The Ag Society held its Annual Meeting on the evening of Friday November 20.  The potluck supper was a delight for anyone with a preference for dessert.  The dessert table was absolutely jam packed.  The speaker for the evening was Yvonne Reynolds who read from her book on her family’s personal experiences with their goats.  Her tales formed a humorous vision of a creature many think only as pets.  Jayme Dowson was welcomed as a new Director and Andrew Blakey will be appointed into the position when he returns to Bayfield.  Jentje Steenbeek accepted the position of President for a second year with Bill Dowson as 1^st Vice President and Ted Dunn as 2^nd Vice President.  Over 25 people attended the evening’s business.

Wreaths are still available for sale at John and Kathleen Siertsema’s home on Mill Road.  Those who still need a wreath could stop by the Siertsema’s on the chance someone is there or phone ahead to arrange a convenient time (565-2479).  Some wreaths are still at Riverline Nature Company on Kingston Street in Goderich.

A new venture for the Bayfield Agricultural Society is holding a Holiday Feast Raffle.  The prizes consist of a variety of local foods, including a free range organic chicken, organic vegetable package, potatoes, gift baskets, gift certificates, fruitcake, coffee, preserves, and apples.  The products featured come from Camille, Firmly Rooted, Red Cat Farm, Local Organics, Cait’s Kitchen, Hayter’s Farm, Rader’s Homestyle Market, Bayfield Foodland, Culbert’s Bakery, Shop Bike Coffee Roasters, Charles Street Market, Bayfield Berry Farm, and Apple Park.  The tickets are $2 each or three for $5.  They are available from Nip & Tuck or any Director.  Just 800 tickets were printed.  The draw will take place on December 18 at 12:05 at Stonefield Garden Centre.  All profits from the sale of tickets go toward maintaining the fair.

The Bayfield Ag Society is pleased to declare that Christmas wreaths are available. Two full days were spent cutting, trimming, assembling, and attaching bows. There will be approximately 200 fresh evergreen wreaths and swags available for sale this coming weekend on Friday and Saturday outside St. Andrew’s United Church. Anna Dalton-Needles also took a few wreaths and transformed them into exquisite festive decorations with a full assortment of trimmings added.
In addition to the wreaths and swags, bunches of greens will be for sale. These might be put into containers with additional decorations. Cones are always popular and these are bundled up in groupings for adding interest to any arrangement. There were many large cones from Georgia. These were the only product not locally sourced.
Members and friends of the Ag Society are invited to their Annual General Meeting. It will be held on Nov. 20 at 8 in the basement of St. Andrew’s United Church preceded by a potluck supper at 6. It is a great event to view the report on what has happened throughout 2015. All are invited.

Well the junior exhibitors at the Bayfield Fair have done it again! Cate Thompson won first prize at the District level (all Huron and Perth fairs) with her intermediate level poster. Lauren Williamson placed second with her senior level poster. Cate will have her poster submitted to compete at the provincial level for the competition at the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies Convention in February. This is Cate’s and Lauren’s second year of winning posters.

Bev VanNinhuys is also congratulated on placing third in the machine quilted quilt division. Bev has been a quilter for many years and it is a recognition of your skills when you place at this level against the best quilts in the District fairs.

There have been many groups which have gathered together from the Ag Society making grapevine wreath frames and lately they have scattered all over the countryside cutting cedar, juniper, spruce, and pine branches. They were even given many of the trees that made up a hedge which was removed. Now larger groups will meet at the Stonefield Garden Centre greenhouse putting everything together to make the evergreen wreaths. If you would like to be part of one of these groups, contact Don Brodie 263-2404 for information.

Anyone who would like to make a commitment to the Bayfield Fair can use the volunteer form on the website www.bayfieldfair.ca. New committee convenors have been rounded up; however, committee members are always welcome. People who would like to be part of the decision making and guiding the future direction of the fair should consider becoming a Director. Present your interest to Jentje Steenbeek, president of the Ag Society, to get an understanding of what the role of a Director is. He can be reached at 482-3020. There is a definite need for more diversity of age groups participating at the decision making level. The Annual Meeting of the Ag Society will be Friday November 20 at 8 pm with a potluck supper preceeding the meeting.