Susan Sweet and her Easel

Susan has been working in her sketch book at the Hants County Exhibition during her stint as artist in residence at the annual agricultural fair. Here are a few of her sketch book pages from last week. Look forward to more this weekend and a final painting project in the future! These are gestures in marker, pencil and conte.

2nd Weekend – Loads of Feature Events

Just imagine a second weekend as big or bigger than the first. A Brew Tent with beer wine and spirit samples from across the province. A local event feature with food, arts, crafts, green energy and demonstrations that will amaze. AND Goat Yoga! Check them out at this years 252nd Hants County Exhibition!

Brew Tent – Local Demos and Marine Institute

What a beautiful warm day! Vendors are busy setting up in the Brew Tent. Come enjoy some great local beer, cider and spirits on the patio. Still Fired Distilleries Inc is set up and ready to go!

And don’t forget the Wentworth Creek Farm pickling demos at 1, 2:30, 4. Marine Institute of Natural and Academic Science will be here (ask about Pumpkin the local great white shark) and check out The Passive House and learn how to save!

Come on over to the O’Brien building area. Select Nova Scotia Efficiency Nova Scotia Thinkwell Shift

Brew Tent – A Hopp-ening Good Time!

Sat & Sun Sept 23-24…Offering free sprit and cider tastings, THE BREW TENT will be “hopping” with local beer, cider and spirits both Saturdays (noon til 9pm)  and Sunday starting at noon til close.

Check out the local food demos and the vendors at Hants County Green & Local inside the O’Brien Building and look through the Passive House (and learn how to save energy and $$).

Don’t miss this! Good Robot Brewing Company Noggins Corner Farm School House BREW Still Fired Distilleries Inc Wayfarers’ Ale Society Steinhart Distillery @Saltbox Brewing Barrelling Tide Distillery Sober Island Brewing Company Big Spruce Brewing Thinkwell Shift Select Nova Scotia Petite Riviere Vineyards ShipBuilders Cider CovenHoven Distillery Katie Godon Wentworth Creek Farm Curd Girl Marine Institute of Natural and Academic Science The Yoga Hen Yoga Adventures All Lathered Up Soap Co. #2017hantscountyex #cometothefair

The Midway – Always a Favorite!

Midway faces! 🙀🤣Advanced midway bracelets are on sale at MacLeans and Needs PetroCan, Lakeside Variety, New Ross Clover Farm Store, Windsor Home Hardware.

$24 ($26 at Ex) Show bracelet to parking gate attendant for free parking.

The Pet Parade is Back

Sun. Sept 24th…. How many of you took part in the Exhibition Pet Parade as kids? Little Liza Sweet did. Here she is proudly parading piglets at exhibition in 1962, the 197th Hants County Exhibition.

The Pet Parade is back, Sunday Sept 24 at 1pm in the courtyard. Free admission to participating child (with pet) and one adult. Costumes are encouraged, and smiles are mandatory.

Shirley Spencer, a wonderful local photographer captured this moment. Please share this post, and share your special pet parade memories and photos in the comments. Susan Sweet

Future Farmers Friday

Fri Sept 15th…It’s a busy time of the year for Future Farmers Friday!

This year on September 15, we’ll welcome over 600 students, teachers and chaperones from Windsor Forks, Falmouth, Dr. A. Hines, Hantsport and Three Mile Plains Elementary Schools.

Future Farmers Friday is an opportunity for children to learn about agriculture, the environment, and our community – AND have some fun at the Hants County Exhibition.

This would not be possible without the support of the Hants County Federation of Agriculture, Windsor Agricultural Society, and many devoted and generous volunteers. Thank you to Municipality of the District of West Hants Valley Harvest Sweet Potatoes Agropur Green Schools Nova Scotia Marine Institute of Natural and Academic Science @Robert MacDonald
@Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Mad Science Hants County 4-H @Nova Scotia Antique Engine & Tractor Association to name a few. Thank you to all who help make this happen. The Image shows maps with learning stations.

