AUGUST 29, 30 & 31

New

president

invites all to take
part in Fall Fair

THIS YEAR’S Fall Fair
almost didn’t happen.

After the last fair,
several key organizers
stepped down, looking
for a rest after years of
volunteer work.

Things were pretty
dicey for a while last
Fall, but the community
responded to the chal-
lenge and now the fair’s
back and better than
ever.

“We had quite a few
new people come out
and get involved,” says
Fall Fair Association

president Russell Selten-
rich. ‘‘But we still need
more, It’s good to have
new people and new
ideas,””

Seltenrich took over as

Russell Seltenrich

president this year after
long-time fair organizer

Leo DeJong stepped
down.
Seltenrich says the

board has made several
changes to the Fall Fair,
aud he anticipates more
in the future.

“We view the changes
as improvements," he
says.

One of those changes

is that there is not going .

to be a dance this year,
‘We felt that the fair

is more of an agricultur-
al exposition and a fam-
ily event,’ he says. ‘A
dance just didit’t fit that
forinat.’* ©

And the fair has even
been recognized for il’s

efforts bv the Ministry
of Agriculture. The min-

‘istry granted the associa-
tion more money this
year because of the high-
quality. and. educational
nalure of -last _ year’s
events, 7

"We like lo think the
fair improves — every
year,”’ Seltenrich says.

Of course, that
wouldn’t be possible
without - lots of hard
work by individuals in
the community. It takes
almost a full year to
organize and event like
the fair, and Seltenrich
says the association is
always looking for more
people to help out.

“It doesn’t take expe-
rience,’? he says. ‘You
just need to have an in-
terest in a particular
arca.”?

In the meantime,
Seltenrich says he en-
courages everyone to
come ont and sce what
the fair has to offer for
the whole family,

He points out that chil-
dren and adults alike
have been hard at work
preparing prize vegeta-
bles, animals and
homemade goods. The
logger sports, heavy
horse pull and
gymkhana are also very
popular.

‘fAnd there is always
very good qualily live-
stock being auctioned of
at the 4H auction,’’ he
says. “It will be a very
good fair.’

LYN LAVOIE is bent over
her quarlerhorse’s neck as
she urges him to trim valu-
able seconds from his time
as they race around three
bartels, placed in the shape
of a triangle. “Lavoie
straighiens as they reach the
second barrel, belping ber
horse balance before the
tight comer, Then it’s off to
the third barrel at a gallop,
before she races to the fi nish
line.

Barrel racing is one of
seven major events featured
at the gymkhana, Sunday
moming at ‘the Fall Fair.
Lavoie has been competing
_ in gymkhanas since she was
11-years-old.

A gymkhana is like an in-
formal horse shaw and its
purpose, says organizer
Judy Eisner, is basically to
have fun.

In order to compele in the
gymkhana riders have to be
a member of the Totem
Saddle Club, About 30-35
people regularly compete —
most of those are adults.

It doesn’t matter whether
you ride English or West-
em, but most riders favour
the Westem saddles since
they have a hom to hang
onto when their horses make
tight, quick corners.

Having good balance is a
must, as is the ability to
make precise, fast moves. It
takes a lot of practice before:

a horse can quickly under-
stand his rider’s wishes.

One event, Ring Spearing,
brings to mind a jousting
competition. Riders have to’
collect six rings with a spear
off of . different stands,
Speed counts, so usually the
event is ridden ata gallop or
trot, depending on how agile
the horse is.

“The trick is not to lose
them. You have to keep the
spear pointed upward,’ says
Eisner.

Another challenging event
is Flag Picking, That’s
where riders pick a flag
from one barrel, race down
to around a pole, then at-
tempt to stick the flag back

‘in the barrel.

Sometimes riders nearly
fall off, leaning over to get
the flag back in the barrel.

In another event riders ate
tested to see how well they
can hold onto their money.

Everyone removes their
saddles then riders place a
$2 or $5 bill under their leg,
just above the knee. Then
the ring announcer makes
the riders trot, canter and
sometimes even jump to sce
who can keep their moncy
the longest.

‘Some of them lose it in
the first two hops,” said
Eisner.

The gymkhana starts at
9:30 a.m. in the big arena at
the fairgrounds, Sunday,

GREMLIN'S GIZMO takes rider Lyn Lavoie quickly around a barrel. Barrel racing
is Lavoie's tavourite event in the gymkhana. The gymkhana features seven dif-
ferent fun events for hoarse rider, including ring spearing and a pie eating contest
done on horseback. The gymkhana starts early Sunday maming.

Aug, 31. Cofhpetition usual-
ly wraps up by early
afternoon,.in time for the
heavy horse pull at 3 p.m.
kk kkk

The Fall Fair has plenty of
events for horse lovers.
There’s also a Fall Horse

Show which starts Friday
afternoon with dressage
classes.
Dressage is an event
where horse and rider fol-
low a pre-set pattem, per-
forming figures at different
gates. Marks are awarded

based on how subtle the.

communication is between
‘horse and rider, and how
well each performs. ©.
Saturday the horse show
continues with flat and. trail
classes, and jumping. in the
afternoon. '

Big tent to showcase local talent

LOCAL TALENT at this year’s Fall Fair ex-
tends beyond the animal stalls, riding rings and
vegetable stands.

Visitors will also get a chance to see and hear
some of Terrace’s talented local bands and pet-
formers.

_, Music will be performed at. the fair from about...

noon ‘until 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday
under the big tent.

Everything from blues, to folk and moder
rock music are on the lineup. Local bands like
Rictus Grin and Noise Reduction are probably

jamming right now in anticipation of the event.

There’s also going to be a talent show on Sai-
urday at3 p.m. In theory, the show was open to
all talent, but four of the five acts that registered
were bands.

The fifth act will be modern dance performed
by young Shane Nolan.

Entertainmeit organizer Tracy Degerness says.

’ she hopes to expand the talent show next year- if

this year goes well.”
“We'd love to get a wide range of entertain-
ment,” she says, ‘The more variety there is, the

better a show it will be.”

Degerness says it’s been a challenge. to get
enough performers together for the weekend’s
entertainment because many people are on Var.
calion.

In fact, there still may be some spols available
in the lineup. If you want to take part, call Tracy
Degerness at 635-0779.

‘We can use any variely of performers,’ “she
says. ‘Even if we? te full this year it’s Bood to
have names and contacts for next time.”’

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