Thursday, July 25, 2013 DaniElle Severinski, a third-generation Pitt Meadows dairy farmer, is singing at Country Fest Sunday.
Page A7 • LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 20 PAGES Photos by Deanna Laity
Country Fest 2013
Saturday, July 27 – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Sunday, July 28 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From the legendary water fight that ends the weekend for the 4-Hers, to the showing, camping, and companionship, all the kids who participate in Country Fest are anxious to return again.
Weekend festivities
Fair all about kids, animals, and family fun by Ronda Payne
editorial@mrtimes.com
Grab the raincoats, 4-Hers, it’s almost time for the favourite part of Country Fest. “This is the pinnacle of Country Fest for the 4-H kids,” said Deanna Laity, 4-H leader and one of the 4-H organizers. She’s referring to the annual and “legendary” water fight. What began years ago as an impromptu free-for-all soon grew into a greatly anticipated part
of a long two days for 4-H kids, Laity said. “They start getting possessive of their buckets,” Laity said of how the kids prepare. “It’s a really big deal. It is epic.” One year a fire hose even came on scene. The drenching is expected to be thorough and exciting. “My daughter is already talking about it [the water fight],” Laity noted. Taking the water fight to those epic proportions won’t be hard this year, with a steep increase in the number of 4-H competitors. “This is my 22nd year as a 4-H leader – a member for 11 years before that – and I’ve never seen a show this big,” said 4-H com-
mittee chair Dean Spady. Country Fest organizer Lorraine Bates attributes the growth in part to the hard work Spady put in to collect prizes and ensure the event is not just the largest, but the best ever. “There never used to be prize money and prizes,” Spady noted. “Now, we give out between cash and prizes, it will be $7,000, we give out. They all get something,” he said, giving credit for the prizes to the community. “It’s sponsored through local businesses and people in the community,” Spady added. In addition to the cash and prizes are the coveted belt buckles for the beef champions. Four buckles in all will be award-
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ed, one each for junior showitself is going to be good,” said man, senior showman, champion Spady. heifer, and champion steer. All of the 4-H animal projects “I’m the chairman of the 4-H will be shown throughout the committee, and my wife and I two-day Country Fest. are pretty much the beef “The numbers are sky View committee,” Spady noted, high,” Laity added. “Our video & explaining his keen interest little fair, it’s amazing, it’s photos in the beef award buckles. really grown. I just can’t with Beef isn’t the only thing believe it.” coming to the show in And as for that water or online droves. On site at the fight? Albion Fairgrounds this “It just ends off the fair weekend, Saturday and in such a fun way,” Laity Sunday, July 27 and 28, said. “I’ve seen older visitors will see beef and ones [kids] piggyback the dairy cattle, sheep, llamas, hogs, younger ones.” rabbits, and dogs. Almost all When the afternoon hits, vishave seen a significant increase itors may want to avoid the areas in numbers. around the barns or risk being “The whole 4-H program in soaked.
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Children in 4-H are turning out in record numbers to this year’s Country Fest.
THIS WEEKEND JULY 27TH & 28TH
It’s Fun & It’s Free
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