The 58th edition of the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo on the Labour Day weekend in Merritt once again promises to be one of the best ever with spectacular displays of skill, courage and horsemanship by some of the best cowboys and cowgirls on the planet and a whole mess of additional fun and entertainment to boot. This year’s Canadian Professional Rodeo Association event has attracted over 50 top-10 competitors in the CPRA standings, including several current money leaders and former national champions. Everyone’s trying to earn those precious points that will earn them a spot at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in October. Performances on both Saturday and Sunday kick off at 1 p.m. with gates opening at 11 a.m. Be sure to come early to get the best seat, experience the ambience of the rodeo way-of-life, and take in the abundance of onsite attractions, activities and vendors. Both Saturday and Sunday are officially ‘Family Days’ at the rodeo. There’ll be special activities for the youngsters in a kid’s zone, and the always popular mutton bustin’ and peewee barrel racing events at the intermission each day. You won’t want to miss Nicola Valley’s top ranch hands go toe-to-toe in the ranchman’s saddle bronc event. Douglas Lake Cattle Co. cowboys will be wanting to put on a good show in front of a hometown audience against their rivals from other ranches throughout the southern Interior. There’s even more entertainment both days! World-champion hoop dancer Alex Wells from Pemberton is back. And then there’s the unforgettable Get-Down Rodeo Clown himself — Merritt’s own Jayson Charters. He’ll have the audience in stitches with his hilarious antics
Saddle bronc (above) is just one of several exciting roughstock events at the annual Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo. Ian Webster/Herald
both in the ring and amongst the crowd. Want more? Merritt’s business community will be duking it out on Saturday on a mechanical bull located behind the grandstands. Move over John Travolta and the movie classic Urban Cowboy — here come representatives from the likes of Carrie Ware & Co. and The Hitchin’ Post. Witness the ultimate media smackdown — Radio Q101 versus your very own Merritt Herald. For the grown-up crowd on Saturday, there’ll be a rodeo dance in the beer garden, featuring Bobby Garcia and his band Six More Strings. Admission is free with your rodeo ticket. Once again, to encourage young and old alike to come out and enjoy the rodeo, the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo’s ticket prices can’t be beat — with adults at $15, students and seniors $12 and all children 10 and under absolutely free! Tickets for both days of the rodeo can be purchased in advance at Purity Feed or at the gate.
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Fair full of tradition
Nicola Valley Fall Fair Association presents the
41th ANNUAL FALL FAIR SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 & SUNDAY, SEPT. 4, 2016
From Page 1 colouring, to sculpy clay and soap carving, to LEGO models and creative writing. The classes are divided into age ranges, with Kindergarten to grade threes competing together, grades four to six together, seven to nine in a group, and grades 10 to 12 as one. Organizing a fall fair on the scale of the Nicola Valley’s signature event requires a dedicated team of volunteers who are willing to put in some serious hours (or months) working towards getting the grounds and building ready for the exhibitors. Luckily, the organizing committee is stocked with experience. Suzanne Thompson arranges some foliage on one of the many displays set up in the Fall Fair building. Cole Wagner/Herald. Kathy Reimer is the treasurer for the Fall Fair committee, and fairs started with,” she explained. has been involved with the organization in And while the prizes are real — three dolone capacity or another for 33 years. About lars for a first place finish in any category, and a decade ago, she was joined by her sister, then two dollars for second, and a shiny looSuzanne Thompson, who hopped on board nie for third — the organizers recognize that as a director for the Nicola Valley Fall Fair the competition is all in good fun. Association. “With all the sections and classes, there is a With preparations for the fair in full swing, place to put just about everything, and if not, Reimer, Thompson, and the Fall Fair associa- please let us know and we will try to have a tion president Marianne Reimer met with the class for it next year,” said Kathy. Herald to share their excitement about this “I like to say, ‘We have a category for year’s fair. that,’” added Thompson, riffing on an old “We are hoping to have a great show this Apple slogan. year — we have been prepping the grounds The Fall Fair organizers are also hosting a and building for a few weeks,” explained fundraising effort to construct new bathrooms Kathy. on location at the Fall Fair building. Bricks are While everyone helps with the set up, being sold at $10 apiece, with donors being Suzanne Thompson has the special job of recognized on a commemorative plaque once running the spreadsheets to keep track of the the building is finished. Bricks will be available thousands of entries received by the commitfor purchase throughout the weekend on site. tee, across the numerous categories. And if you’re standing around admiring, But the effort is worth it, explained Kathy, you may be recruited to help — the organiznoting that the Nicola Valley Fall Fair is one ers are always looking for more hands to chip of the last remaining truly “traditional” fairs in during the festival itself. around. With over 100 years of history in the “A lot of the fairs have gone to the techniNicola Valley, this year’s Fall Fair looks to be cal age — you have the carnivals, the games, one of the best on record — especially if for you have those things. Whereas we’re an old those who manage to collect a couple of blue fashioned fair. We actually have the things the ribbons.
