Beachburg Fair - More than Just Moo

About the Fair

The Beachburg Fair has been an annual event in the community and surrounding area of Beachburg since its conception in 1857. The first fair was held in the hotel of David Beach, the founder of Beachburg. In 1867 the M.P. at the time, John Supple, was instrumental in getting the government to establish a county fair in Beachburg, hence the name became “North Renfrew Agricultural Society”. Recently the name was changed to “Beachburg Agricultural Society” to avoid confusion with the Renfrew Fair.

Subsequent fairs were held in the town hall until land was purchased about 1878 from David Beach’s son, Joseph, and the buildings were gradually built where the present fair grounds are now located. Over the years some of the buildings were destroyed by fire but the directors of the day worked together to rebuild and keep the fair going.

One historical event occurred early in the 1900’s when the Ottawa Farm Journal initiated a competition among various fairs. In 1904 Beachburg placed first in the competition thus winning the prize of a new cement Administration building which is still the office today. As a result of this win, Beachburg was then chosen as the site of the “Illustration Fair” in 1905 for Eastern Ontario. These victories in the past and the fact that our fair is still flourishing is due in part to the foresight, and enthusiasm of subsequent fair boards, local farmers, exhibitors and many, many volunteers.

Tractor Pulls

Back on the Farm

Back on the farm, when I was a girl,
There was always a lot to be done,
With chores and the garden the milking and all
And of course, we still took time for fun.

The one thing I never enjoyed, that's for sure,
Was when Dad would say, better come now,
For its your turn to help with the milking tonight,
And I knew I'd get stuck with "that cow"!

For there was one "bossy", who didn't like me,
and I'll tell you we shared that same thought,
And each time I went near her, disaster would loom,
And I dreaded the whole thing a lot.

Perhaps she knew just how nervous I was,
As I tried to place cups on her udder,
For as soon as I touched her, that foot would lash out,
And I's end up full length in the gutter.

Then that cow would look round with those dark flashing eyes,
And she'd stamp her feet as if to say,
"You leave me alone, or you know what I'll do,
You had better stay out of my way".

So finally I made a deal with my Dad,
To prevent any further encounters,
I would do double duty with the hens or the pigs,
I would wash the milk pails on the counter,

The cream separator I'd wash and I'd clean,
Fork the calf pens, give mash to the sow,
In fact, I'd do just about anything else,
To avoid going near that old cow.

From that day on I safely can say,
Life was wonderful down on the farm,
I enjoyed all my chores and I never went back,
To milk cows in my Dad's dairy barn.

2005 winning poem written by Jean Robinson