By Jill Hayward
The Second Annual Rural Living Expo and Trade Show in Barriere is lifting off for 2014. Approximately 100 exhibit booths will fill the Trade Show hall and the new North Thompson Agriplex at the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo facility. The event has something for everyone – a full weekend of entertainment and great things to see and do – including the annual Barriere Celebration of Art.
The Rural Living Expo and Trade Show features a smorgasbord of service organizations, clubs, merchants, artists and artisans, real estate and home improvement, resources, agriculture, agritourism, health and wellness, featured speakers, entertainment and much more during the two day event, April 26-27.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., we feature our own ‘Chopped’ event, called AXED, which is modelled after the popular TV cooking network contest. Join the fun as four cooks open their “surprise” basket of ingredients and then combine them to make a delicious three-course meal.
On Sunday at 10 a.m., there will be a Cowboy Church service with the music of country and western singer Gordie West, followed later in the day by the uplifting voices of the North Thompson Community Choir.
Sunday’s feature speaker is British Columbia’s first Senior’s Advocate, Isobell Mackenzie, who will be speaking after the Cowboy Church.
Then cheer on the teams in the First Responder and Teen Bike Challenge, as they assemble mountain bikes in a competitive and fun team environment. The assembled bikes are earmarked to be given to youngsters within the community at a later date.
Don’t miss the amazing athletic antics of the Beshano Bike Trails Club team, which will be performing their special flavour of magic on mountain bikes, three performances a day, both days. The club is definitely top of the list of mountain bike trial spectacles in North America, a sport where the objective is to use perfect balance to keep control of the bike while going over obstacles – giant cubes of varying height, set up in a 30- by 40-foot enclosure inside the North Thompson Agriplex.
Elli Terwiel, a member of the Canadian Olympic Ski Team, will talk about motivation and goal setting.
Find out what the Lower North Thompson Community Forest is up to, silviculture, and employment opportunities, or take in a seminar on ATV riding and safety. Learn about 4H, the Farm Women’s Network, or what the local horseback riding groups have planned for the year.
See baby goats and newly hatched chicks, a sure sign that spring has come to rural B.C.
Mark your calendars to join us on Apr. 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission to the whole event is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students, and there is no charge for children 12 years and under.
For information or vendor packets go to: www.ruralexpobarriere.com, email: ruralexpobarriere@gmail.com, or call event manager Jill Hayward at 250-319-8023.