Don’t Miss Merritt Centennials Rodeo Weekend
Pancake Breakfast Saturday, Sept. 3: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Aquatic Centre Parking Lot (by the NV Memorial Arena) Bring the whole family for Pancakes, Eggs & Sausage.
Adults $7 Kids/Seniors $5
Support your Cents!
Saturday: noon to 8 pm & Sunday: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Come check out all of our exhibits at the NV Fall Fair. We are located just past the rodeo grounds on Lindley Creek Road.
FLOWERS Extravaganza of Colour
WINE
FRUITS & VEGETABLES A Show of Great Gardening
4H CLUB
Chemistry in a bottle
BAKING
An Aromatic Group
CANNING The Freshness of the garden in a jar.
FINE ARTS
FORAGE & CROPS
HOMECRAFTS Handcrafted Ideas
A Picturesque Group of Artists
A Hayday of Farm Products
HOBBIES
STUDENTS
Elementary and Secondary
For the Hobby Enthusiasts
PHOTOGRAPHY Time Held by a Photo
PET SHOW
Smallest, Best Dressed, Unique, Best Trick, & more!
DAI RY GOATS, SHEEP & SWI N E PO U LTRY & PIGEON S R ABBI TS, C AV I E S & HAMS TER S For Animal Lovers
Come down and check out all the exhibits on September 3rd & 4th Baking Contest, Vintage Car Club, Old Tractor & Engine Show, Nicola Valley Tractor Pulls. Volunteers Always Welcome!
Nicola Valley Fall Fair’s
HARVEST MOON DANCE Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016: 8:30 pm to 2 am With Merritt’s Own DJ BRIAN TAYLOR
PLAYING: Top 40, Country, Rock & everything in between! Door prizes & contest for best western wear Advance tickets: $10 319 Lindley Creek Road (Fall Fair Building)
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Whatever your taste, whatever your adventure, the City of Merritt offers a blend of country fun, an urban life-style, and outdoor adventure. Located at the heart of the Coquilhalla Highway and gateway to BC’s interior is the City of Merritt.
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8 am - 9 pm DAILY • Railyard Mall (Garcia St.) Merritt, BC 250-378-5564
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Annual Pro Rodeo
SATURDAY, SEpT. 3 & SUNDAY, SEpT. 4
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half time show
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www.merritt-chamber.bc.ca
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Chamber of Commerce
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for a chance to win tickets
YoUR MAp To THE NICoLA VALLEYMAXWELL AVE. 2ND RoDEo GRoUNDS! AVE.
www.city.merritt.bc.ca
JasoN ChaRteRs
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Tourist Information Centre 378-2281
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On-Site Concessions
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PeeWee Barrel Race & Mutton’ Busting
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• Bouncy Castle • Petting Zoo • Face Painting • Kids climbing zone Ranch Hand Saddle Bronc Competition
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Come down early and let the kids burn off some energy with our
Watch our local Business community ride the mechanical bull, to compete for charity.
CLEAS
Kids Zone
BUSINESSMEN’S BULL BUSTIN!
CHAPM
Get'er Done
GATES opEN: 11 AM pERfoRMANCES: 1 pM
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Tickets available at the gate: 10 & under fREE, Students & Seniors - $12, Adults - $15 Thank you To our sponsors: for more info phone Allison Thompson at 250-315-3016 or Karen Coldwell at 250-378-1578 RO AD
To Merritt Mountain Music Festival Site
KICK off RoDEo wEEKEND, VISIT US oNLINE AT www.nicolavalleyprorodeo.com
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