Standing in the barn that bears their grandfather’s name, the two women still known as the Harlton twins grasped the branding iron and sank it into a piece of wood.
The sizzle and smoke of the Canadian Western Agribition brand is a tradition that marks the opening of the annual show.
Marilyn Mountenay of Belle Plaine, Sask., and Merle Thomason of Bethune, Sask. have been to them all. Standing in the Harlton Barn Nov. 23, they honoured their grandfather, Charlie, for whom the barn is named, their father, George, a founding Agribition director, and the Harlton descendants who still attend the show.
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“You know how they say it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity?” said Thomason. “This is truly, truly one of mine.”
The Harlton Barn was built in 1965 and is slated for replacement as part of the ongoing renovation of Regina’s Evraz Place.
Charlie Harlton was one of the early organizers of livestock fairs.
“He had swine and he also had Shorthorn cattle,” Mountenay said.
Born and raised in Ontario, he first settled near Kindersley, Sask., before moving south to Belle Plaine, Sask.
His son, George, carried on his father’s love of showing and promoting livestock, and he passed that onto his daughters.
“Marilyn and Merle started their association with Agribition the very first year by assisting and volunteering on the swine committee,” said Agribition president Marilyn Charlton. “For the past 26 years, Marilyn and her husband, Ron, have exhibited Angus cattle under the name of Ivanhoe Angus. Merle and her late husband Roger exhibited for many years under the name of Thomason Angus Farms.”
The sisters were instrumental in developing Agribition’s 4-H team grooming and showmanship competition, Charlton said.
Mountenay noted that the fourth generation is exhibiting cattle this week – Thomason’s son is with Wiwa Creek Angus – and some of the fifth generation will be on the grounds as well.
Whether the Harlton name will continue to be recognized by Evraz Place is still undetermined.
“We’re sad, but as in everything else, things move on,” Thomason said of the barn’s looming demolition.
She said things have come full circle. The first livestock shows were held in bare-bones facilities and upgrades are needed again.
Evraz Place chief executive officer Mark Allan said it could be three to five years before the Stadium, built in 1919, Winter Fair Building, Annex, Auditorium, Prairie Building, Pasqua Building and Harlton Barn are replaced. Most of the other buildings were built in the 1950s.
Phase one of the redevelopment, which includes six multipurpose arenas, is just being completed.
“The additional phases of the project are not funded yet and right now we’re working with Agribition on a concept for the barn replacement.”
