What’s the best thing about the Paris Fair? Depends who’s answering

Weather over the Labor Day weekend was perfect for thousands of people who attended the 166th annual Paris Fair.

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Attending the fair is a tradition for many, marking an end to the summer and the beginning of a new school year for children.

Brooklyn Ward, aged 18, of Langton competed in the barrel racing event on Sunday aboard her quarter horse named Smartie.

“I’ve been riding for 15 years and began barrel racing competitively about five years ago,” said Ward. “I love the adrenalin, and my horses.”

Her mother and sister also compete, and the family – that operates Southward Stables near Langton — travels to about 35 shows each year.

“The prizes come along better once you start winning,” she said. “I won $1,000 at a big slot race in Ancaster.”

Nearby in the cattle ring, the Sayles family picked up a couple of wins in the Jersey heifer class.

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“(My daughter) Eva was champion, I was reserve, and Easton Osborn of Hagersville was honorable mention,” said Jeff Sayles, who operates Bridon Farms on Brant-Oxford Road northwest of Paris.

“It’s what you want, to win at all shows, no matter how big the show is,” he explained. “The cash prize is not the big thing, it’s more the pride of showing your animals.”

Over near the midway, four young soccer players were sharing a large funnel cake garnished with whipped cream and fruit.

“I’ve been coming to the fair since moving to the area five years ago,” said Joanna Florczyk, 13, of Paris. “I like the rides and food, and you get to see all your school friends before you get to school.”

For 12-year-old Norah Grant of Cambridge it was her first time going to the Paris Fair.

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“It seems like a really fun fair,” she observed. “There’s lots of rides and food stands. We saw the baby goats, loved the baby cows, and I hope to go see the horses shortly.”

Jess Johnson of Tavistock helped her three-year-old son Rhett try his hand at a Skee-Ball game-of-chance.

“We come every couple of years. There are a lot more games and rides than what ours has,” she said. “There are a lot of attractions. It’s nice that it’s geared to all ages. We came before kids, and now we come with kids.”

Paris Agricultural Society general manager Amy Warner said she was grateful for the good weather conditions.

“Attendance is exactly where we want to see it,” she said on Sunday afternoon. “It was very busy here Saturday and already today we are beating last year’s numbers on the same day.”

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Warner noted that this year was the 60th anniversary of hosting a competition for fair ambassador that involved making speeches, answering impromptu questions, and making a video for their sponsoring organization.

“It was a great, positive, and fun experience,” said this year’s winner Kara Sickle, 20, of St. George. “I will go on to represent the Paris Agricultural Society at a convention in Toronto with ambassadors to do things together to improve our skills. In August of next year, we’ll be going to the CNE in Toronto and competing there, which is exciting.”

Sickle is going into her third year studying animal biology at the University of Guelph.

“My family is from a beef and cash crop farm in St. George that keeps us busy,” she said. “I have a passion for the animal side of it, so I spend a lot of time with our cattle.”

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