I’m pleased to rise today to recognize and celebrate an important milestone in my riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, the 150th annual Kinmount Fair. Founded in 1872, the Kinmount Fair takes place every Labour Day weekend in the village of Kinmount. After two years, our loyal fairgoers will return to enjoy agriculture shows, horse pulls, live entertainment, the Conklin midway, a demo derby, tractor pulls, parades and more in what can only be described as the Brigadoon of Kinmount.

My family has been a part of the Kinmount Fair board for six generations, and my brother is the current president and author of a book on the story of the fair. I also have many memories of competing in horse shows, exhibiting in the exhibit hall and, when I turned 12 years old, being a junior fair director. I look forward to the unveiling of a 24-foot mural depicting 150 years of the fair and a fair film festival.

The Kinmount Fair has hosted events such as oxen pulls; fishing derbies; airshows; strongman, lumberjack and chainsaw competitions; as well a few unusual acts my dad recruited, including a mudwrestling team in 1985. The Tommy Hunter Show even filmed a special episode live for the 100th anniversary of the fair in 1972.

Every year there’s always something new to experience, and I hope to see some of you at the 150th Kinmount Fair because I’ll be there.