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
See ‘FAIR’ Page 2
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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