The Saugeen Times

New gate posts unveiled
at Tiverton fairgrounds
By Liz Dadson

Tiverton news

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Tiverton Agricultural Society past-presidents Neil MacKinnon (L), John Smith, Don Ruthven and Dennis Munro unveil one of the two gate posts at the Tiverton fairgrounds Sunday afternoon, a project to celebrate the 150th annual Tiverton Fall Fair

A good crowd turned out for the unveiling of the new gate posts at the Tiverton fairgrounds

Past-presidents of the Tiverton Agricultural Society and the Homecraft Division were honoured Sunday afternoon at the Whitney Crawford Community Centre: back, Donald Ruthven (L), John Smith, Neil MacKinnon, Linda Scott, Dennis Munro, Karen Ribey, Kenneth Scott, Jim Young, Jamie Convay; front, Karen McMann (L), Margaret McConnell, Doreen Soloduka, Lillian Leggett, Grace MacPherson, and Norma Ruthven

It was a great time of celebration for the Tiverton Agricultural Society Sunday afternoon, as it unveiled new gate posts, leading from the Tiverton fairgrounds to the Tiverton Sports Centre.

The project was done in conjunction with the 150th Tiverton Fall Fair which runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 this year, and the 150th anniversary of the Tiverton Agricultural Society.

Agricultural society president Jamie Convay welcomed everyone and thanked all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the annual fall fair.

Kincardine councillor Randy Roppel (Ward 3, former Bruce Township and Tiverton) said the Tiverton Agricultural Society puts in thousands of hours of work and he commended the group for putting up the gate posts to commemorate this special occasion.

Kincardine deputy mayor Anne Eadie echoed those sentiments, remembering the many hours of work her family did as part of the Ripley Agricultural Society.

"The agricultural society is the backbone of the rural community," she said, "and has been since the pioneers settled here. You don't have to have a farm background to be part of the agricultural society today. Congratulations on your 150th fall fair and all the best for the future."

Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, agriculture minister, said she looked at those pillars and related them to the strength of agriculture.

"Huron-Bruce is the most agriculturally-productive riding in Ontario," she said. "The roots are strong. Agriculture is an economic driver in Huron-Bruce. Over 150 years, how agriculture has changed.

"Congratulations to the Tiverton Agricultural Society for consistently taking this opportunity to educate people about agriculture, and to showcase the rural community."

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb sent a letter of commendation to the agricultural society.

Past-presidents John Smith, Don Ruthven, Neil MacKinnon and Dennis Munro unveiled the gate post on the north side which is the larger of the two.

Rev. Jeanette Fleischer of Knox Presbyterian Church, Tiverton, offered a prayer of dedication for these pillars which are a testimony to the people who had a vision for the Tiverton Agricultural Society.

The gate posts are cement block walls with stone veneer, put up by Mar-Brecht Construction of the 10th Concession of Kincardine. The Tiverton Agricultural Society plaque is made of granite.

Piper Jennifer Farrell of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band led the crowd to the Whitney Crawford Community Centre where presentations were made to the following:

Past-presidents: