As most volunteers know events do not just happen they require a great deal of preparation. Planning for the 2013 24th annual Chestermere Country Fair and Red Ribbon Competition started last year in November when new ideas and suggestions were gathered at the Red Ribbon and Country Fair wind up meetings. Just like our provincial government we have been busy having “conversations” but unlike them both sides get to talk and we are progressing towards our goal. By late January under the superb direction of Jennifer Peddlesden Red Ribbon preparation was under way. Jennifer even came up with a new slogan “Putting the Country Back in the Community”. Thanks to Steve Jeffrey at the Anchor, CRCA staff and many busy volunteers the Country Fair booklet has been updated, refined and is available to all. The booklet and other information is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChestermereCountryFair.
The Preserving Your Skills workshop is all planned and primed to teach baking, knitting and quilting skills to up and coming new stars in our competition. Most of our judges have been booked and this year there is a workshop for judges and potential judges going on in June in Airdrie. Jennifer is also trying to line up some celebrity judges. Speaking of celebrities, our fast-talking local MP Kevin Sorensen did such an outstanding job last year in raising over $1800 we have already booked this star auctioneer for “Pies for STARS”. See if your pie can attract the highest bid for a worthy cause.
Currently we are rounding up sponsors for our Red Ribbon Competition prizes. Our long term goal is to offer a prize for every category and every year we come closer. It is somewhat of a moving target as we seem to add categories every year. We are currently contacting our sponsors from last year and hope they will contribute again this year. We feel that having these prizes encourages competition, increases the number of participants and hopefully adds to everyone’s enjoyment. If you or your company would like to sponsor a competition or competitions please contact our fund raising volunteer Lennox Gomes by email at lennoxgomes@gmail.com.
Rosemary Clysdale, Heritage Park volunteer extraordinaire who we were lucky enough to have join us when Heritage Park shut down their Red Ribbon competition has already lined up prize contributions from the Canada wide Country Fair Baking Contest and Home Canning Awards.
There is still much work to be done. The most important piece of this production is the entrants. It is time to start getting your entries ready. Plant those seeds, quilt those quilts, practice those recipes, brew that beer, test out your wines, preserve some fruit or vegetables, make a do lego creation, create crafts some crafts, scrapbook, knit, crochet, take pictures and so on. Pick up a booklet, decide what competitions you are going to win this year and get started. Mark off September 13th and 14th for the Chestermere Country Fair and Red Ribbon Competition. Enter and win an award.
