Pelican Lake Fair continues to gain momentum
The Fair is over for another year, but the memories made will last a lifetime.
The days leading up to the Fair saw a flurry of activity with all the final details needing to be completed, supplies delivered, tents put up, and so much more, but as organizer Bryan Podworny shared, “it went off without a hitch!”
By Friday at 4, the stage was set and the gates were opened.
At 4:30 a crowd of hungry attendees made a beeline to the canteen to be served the much anticipated beef supper, and it was better than even imagined, with the meat prepared by J & S Meats in Souris (who also host “The Patty Wagon”) being so tender it almost melted in your mouth.
Bryan said they had anticipated 200 meals being served, and “they were blown away when they sold out of meals in an hour!”
As the aroma of fresh little donuts wafted through the air, it was impossible not to go over and grab a bag as a bit of dessert. (FYI, they tasted even better than they smelled!)
The Farmer’s Market took place over both Friday and Saturday, and with 19 vendors coming from Melita, Brandon, Carberry, Minto, Wawanesa and Belmont, there was something for everyone.
For the second year in a row, Wendy and Clayton Kunzelman from Trickle Creek Hay Rides were on hand with their spectacular team of Suffolk Punch horses (that we shared this team with our readers in our April 18th, 2024 edition), giving tours over the weekend. It is estimated that 250 rides were given!
This year, a baby contest was held, judged by Dianne Stevenson, who followed in her late mother Margaret’s footsteps. In her day, Margaret had judged many baby contests in the local Fair. A total of 7 babies were organized into groups of 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months, with each group being judged in categories ranging from chubbiest cheeks to which babies looked most like their parents.
On Friday, the Fair also hosted some old-time games that included many different races like sack, three-legged, spoon, and hobby horse, as well as an egg toss and many more. The peals of laughter erupting from the games area were a witness to the fun being had.
Saturday morning, a pancake breakfast was held at the Ninette Hall, with almost 200 hungry attendees being served.
In attendance was also Doyle Piwniuk, who fully admits he loves to come out to events like the Fair. He took a minute to share a few words with the Gazette.
“Events like this showcase Turtle Mountain, and I love supporting the diversity and uniqueness. Every community has an event that is wholly theirs and I am so proud to support them all. It is important that all the volunteers and committees be commended for their hard work and dedication. It is wonderful to see events supported by not only the local community, but also other communities coming out to join in the fun.”
Doyle even volunteered behind the scenes to assist in pancake flipping!
The kids’ exhibits at the Ninette Hall were spectacular and varied. Eva mentioned she had contacted many schools, including several Hutterite colonies, sharing the list of divisions and classes. The response was amazing.
Saturday also saw the light horse competitions start. Fair coordinator Eva Miller added that, “We had 47 riders this year. This was a result of us registering to be on the Manitoba Gymkhana Association Circuit.”
The parade was a huge hit with huge crowds lining the streets to see the many floats and to collect the copious amount of candy being shared!
This year’s Show and Shine, organized by Chuck Wilsone and Louis Boulet, was very well attended with over 40 vehicles to admire. The People’s Choice winner was a red 1975 Ford F100 owned by Kirk Gyselinck.
The Show & Shine prize winners were: 1968 Dodge Charger – Joel Deacon; 1959 Chevrolet Apache Pickup – Bill Lockhart; 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS – Jamie Sims.
All the vehicles on display were breathtaking and it was easy to see the love the owners had for their works of mobile art.
Blair Rankin organized the 2nd annual Junior Cattle Show, with Dr. Shania Jack judging the competition.
PHOTO CAPTION: Everyone loves a parade … and the Ninette Fair Parade was another great success with many entrants and a huge crowd of spectators that lined the streets. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
