Ancient agriculture fairs modernize to survive

Organizers of century-old agricultural fairs in the region are worried the tradition won't last much longer, saying volunteers and money are lacking.

Mike Vokey, the new executive director for Fredericton's exhibition centre, has hand-drawn schedules lining his boardroom walls. He plans to update the 185-year-old tradition.

"For us to grow, what we need to do is expand beyond the agricultural community," he said.

He wants to give people a reason to go to the fair more than once. He plans more live entertainment.

"Instead of having, you know, a 185-year history of one show repeated, we want to have the history of: every year's a new show, a new success."

Juli Oxford, who has been a volunteer with the Halifax Country Exhibition for 25 years, agrees with Vokey. She's been volunteering for the Halifax County Exhibition for 25 years. "We try to bring a variety of everything in," she said.

"So we can draw people onto the grounds, so that they might experience more agricultural awareness of what's going and where their food's coming from."

She's hopeful agricultural fairs are here to stay.

So is Vokey. He said it is just a matter of keeping up with the times.