With the motto “Dig the Diversity,” the gates to this year’s Salmon Arm Fair will open Friday, Sept. 6.
The popular homegrown event has continued to evolve for more than a century.
The first Salmon Arm Fair was held in 1897 and has been a Salmon Arm attraction annually since 1946.
There have been many individual event additions, deletions and changes over the years, but the core has remained the same: the display and competition of agricultural products, domestic livestock, and home arts.
The Salmon Arm Fair is the primary fundraiser for the Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake Agricultural Association (SASLAA), the non-profit society that operates, manages and maintains the fairgrounds and its buildings. Its purpose is to hold exhibitions, educational and fundraising activities to foster, promote and educate in the progress and development of agriculture, industry and commerce, domestic science and arts and crafts.
To make participation in the fair even more accessible this year, registration for most divisions begins on Aug. 1 – except in the photography division.
There are also a few changes within the division this year. The non-competitive class has been dropped. Ages 14 and under, Class 2 has changed from Pets to Animals – Domestic and Wild, focusing on just the animal, with no people showing in the photo. The same animals-only rule also applies in the new competitor Class 6. Animals with people photos can be entered in the open categories.
The other change is the one-time exhibitor fee, which has increased to $13. This allows entry all three days of the fair. Each photo entered still costs 50 cents an entry. Three photos are allowed per class, to a maximum of 12 photos in total.
There are special classes for fall fair photos from the previous year, photos taken showing the Shuswap area, black and white photos, as well as the usual people, animals, plants, sports action, travel, etc.
Experienced judges will be looking for good composition, technical strengths, and strong impact, among other things.
Photographs must be mounted securely on a stiff backing or with a mat and a stiff backing. More details on this, the sizes allowed and other rules are in the fair book or online at www.salmonarmfair.com.
Take your prepared photos and entry forms to the SASCU Memorial Sports Complex on Thursday, Aug. 22 or Friday, Aug. 23, from 1 to 7 p.m. both days. No entries will be allowed on Saturday.
The photography division is run by members of the Shuswap Photo Arts Club. For more information on the club or the photography division at the fall fair, contact Ian or Wendy Clay at iwclay@shaw.ca or phone 250-832-2350.
Go to the fair office at the front of the SASCU Indoor Sports Complex (Memorial Arena) on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. until Aug. 21. The final days of entry are at the arena Aug. 22 to 24 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Pick up a fair booklet at the Salmon Arm Observer or visit the fair website at www.salmonarmfair.com. for complete information.
