Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives
In late August or early September, the rural community members research diligently the latest local fair prize book. For ardent fair exhibitors, the preparation starts long before that with handwork, gardening, crop and 4-H shows. For others, it is the thought of all the special attractions and midway! No matter what, the thought of the fair always brings an air of excitement. The Fall Fair tradition has a long history in Middlesex County. Communities with fairs include Dorchester, Glencoe, Ilderton, Melbourne, Parkhill and Thorndale.
The Early History
The Agricultural Society movement had its roots in Britain. Originally, as part of the agricultural revolution in 18th century Britain, gentlemen farmers met several times a year to debate agriculture issues such as crop rotation.
In Canada, the first agricultural society was formed in 1792 in Niagara, Upper Canada. In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe gave ten guineas annually to “The Agricultural Society of Upper Canada” to be spent on the purchase of books and/or a premium for the benefit of agriculture in whatever manner the members thought fit. By 1796, the Society was failing. A planned fair in Queenston was so indifferently supported that it disappeared. Although the Niagara area society disappeared, by the 1820s, other fairs, operating in York, Cobourg, and Port Hope, were four to six days in duration. In 1829, Perth held a one-day show. Often, it was the unscheduled horse races at the end of the day, made through casual wagers, that drew the crowds to that particular area of the grounds.
In 1830, as a result of a campaign by newspaper editors and others and examples set by neighbouring states, the legislature did pass an act providing for the payment of one hundred pounds “to any district agricultural society” which raised fifty pounds by subscription. In 1837, a new act kept the double subsidy principle but reduced the minimum amount to be subscribed to twenty-five pounds, and fixed the maximum amount the government might be required to pay to two hundred pounds. By 1845, the subscription was set at two hundred fifty pounds and the double subsidy changed to a triple. Instead of having one society for a district, the counties within the district decided to have their own societies so they could qualify for their share of the funds. In 1846, these discussions lead to the Agriculture Association of Upper Canada. Their main objective was to encourage improvement of all branches of agriculture and matters connected with the rural economy. While still organising, the group held a successful provincial exhibition in Toronto in October. Because of the success, the directors planned a yearly exhibition.
In April 1850, the Association presented a recommendation to the legislature for a further organisation to aid societies organised for agricultural improvement. In August 1850, an act legislated the establishment of a Board of Agriculture. In 1851, county societies were authorised to be formed under the Act, and in turn, they could support township societies. The essential function of the Agricultural Association was to manage the provincial exhibitions. The annual meetings of the township societies were held in January with reports to be made to the County Society for its annual meeting in February. The County Society then reported to the Board of Agriculture.
For a county organisation, fifty persons were required to become members by signing a declaration and giving five shillings annually. Township societies could be organised similarly by raising not less than seventeen pounds ten shillings by subscription. The board of directors of a township society was composed of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer and at least three but not more than nine directors. The county society was similar except that there were two vice-presidents and at least five directors, with presidents of the township societies as ex-officio directors.
The objectives of the county and in turn the township societies were to encourage improvement in agriculture by holding meetings for discussion and for hearing lectures on subjects connected with the theory and practice of improved husbandry; by providing the circulation of agricultural periodicals published in the Province; by importing or otherwise providing seeds, plants and animals of new and valuable kinds; by offering prizes for essays on questions of scientific inquiry relative to agriculture; and by awarding premiums for excellence in raising or introduction of livestock, the invention or improvement of agricultural implements and machines, the production of grain and all kinds of vegetables, and generally for excellence in any agricultural production or operation.
The local agricultural societies slowly increased in numbers. In 1857 there were 42 county societies (one for every county) and 182 township societies. The Middlesex County and London Township Agricultural Societies were among those organised under the 1851 Act.
