The oldest, continuously run agricultural fair and exhibition in North America is underway in Windsor, N.S. The Hants County Exhibition kicked off Friday and has been held in the community for 261 years. “It is a staple in this community, a staple in Hants County, and the community looks forward to this event year after year,” said Sheri Donovan, the general manager of the Hants County Exhibition and Fairgrounds. “Generations of people come and spend the day at the fair with their families, with their children, with their grandchildren. It’s just a place where community gathers.” The exhibition primarily focuses on agricultural events, including horse and ox pulls, a cattle show and horse racing. “Agriculture is at the heart and the centre of what we do, but then we also have events that appeal to everyone in the community,” she said. Donovan said two other major events are the truck and tractor pull, which took place Saturday, and the smash up derby, which is scheduled for next Saturday. “We have so many people who come up to watch these racers do their thing. It’s a real treat to be up there at the motorsport track,” she said. “It’s just a fan favourite.” Donovan said a key focus of the exhibition is getting the next generation involved. “There’s a lot of tradition, there’s a lot of people who have been coming here for years and we are really trying to promote and instill the values of the exhibition to our younger generation and make them understand how important an exhibition is to a community,” she said. “This is where our farmers gather. This is where we learn how our food is grown, how we sustain ourselves, so it’s incredibly important to bring the youth together at a fair like this and get them to understand why a fun festival is also an integral part of how we live in our community.” The Hants County Exhibition continues from Sept. 25 to 27. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
