Melfort Agricultural Society

Melfort Exhibition

On May 23, 1905, at Monsees Hall, the Melfort Agricultural Society was established through the efforts of the Board of Trade and Doctor A. Shadd. A certificate of this achievement was issued by the Honorable W.R. Motherwill, Minister of Agriculture. The president was F.C. Grant, the First Vice-President was James Cameron, the Second Vice-President was P. Aikenhead, and the Secretary-Treasurer was Ira Monsees. There were also 15 directors who were elected each year. They set the date for the first Exhibition as being October 12-13. Mr. Aikenhead donated 19 acres of land for the society to hold the first exhibition. Adult admission was set at 25 cents and children 12 and under had to pay 10 cents. Booths paid a fee of $10 to participate, but there were no games of chance allowed. The Melfort Band made their first public appearance at the fair and played each night in front of the Ozark Hotel. The first year was very successful. Proceeds from the gate were $123 with $46 being paid out in prizes. On August 6, 1906, the erection of an Agricultural Hall began. It was 30 by 40 feet and two stories high.

In 1918, Farm Boys and Girls Camps were established and organized by the Melfort Agricultural Society. Children from all over the district would come to Melfort and attend these camps. The boys would learn about grain and showing animals, while the girls would be taught cooking and sewing. At one time the Farm Girls Camp had 60 leaders and 450 girls enrolled. These camps played a major role in drawing people to the Melfort Fair. That year a few lucky boys, namely: D. Younghusband, Reg Richardson, Cecil Wittig, Garnet Eidt and Grant MacEwan along with Mrs. Mackintosh were chosen to represent Melfort at the Farm Boys' Camp in Regina.

Plowing matches, auto races and other events drew larger crowds every year. By 1919, the Exhibition became a three day fair. The horse barns that were built are still in use today. Horse racing was one of the big events at the fair so the Society joined the Trotting Association. Life memberships were sold in 1919, to help stay afloat and Melfort joined the Class B Circuit so the grounds and the buildings were improved.

The Melfort Agricultural Society has continued to provide an excellent exhibition to this day. It is still an event enjoyed by people all over the district.

Presidents:

F.C. Grant1905-1906
P. Aikenhead
Dr. A. Shadd		1907
Thos. Harris1908
I.R. Monsees1909-1911
Frank Whitmore1912
J. Hatton1913
Jas Rutledge1914-1915
F.C. Younghusband1916-1920

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