HISTORY

In March 1910, several community members expressed interest in forming an agricultural society in Maryfield, and in 1915, the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture granted the Charter for the Maryfield Agricultural Society, with William Stephen as President. The first Maryfield Agricultural Society Fair was held on August 10, 1915.

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The first several years of the Fair included competition categorizes and prizes for a variety of breeds of horses; cattle; sheep; hogs; and poultry including chickens, geese, turkeys, and ducks. Non-livestock competition categories included dairy products, agricultural products, vegetables, Ladies Work, domestic products, house plants, and children’s schoolwork.

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Between 1915 and 1926, the Fair was held at the school grounds. In 1926, the Society acquired land at the west edge of the Village (the current location of the Maryfield Rink) and in 1927 the Fair was held on the new fairgrounds. 

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Also in 1927, the Society started raising funds to build an arena and two-sheet curling rink on this land, which was also to be used for the Fair. Life Memberships to the Society were sold at $15.00 each, and a new Model T Ford was raffled. Lily Narborough was the lucky winner.

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The summer Fair was discontinued in the early 1930s for a number of years, starting up again in 1946. The Maryfield Agricultural Society was reorganized in April 1946.

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Since its formation, the Agricultural Society has sponsored and supported a variety of community initiatives including: sending kids to camp, sponsoring calf clubs and the Maryfield 4-H Homecraft and Garden Clubs, celebrating Canada’s Centennial with a Lawn and Garden competition, organizing parades and local talent concerts, hosting bus tours, providing lunch at local events, holding membership in the Man-Sask Border Circuit and Saskatchewan Horse Federation allowing for youth showmanship of horses, sponsoring an award to a high school graduate entering the fields of agriculture or environmental studies, and, of course, putting on the annual summer Fair*.

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The content and structure of the summer Fair have evolved over time, adapting to the changing interests and needs of the community. Horse showmanship categories are still very popular, as are the indoor exhibits showcasing plants and flowers, garden produce, baking, canning, handicrafts, and children’s schoolwork. 

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In response to COVID restrictions, the 2020 Fair was held virtually over the course of a week, with exhibitors sharing photos and videos of their entries on the Society’s Facebook page. Winners received Mary Dollars, which they could spend at participating businesses in Maryfield. The 2020 Fair also included a village-wide scavenger hunt; virtual tours of community gardens, the Westwood Ranch Garden Centre, and Longman Apiaries; a flyover by Nacho’s Flying Service; music videos posted by local musicians; and an online children’s pet show.

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The indoor exhibits component of the 2021 Fair was primarily virtual but also included a display of quilts and schoolwork at the Harmony Centre. The community gathered on Main Street on July 22 to enjoy live music, kids’ activities, a mini scavenger hunt, and food and market vendors and at the Rink on July 23 to participate in and watch the Horse Show. 

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In 2022, the Fair returned to its fully live format at the Maryfield Rink.

 

*Historical information about the Maryfield Agricultural Society taken from Across Border and Valley, The Story of Maryfield & Fairlight & Surrounding Districts, Volumes I (453-457) and III (9-10).