Albertans young and old celebrate 111th-annual country fair

For 111 years, generations of Alberta familieshave celebrated western heritage at the Priddis andMillarville Fair.

The country fair has 1,200 categories, and entrants can compete on everything from whose rooster can crow the loudest, to who has grown the most crooked carrot.

Priddis and Millarville Fair celebrates 111th year

6 years ago

Duration 0:38

Priddis and Millarville Fair celebrates 111th year

Patty Webb first entered to show her dad's dairy cows when she was eight-years-old. Now, in her 60th consecutive year of competing at the fair, she's entered in 80 categories.

"The spirit of the competition is what my passion is," Webb said. "I think it's great that my grandchildren are entering too. They're keeping the tradition going."

One of the competitions Webb entered was the pie auction, where winning pies can go for as much as $500. The money is invested back into the fair.

Suzanne Sills, volunteer chair for the organizing committee, said some 5th generation fair families are participating this year, with a four-year-old boy showing goats and 90-year-olds entering the baking competitions.

"I think that one of the reasons the fair has sustained as long as it has is because people feel like they're a part of it," she said.

Despite the roof collapse earlier this year at the fair's long-standing home theMillarvillearena the show went on, only this time, under a tent.

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Ten-year-old Laila Kinnear has competed three or four times in the past, and she hopes her chicken will take home a blue ribbon this year.

"He might do good, he might do bad, you just don't know It's just fun."

The fair runs9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5, and children eight-and-under are free.

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With files from LucieEdwardson