Stage set for action-packed Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

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This article was published 26/03/2018 (2950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 111th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair begins Monday and for Provincial Exhibition president Brent Miller, the day couldn’t come soon enough.

“The first day of Monday is a nerve-wracking day to make sure all our planning we believe we’ve done well at, that they all end up executed properly,” he said.

Running until Saturday at the Keystone Centre, the Winter Fair is one of only two fairs in the country with a royal distinction, the other being in Toronto.

Miller said he was anxious for the annual event to start, adding it couldn’t have been done without the strong group of directors and volunteers who stepped up and worked “like clockwork.”

General manager Ron Kristjansson, who has been involved with the fair for 35 years, also commended the staff and volunteers who have helped keep the whole thing rolling.

“There’s pieces of the fair that just wouldn’t happen without the huge number (of volunteers),” he said.

The six-day event will feature many of its usual suspects, including the President’s Choice SuperDogs show and the always popular petting zoo, and all week, riders will compete in various horse shows at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence and Westoba Place.

Tara Hofer from Jonesy’s Stables in Brandon and her seven students have been practising for the hunters and jumpers competition since December. This year marks her 30th showing at the Winter Fair.

“For us, it’s a horse show in our backyard,” she said.

When it comes to this year’s entertainment, the lineup will feature Manitoba’s own Fred Penner and Vancouver-based Juno award-winning musician Norman Foote, who will make his debut appearance in Brandon at the Winter Fair.

The week will also see performances from ventriloquist Tim Holland, James Johnson’s Magical Daredevil Comedy Show, the Birds of Prey of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy and the five-piece children’s show, The Backyardigans. As well, renowned fiddler Allison Granger will be in Brandon to judge the fiddlers’ contest.

Beyond the music and live performances, the Winter Fair also serves as a useful opportunity to learn from the best in the business.

The Kinsmen Arena and Brandon Curling Club will serve as the designated Ag Education area, with presentations from different people and groups, including American Kirk Stierwalt, who will give a sold-out, three-day cattle clinic on clipping, hoof trimming, dressing and showmanship.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association will lead a grain safety demonstration, using a full-sized trailer, to educate the public on the risks of handling grain.

Meanwhile, at the nearby Ag Action Stage, the Winter Fair for the first time will recognize the work of Manitoba’s farm families, with an awards ceremony sponsored by BMO.

The fair is also the host of one of Westman’s largest indoor food and lifestyle trade shows, with dozens of exhibitors booked in this week as vendors.

Mo Lafreniere and his crew from the Brandon Cowtown were in on Saturday morning unpacking boxes of boots, hats and other clothing in the UCT Pavilion.

The trade show is always a busy time of year for Lafreniere, but he said it helps the business get its name out.

And with students on their spring break this week, the Winter Fair is sure to see many families and young children take part.

“It’s really the kids that everyone gets a kick out of,” Lafreniere said.

Tickets to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and youth between the ages of 13 and 17, $9 for children six to 12, and free for kids under six.

More information can be found at provincialexhibition.com.

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