The Biggest Little Fair in Manitoba

Besides recreation, Agricultural Societies were first formed to educate rural residents on farming and domestic techniques and ideas. The first Reston Fair was planned for the fall of 1907 but a severe hail storm saw it cancelled and the society instead began to fight for compulsory hail insurance and increased grants for rural ways of life. The clipping from the August 9, 1907 Manitoba Morning Free press confirms. It also says only 10% of those hailed out were insured. It indicates this was the first major hail storm in the area. The policy from 1909 shows the Boulton Brothers (Thomas, Anthony and Herb) insured 380 acres to a value of $1900 for $76 for the next 5 crop seasons and would have no doubt considered it money well spent.

 

  

Thanks to Verna and John Olenick for sharing this photo and the one at the top

 

But back to the fair.  The first Reston Fair was held on August 4, 1908. Thirty - four and a half acres on SE 17-7-24 was then and is still the Fair Grounds, just north of #2 Highway. A racetrack and grandstand had been built that summer and with not a tree in sight on a ploughed field, a windy day meant a dusty one indeed. 

An article in the Manitoba Morning Free Press dated July 29, 1909 says fair day saw splendid weather and 2000 people passed through the gates.  Domestic, dairy (butter) and fancy work entries had plenty of competition. Horse and pony races were held as well as cattle and horse  shows.  Unspecified athletic events were won by S. Thorndike, A. Craig and J. Donald. Reston won the handsome baseball trophy donated by W.H. McDougall, over Pipestone.
 In 1924, 1200 trees were planted by Ag Society volunteers. In 1931 - 1938, no fair was held due to severe conditions and lack of interest.  In 1946, 107 German prisoners of war were housed on the fair grounds and sent out to help with harvest.

From the August 1, 1961 Brandon Sun
The annual Reston Fair, sponsored by the Pipestone-Albert Agricultural Society, played to a capacity crowd Thursday with events and displays, larger than in past years.
The heavy horse class drew the heaviest entries with Brown Brothers of Arrow River, C. W. Paddock, of Reston and Clarence Lennon of Reston sharing top honors.
In the Pony Class, winning honors were given to L.M. Murray of Lyleton, Wilf Francis of Elkhorn, Stewart Lennon of Butler, Mrs. Alvin Lowe of Bradwardine and Blaine Fowler of Virden.
Saddle horse winners were: Mrs. Alvin Lowe, Brown Brothers, Jim Brown of Gainsborough, Allan English of Oakner, Mrs. E. C. Scharff of Hartney, H. Dunham of Maryfield, Arthur Wilkins of Reston and Donald Zarn of Ewart.
Shorthorn prize went to Mclver Brothers of Ebor while Alcide Levesque of Fairlight won both the Jersey class and the dairy herd special.
Bert Bennett and the Bennett Brothers of Deloraine won all the prizes in the registered sheep event.
Keith Lazenbv, Campbell and Son, Ed Wilson, Darwin Lazen- by, Gordon Schmelz and Mrs. Jack Guthrie copped the honors in the grain, oats and barley classes.
Mrs. Albert Perreaux of Redvers, Sask. collected the most points on garden vegetables.
Baking class honours belonged to: Mrs. Everett Williams, Mrs. Andre Delmaire, Mrs. Allan Kendrick, Miss Mary Mclver, Miss Frances Thompson, W. A. Reid, and Mrs. C. J. Lawrence.
Miss Mary Mclver was given the most points for home products while Mrs. Ken Duncan collected the most points for plants and flowers.
The clothing entries, besides being larger than usual this year featured a class for ladies 70 and over. Mrs. H. Shillington’s talents won her first in this class while other prizes went to Mrs. Buck Johnson of Maryfield, Mrs. John Adair, Mrs. Jack Scholey, Mrs. G. Andrews.
The Noxious Weed special was won by Ian Milliken of Reston.
Mrs. Buck Johnson picked up the most points in the arts and crafts competitions while the school section named Donna Shelvey, Ian Milliken and Craig Milliken as its winners.
Fonda Forsyth of Reston, Donna McKenzie of Pipestone and Carol McLean of Reston were the prize winners in the 4-H displays.
Other features of the day event included demonstrations by the Reston and Pipestone 4-H Clubs, the Reston Junior Band and the Stranger shows on the midway.

A newspaper report from the 1971 fair  says 3000 people attended and a judge indicated the quantity and quality of exhibits was remarkable. 

From the Brandon Sun - May 17, 1973 - The Pipestone-Albert Agricultural Society met this week to discuss plans for the annual Reston fair, to be held on July 26. The prize lists for this popular fair are now available. Dubbed "the biggest little fair in Manitoba," the fair each year draws a large crowd and many entries in all classes, from horses and cattle to home produce. Gordon Forsyth is the president. The directors decided to build a new cattle shed this year. A bee will be held at a later date to repair the buildings and fix up the grounds.  

A resolution was passed to ask the council of the RM of Pipestone to pass a bylaw that anyone causing willful damage to the buildings or grounds belonging to the society will be prosecuted. The resolution was prompted by the damage already done to the race tracks by persons racing around in cars and cutting it up. The track is also used in winter for the snowmobile races

A pet show will again be held at the fair, Rev. E. Schurman in charge. The, tractor driving contest will also be held with a trophy to be presented to the winner. Judging will be on the point system. The collegiate student council will be responsible for procuring an orchestra for the dance the society sponsors on fair day. The student council had approached the society for permission to improve the dug-out on the grounds for swimming purposes, providing it can procure a grant under the government's youth program and the society agreed. Arthur Wilkins, Doug Naughton and Jim Walker will look after entertainment on fair days.

A two day Reston Fair was held for many years on Wednesday and Thursday until 1986 when it was changed to Friday and Saturday. Pig Scrambles, Junior King/Queen Farmer, Lions Cook Off, Human Rodeo, Treasure Hunts, Airplane Rides, Machinery Displays, and Gymkana horse events were all offered over the years to entice families to visit.   Pre-Fair activities on Main Street, the parade, Fair Queen, pancake breakfast, beer gardens and dances at the fairground will hold special memories for many.   A 100th birthday celebration was held in July of 2009 to coincide with the RM's 125th anniversary. 

Uncountable community members volunteered their time to take positions on the executive of the Pipestone Albert Agricultural Society, work at various tasks to prepare and on fair day.  The work of cooking and selling meals and treats like pie on site cannot be forgotten either.  I'd be pleased to hear your memories of the Biggest Little Fair in Manitoba either in the comments below or to ssimms@escape.ca.