Annual event runs until Aug. 24

D1

By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

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SAINTE-MARIE-de-KENT - The Olympics are coming to Kent County.

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Brent Myre/Times & Transcript

Cousins Janie Bastarache and Samuel Boudreau, both 3 at the time, steer through their ride at the Kent County Agricultural Fair last year.

No, not "those" Olympics, but the Farm Olympics, part of the fun taking place during the rest of this week at the annual Kent County Agricultural Fair.

"Oh, it's very popular, and loads of fun," says Alice Allain, one of the organizers of this 52nd fair, which is the highlight of the year for most Kent County residents.

"They'll have to do all sorts of things related to working on the farm."

Last year, the teams of four, all of which must include at least one woman, were forced to run an obstacle course with an overloaded wheelbarrow, for example. They competed in a corn-shucking contest. They had to milk a cow and then bottle the milk.

"It's quite the thing, let me tell you," Allain laughs. "People love it very much."

And the challenges that will be foisted upon this year's Olympians? You'll just have to wait until Saturday night's event to find out.

Registration for events got underway yesterday, while the real fun begins first thing this morning when gates open at 8 a.m. and official opening ceremonies take place at 7 p.m. this evening.

Late-summer agricultural fairs are a staple of rural New Brunswick. Every year, they come and they go, but there's something special about the Kent County edition that keeps farmers and city families alike coming back year after year, including some from as far away as Miramichi in the north and Sackville in the south.

"I have no doubt that if the weather co-operates, we will top the 20,000 attendance mark this year," Allain, the vice-president of the fair's board of directors, predicts.

A big draw is the fact Expo Kent still boasts one of the largest livestock shows of any agricultural fair, featuring everything from sheep to beef and there is a large horse component to the event as well, from showing them to competing with them.

A special treat this year will be an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales at about mid-afternoon on Sunday. Feel free to stick around and meet the Budweiser team after their show.

"They travel all over the world and we were really lucky to get them," Allain says.

Friday night's woodsmen's competition is another highlight, featuring everything from log tossing to axe throwing to chainsaw contests.

And don't forget the lawn tractor rodeo, the talent show, nightly live entertainment on the outdoor stage, the fruits and vegetables, quilts, crafts, food and daily midway.

"You have something to see there every day, all day long. You will be entertained right up until midnight," Allain says.

"It's like one great big family event. It sure is a lot of work, but it's all worth it."