Enjoying the St. Vital Agricultural Society Fair
By Lori Graham, Master Gardener & Master Composter
I have been a member of the St. Vital Agricultural Society (SVAS) for the past four years and last year I decided to submit some entries into their annual fair. Every year has a different theme with 2024’s theme being Winnipeg 150. Floral arrangers were encouraged to use blue and yellow flowers in their floral displays. Having attended as a visitor in 2022, I wanted to enter some competitions in 2024.
The fair is a great event! It encourages young people to garden and submit entries under the junior gardening competition. You can enter a variety of items in the fair, not just garden or floral related. There is a quilt and craft section, home grown fruit & vegetables, home baking, preserves, photography and artwork, to name a few.
There are demonstrations on Friday and Saturday for children, and adults and a vendor area where the Master Gardeners have an information booth every year. You can always volunteer at the MMGA booth to enjoy the great feel of the fair. It’s like a country fair, (no livestock) but within the city.
Caroline Irvine and Pam McFarlane were president and vice-president respectively. Master Gardeners Debbie Innes, Laverne Dahlin, Lenore Linton and myself were SVAS members. Last year, Debbie and Laverne’s entries received first place ribbons.
I had six entries: two floral displays, one for cut flowers, a potted plant, a succulent planter and a jar of my pickles and salsa. Entries are accepted on Thursday before the fair starts. I was hoping to get one ribbon but when I arrived, to my amazement, five of my entries received ribbons! Four of those were second-place ribbons and my cut flowers got a third-place ribbon. I was so excited as there were many entries and I was honoured that mine placed in the top three in their category. It was my second time submitting entries to the fair and it won’t be my last. Maybe one day I will get first place ribbon for one of my entries.
I encourage all Master Gardeners to participate, as I know some members who grow beautiful flowers and vegetables. A $10 membership entitles you to enter five items into the fair, after which they charge 25 cents per additional entry – very reasonable for sure.
The 2025 fair will be held on Friday August 8th and Saturday August 9th. So come and check it out; it is a great two days!
See you at the fair!
Published: May 2025