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Purple background with text (left) that reads "Women Working Together" and a ray of light showing a lantern (right).

Agricultural Societies and Fall Fairs

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Fall fairs have a long tradition in southwestern Ontario. The earliest fall fairs in Lambton County were held in the 1840s.

(Sepia toned postcard of a crowd and a pavillion and a crowd at the Brigden Fair. At the bottom, text reads "View at Brigden Ont Fall Fair". Image Caption: "This image of the Brigden Fair is from the late nineteenth century. The Brigden Fair always runs Thanksgiving Weekend and is currently the largest fair in Lambton County. Photo courtesy of the Moore Agricultural Society."), link.Five areas continue to celebrate annual fall fairs: Plympton-Wyoming, Petrolia and Enniskillen, Forest, Alvinston, and Brigden.

Women were traditionally involved in fairs by preparing baking and handicrafts. However, they have also worked together in groups to organize and execute events. Jodey Nurse noted while she was writing her PhD thesis at the University of Guelph that after World War II, “[Women at the fair] were not just doing the food and fancywork, they were sometimes showing livestock and they participated more on the fair boards.”

For many agricultural societies, in the 1960s and 1970s women took on greater responsibilities such as construction projects or sitting on the main fair board. The diversification of tasks has continued to the present day.

(Older women sit in front of a display, "40th Anniversary Homecraft Ladies Brigden Fair 1958-1998"Image Caption: 'Members of the Homecraft Division are seen here celebrating their 40th anniversary. Seated left to right are: Ina McKellar (the first Homecraft president); Lorene Sharp (first Main board female president); Amy Dawson; and Queenie McBean (long time honorary member who celebrated her 100th birthday at the fair in July 2012)."), link.The Brigden Fair

Women have been active in agricultural societies across Lambton County, but we selected Brigden as a case study for this exhibit.

The first fall fair in the Brigden area was held in 1850 when local farmers gathered their best cattle and horses for show. However, it would not be until 1958 when female volunteers were formally organized. On February 19, 1958 a Homecraft Division of female volunteers was established, with Ina McKellar as the first President. Women were responsible for many developments at the Brigden Fair, including Amy (Poland) Dawson who designed the first logo of the fair.

When the Moore Agricultural Society constructed a new building in the late 1970s, the women's group helped raise money for the building and to furnish and equip the kitchen. Women also helped construction by climbing scaffolding to paint walls. In 1980 the first female President helmed the Brigden Fair when Lorene Sharp took the reins.

View the script of a skit put on by the Moore Agricultural Society in 1990 celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Brigden Fair.

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