4-H Weekend

Sept 15 – 17th… 4-H weekend is coming fast!  The Hants County Exhibition is happy to be able to add the complete 4-H schedule for Sept 15-17 to our program book this year, for the convenience of club members, parents and 4H fans.

The 4-H light horse schedule is part of arena programming (also in the book and on the website). Please like and share the schedule. Hants County 4-H

Embrace your Inner Hillbilly

Sept 23rd…Register before Sept 16th to participate as a team of 2 in the Hants County Hillbilly Challenge on Saturday, September 23, 2017. This event takes place during the second weekend of the 252nd Hants County Exhibition and is sure to be a hillbilly good time!

Register for the Hillbilly Challenge Here

Participants will be required to complete several tasks throughout the day(11am-6pm) to qualify for the grand prize. The main event will take place at the Exhibition Arena and will have teams taking part in challenges such as partner carry, wheelbarrow weave races, hay bale carry, square dancing, and “horse” racing! All participants MUST compete the arena challenge in rubber boots! Costumes are encouraged and a prize will be awarded for the best one!

There will be a corporate/business category, a student (must be 18+) category, and a general category. Prizes will be awarded for the winners in each category.

Event Legacy Award to the 2015 Hants County Ex

Event Legacy Award Presented to Hants County Exhibition by AVESTA

IMG_1108_Avesta_Award_2016

The Windsor Agricultural Society received the Event Legacy Award for its 251st Hants County Exhibition.

This award was presented in recognition of an annual community festival or event providing long lasting benefits to a community in the Annapolis Valley.

The awards luncheon featuring several individual and group awards was hosted by the Annapolis Valley Event and Sports Tourism Association (AVESTA) and the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce .

This year’s Event Legacy Award was sponsored and presented by the Municipality of the County of Kings. Receiving the award on behalf of the Windsor Agricultural Society is director Cynthia Duey.

CBC Reports on Hants County Ex 250 Year Anniversary

IMG_1480_Ostrich_HR_300_PDICBC News carried a story this week covering lead-up the 250th Anniversary of the Hants Country Exhibition. In its opening line to the story it asks… “Do you remember the time Mike Duffy raced on an ostrich that could reach 56km/hour?”

It serves as a great point of recollection in looking back 250 years; of the recent changes in fairs and exhibitions and more importantly over the long term in the agriculture and farming industries. For more on the complete story: CBC News.ca

Farm Credit Canada Provides Donation to Hants Co Ex 250th

Farm Credit Canada Hants Co Ex 250thWindsor Agricultural Society President Brian Casey presented a 250th Anniversary Art Print by Susan Sweet to Rick O’Regan of Farm Credit Canada in appreciation of their sponsorship at our 250th Anniversary Celebration at the Hants County Exhibition.

The Hants County Exhibition is recognized as the oldest and longest running agricultural fair in North America

Rare Breeds will be at Hants County Exhibition’s 250th

rare breeds hants co ex 250thA special new event during the 250th Hants County Exhibition – A Rare Breeds and Heritage Livestock Showcase. Sunday, September 27th. Come and see:
CATTLE: (Lincoln Red, Normande, Scottish Highland, Milking Shorthorn, Canadienne
SHEEP: (Cotswold. Icelandic, Southdown)
SWINE: (Berkshire)
GOATS: (Toggenburg, Saanen)
EQUINE: (Canadian, Newfoundland pony)
POULTRY: (Blue Slate,  Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington)

Scotiabank Donates to Hants County Ex 250 Anniversary

Bank of Nova ScotiaWindsor Agricultural Director Bruce Saunders (left) helps present Scotiabank Manager Wendy Brown with a token of the Society’s appreciation for the bank’s sponsorship of the 250th Anniversary Celebration at the Hants County Exhibition.

Also shown in the photo are Summer Students Brooke McNeil and Leah Newcombe (far right). Wendy was presented a 250th Art Print by Susan Sweet.