The Cochrane Agricultural Society is getting ready to welcome the community back to the fairgrounds for its annual Fall Fair on September 11 and 12. The two-day event will bring together entertainment, agricultural displays, competitions, local talent and plenty of opportunities for families and friends to enjoy the weekend together.
Admission is $5 per person, while children under two can attend for free. Along with many of the fair’s familiar favourites, organizers are adding a new attraction this year that is sure to bring even more excitement to the grounds.
A New Attraction Joins the Fair
The Cochrane Polar Horse Riders will host a horse gaming show during the Fall Fair. Leslie Mann, communications director for the Cochrane Agricultural Society, said the show will take place at the fairgrounds while the rest of the fair is underway and will be included with regular admission.
Visitors can also look forward to musical performances throughout the weekend, featuring both familiar local performers and some new faces. With music, horses and the usual fair activities happening at the same time, organizers are hoping there will be something for everyone.
Plenty of Returning Favourites
Some of the fair’s most popular attractions will be back this year, including inflatables, agricultural exhibits, chainsaw carving demonstrations by Brianna Stewart of Stewart’s Chainsaw Carving, and the much-loved meatball and chili competitions.
Last year, the inflatables, exhibits and chainsaw carving were among the biggest crowd favourites, while the food competitions once again brought out plenty of enthusiastic participants and spectators.
Behind all of it is a dedicated team of volunteers. Mann estimates that around 10 to 15 core volunteers spend countless hours preparing for the fair, with even more community members stepping in to help throughout the weekend.
Celebrating Local Talent
For many people, the Fall Fair is about much more than entertainment. It is a chance to show off local skills, celebrate agriculture and keep community traditions alive.
One regular participant is Vero Filion, who has become known for entering a wide range of exhibits every year. She says she enjoys the creative challenge and jokingly refers to the fair as her own “Olympics” because of how competitive she can get.
Filion carefully goes through the fair book each year before deciding which categories to enter, from crafts and creative projects to other handmade creations. One of her favourite experiences was creating a birdhouse designed to look like the Cochrane Tourism Centre. After the competition, she donated the piece to Tourism Cochrane.
For her, that is part of what makes the fair special. A project that begins as a competition entry can sometimes become something meaningful that continues to be enjoyed by the community long afterward.
Keeping Traditions Alive
Mann said the fair gives people of all ages and abilities a chance to participate. Whether someone enjoys quilting, knitting, photography, crafts or agriculture, there is likely a category that matches their interests and talents.
Filion believes those opportunities are important because they help preserve traditions that have been passed down through generations. Having grown up with agriculture as part of her family history, she sees the fair as a way to keep those connections alive.
“Traditions don’t stay alive on their own,” Filion said. “They stay alive because each generation chooses to carry them forward.”
Looking Ahead to Another Busy Weekend
Organizers know there are still challenges, particularly when it comes to finding qualified judges. Certified judges can be difficult to recruit for smaller community fairs and sometimes have to travel from outside the area.
Despite that, the Cochrane Agricultural Society is expecting another strong turnout. Last year’s fair attracted approximately 600 to 700 visitors over two days, and organizers are hopeful the addition of the horse gaming show will bring even more people through the gates this year.
For anyone attending for the first time, Mann recommends arriving early on Saturday. Live animals will be at the fairgrounds that morning, with judging scheduled for 1 p.m.
Filion is also encouraging more people, especially younger residents and families, to get involved. She believes joining the agricultural society, entering an exhibit, bringing children to the fair or simply learning from experienced participants can help ensure these traditions continue for years to come.
Event Details
The Cochrane Fall Fair takes place at the Cochrane Fairgrounds on Friday, September 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With new activities alongside the familiar favourites, organizers are looking forward to another weekend filled with creativity, agriculture, entertainment and community spirit. More information about the fair and its activities is available on the Cochrane Agricultural Society’s Facebook page.
