DELIA, Alta. – There’s something about a small town fair that brings out the best in people.
That is, the best handwriting, the best pie, the best crocheted afghan, the best pickles or the best wheat sheaf.
The village of Delia, northeast of Drumheller, got into the spirit for its annual fall fair. Additional support came from Alberta Agriculture, which helped it celebrate “Toast to the Harvest.”
With about 250 people in town and another 200 or so on surrounding farms, the fair has become a social gathering as well as a fundraiser for community events, said Stan Marshall. He is president of the local agricultural society, which in recent years has shouldered more community events and sponsorships for facilities like the curling rink, arena and hall.
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“A lot of people in the community don’t know what we do. They don’t care, as long as it gets done,” he said between stamping hands as people streamed into the curling rink for the annual fair.
Delia is typical of many rural communities across Western Canada. There are few hands to do much work. Through organized groups like agricultural societies, people work at every form of creative fundraising they can imagine to support activities like minor sports, adult recreation, children’s play groups and libraries that improve the community’s quality of life. Money is raised through bingos, casinos, raffles, pie sales or slave auctions.
Over time the provincial government has increased its support of agricultural societies because it considers these groups to be a positive link to rural community development.
The societies’ duties used to centre on farm concerns like weed control and farm safety campaigns. Today they extend to promoting and improving rural lifestyles on the farms as well as the villages and hamlets.
“Agricultural societies, by default, became a means to funnel money into communities,” said Marshall.
For Delia, this year’s wish list includes a new fire truck. The community hopes to raise $40,000 through corporate donations and events including the fall fair. So far, fundraising has exceeded some expectations.
“I thought if we got half that, we were really pushing our luck,” said Marshall.
