Millennium Dragon: 2 September 1012 Saanich Fair

First a few images from the annual Saanich Fair....

The essence of an Agricultural Fair.....animals
A bit of trivia: the high thing on the neck of the horse had its use as a device to divide branches too low too pass for the horse, but brushing them away to avoid getting any splinter under the harness. As well, the colourful metal of ribbon adornments in the mane were used as identifiers between similarly clad knights in armor, so they could tell friend from foe. One has to remember that these heavy animals were the tanks of yesteryear, they and their rider heavily covered in chain mail and metal.

I BITE - an effective sign to keep unwanted hands from petting the beloved pet.

Chicken petting moment

Baby bunny petting moment

Sunflowers

red beets fresh from the farm

fresh fruit right from the farm

Home made preserves right from the farm

Balloon twister in action

I made my way by bus from Tod Inlet to the 145th Annual Saanich Fair, Western Canada's oldest continuous Agricultural Fair.

At first sight, I am sure that the Fair of 145 years ago had a different flavour from the one today. Today, it seems somewhat more of a midway, with a farmer's market, service group concessions, Financial and Real Estate agencies, Funeral services, Tupperware and Tattoos mixed in, as well as a small nod to agriculture in the form of the usual 4H competitions, two dairy cows, a host of llamas, some rabbits, donkeys, chickens, ducks, beef, sheep and goats and canaries (!!) - and of course, The Light Horse Show and a sprinkling of draft horses. Just enough to give urban dwellers a look and whiff of rural living, and children a fun opportunity to pet a REAL animal.

A new twist are political tents, where recruiters and supporters of the major provincial and federal parties, clad in party colours, waylay anyone slowing down in front of their stands and try and garner future votes with the usual 'we are better for you than the competition' spiel.

Making it past the politicians, one is tempted with a ticket for a free cruise by travel agents, some organic cosmetic to smooth out wrinkled brows, Tae Kwon Do for the fitness people, and energy bands for the alternative medicine adherents.

Now, being the 21st century, and focus is on public health and safety, 'instead of a free for all barn storming, hard drinking huge party or timber shaking revelry'....no dogs permitted, zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs (the olden hands in the Heavy Horse barns used to be proud of their reputation for highest consumption of booze directly from the bottle) and numerous signs warning of the dire consequences of touching animals....hand sanitizers at every paddock entry, barn door, and chicken cage.

Food stands are multicultural: the Jewish Society offers blintzes beside the Edelweiss Club offering Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, Philippine concoctions sell next door to Greek delights, South African curry wurst is sold beside Lebanese kebabs, and every Service Club one can think of conducts brisk trade in hot dogs and hamburgers, all washed down with uncounted bottles of pop....so much for all that public health business. Line ups in front of everyone of them, except the South African curry wurst, ergo my logical choice for a Fair lunch. But, the crowd is definitely enjoying itself, abundant agriculture or not. The sky is cloudless, a gentle breeze keeps the temperature pleasant enough, neither visitors nor participants break in a sweat. The midway draws hordes of kids, who either nonchalantly text their friends from the most terror inspiring rides, or scream blue murder whenever they tumble around in a mid-air wire pod. Young parents push space age vehicles of incredible size and complexity, which usually contain one small toddler and mountains of 'maintenance equipment' for same, and spacious storage for all the necessities of venturing 'out' for a weekend afternoon.

The light horse show seems to have developed into a exercise in self esteem versus mastering the skill and art of riding a horse. Most competitors appear to barely have completed a basic course in 'how to stay up there and steer', with the horses doggedly plodding round and round in walk, trot and canter. But all look well groomed, girl's ponytails in nets, manes and tails of horses braided, hoofs blackened, everyone in skin tight and low hip hugging yodpurs (that's the old fashioned name for what used to be spacious and waist high riding pants) and riding helmets larger than bicycle helmets.

Well, who cares, it's nice and all inclusive, even if not a demonstration of a notoriously difficult and slow to master skill. The riders, 99% female, have fun and the animals are happy family pets. The horse stalls are all adorned with photo walls and notes, little drawings and decorations, all proclaiming dedication and devotion to the equine inhabitants.

Despite my sounding maybe as if I am somewhat ''jaded" a visit to the Saanich Fair is definitely worth the few dollars entry. If not so much an agricultural event, it is surely an informative and entertaining local flavour, history and culture event.

May the Saanich Fair carry one another successful 145 years or longer....maybe then robotic cows, virtual midways, bio engineered plants and flowers will entertain the fair visitors of the future.