The grandstand was packed as was the midway Friday night as the Belleville Agricultural Society and special guests celebrated a remarkable achievement.
The Quinte Exhibition, or Belleville Fair, is in full swing this Labour Day weekend for the two hundredth time.
Quinte Ex grandstand before opening ceremonies. In the front row are several Belleville Agricultural Society Past Presidents and others involved in the fair’s long history. (Photo: Quinte News)
The fair is the second oldest in Ontario and the third oldest in the country.
Among the many special guests at an official opening ceremony Friday night was the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson.
Thompson congratulated the Society’s many volunteers and said agricultural fairs were an integral part of the community.
“and whether it’s the best of the best in the show ring, having an opportunity for 4H members to have achievement programs or showing a
quilt or pyjamas in the homecraft division, this is where young people get their start and it’s so important.”
Thompson also said agricultural societies and fairs were for the “young at heart” noting many elderly volunteers who stay involved long into
their golden years.
Bay of Quinte riding MPP and Minister of Energy Todd Smith focused on the importance of the family from one generation to the next.
“It takes so many great families to make something like this continue to go year after year but we’re very very lucky for the committment of those people”.
In the foreground is Belleville Agricultural Society President Jamie Chatten. From left to right are Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, and Bay of Quinte MPP and Minister of Energy Todd Smith. (Photo: Quinte News)
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman said a lot had changed over 200 years.
“What hasn’t changed ladies and gentlemen is the resourcefulness and resilience of the people sitting next to you and your ancestors, your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents.”
Mayor of Belleville Neil Ellis presented a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the city to Belleville Agricultural Society President Jamie Chatten.
“And I actually grew up in the neighbourhood about a block away and I’ve probably seen 60 of the 200 fairs but I won’t tell you age with that but
it’s all about volunteers and I look out and see the smiling faces of what you’ve accomplished and what everybody has accomplished over the 200 years and there’s a lot of milestones here.”
The official opening was followed by the always popular 200-lap demolition derby. The fair runs until late in the day Sunday.
Below is the list of special guests for the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Quinte Exhibition.
Alexander, Jack and Marg (Honorary Life Member)
Beer, Betty and guest (Honorary Life Member)
Brennan, Vince (Executive Director for the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies)
Burkitt, Robert and guest (Honorary Life Director)
Caddick, Jack and Marilyn (Honorary Life Member and Director)
Caddick, Rick and guest (Past President)
Chatten, Jamie and Kaylea (BAS President)
Conley, Bonnie and David (Culinary Arts Chairperson)
Ellis, Neil and guest (Mayor of Belleville)
English, Christine and guest (BAS Director)
Harrison, Jim and guest (Mayor of Quinte West)
Huffman, Wilma and guest (Honorary Life Director)
Jarrell, Bob and April (Past President and Honorary Life Directors)
Jarrell, Bobby and Jennifer (BAS Director)
Jarrell, Donnie, Erica and Dylan (Past President and Honorary Life Director)
Jarrell-Ray, Diane and guest (Past Dairy Princess for Hastings County)
Kramp-Neuman, Shelby and guest (MP)
MacIvor, Rick and guest (BAS Director and Honorary Life Director)
Manderville, Kay and guest (Honorary Life Director)
Owens, Heather (1st Vice President of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies)
Panciuk, Mitch and Lisa (Past President and Honorary Life Director)
Parks, Ross and guest (BAS Director)
Ruston, Debbie (Honorary Life Director)
Scott, Ian and Gloria (Past President, Honorary Life Director and Member)
Shaw, Stephanie and guest (Chairperson for Natures Harvest)
Smith, Suzanne and guest (Honorary Life Director)
Smith, Todd and guest (MPP) (Minister of Energy)
Summers, Burle and Kay (Both are Past Presidents and Honorary Life Directors)
Thompson, Lisa and guest (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
Tummon-Lyon, Mona and guest (Honorary Life Director)
VanClief, Lynda, Patricia and guest (Patrica was a past Baby Show contest winner)
Waite, Wayne and guest (BAS Director and Honorary Life Director)
