K.C. Jordan, LJI Journalist
The 2024 Shawville Fair officially kicked off on Thursday night with the opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting under the big circus tent.
Fair president Ralph Lang thanked the around 30 volunteers with the Pontiac Agricultural Society who helped to organize this year’s fair, as well as everyone else who had a hand in making the weekend possible.
Lang gave a special shout out to the summer students who gave a fresh coat of paint to the ground’s buildings, including the arena, in preparation for this year’s five-day event.
“Every building got a touch-up of paint pretty much [ . . . ] every booth got touched,” he said.
Lang also thanked sponsors of the event, including Pontac MP Sophie Chatel, MNA André Fortin, Giant Tiger, and others.
Then, Lang handed the mic over to Pontiac Agricultural Society (PAS) president Mavis Hanna, who introduced the winners of this year’s dedicated service awards.
The award, which was introduced in 2001, is for volunteers who have “gone over and above the requirements,” according to Hanna.
The first of the 2024 recipients was Beryl Smart. After moving to Starks Corners in 1958, Hanna said, Smart’s passion, commitment and energy for her adopted community was immediately evident, and her can-do attitude was inspirational to many.
In addition to being involved with many community groups, especially in Starks Corners, Smart was an integral part in the organizing and planning of the fair’s homecraft division. She also started the school visit program, which every year on Friday welcomes local students to the fairgrounds to learn about agriculture.
Hanna pointed out that Smart spent hundreds of hours in the beer tent counting crinkled bills and sticky coins into the wee hours of the night, presenting the final count to her directors before she left for the night.
“It was a relentless and dirty job, but she did it,” Hanna said.
The second recipient, Dorothy Morrison, grew up on a farm south of Shawville and came back to retire in the area later in life. She donated her time to the community, including the Starks Corner Women’s Institute and the Shawville United Church.
Morrison has a profound knowledge of flowers and served as the horticultural director for years. Under her leadership, the horticultural division evolved to include new and interesting classes.
As a volunteer and a director, Morrison has supported numerous divisions, including homecraft, the beef show, the heavy horse program, and the school program.
She also spent many late nights in the beer tent counting sticky money with Smart.
“We consider her an exceptional asset to the Shawville Fair, and I am proud to recognize her as a true friend of the fair,” Hanna said.
The third recipient, Doug MacDougall, grew up outside of Shawville, and used to show horses in the very spot where the opening ceremony was held, on the south side of the fairgrounds.
Later in life, MacDougall donated his time to the fair, volunteering with Pontiac Agricultural Society since 1995. He worked long shifts at the bar, and was known for showing up to the fairground bright and early the next day.
MacDougall was known as a dependable volunteer who was always willing to lend a helping hand.
When Smart got up on stage to accept the award, she said it takes a huge effort to organize the fair every year.
“I’ve worked with a lot of volunteers, and that’s what it takes to make this fair — a wonderful group of volunteers.”
To conclude the opening ceremony, all three award winners joined the presenters and Lang on stage to cut the ribbon, announcing this year’s fair to be officially under way.