24th Annual Heritage Acres Show a rousing success

Chris Davis

The Heritage Acres 24th Annual show held last weekend was blessed with great weather and a huge turnout. Partnering for the first time with the International Harvester Collectors Club (IHCC) Chapter 38, the event was jam packed with antique farm equipment from IHCC's extensive collective collection, most of which has not been seen here before, coupled of course with Heritage Acre's own large collection of farm equipment, machinery, and vehicles. Around 200 IHCC member participated.

Local music sensations the Silver Saddles kicked the event off in style on the evening of Friday, July 29 with their blend of classic country songs.

MC Bob Westrop

Throughout the event, local MC extraordinaire Bob Westrop kept up an amplified running patter from behind the wheel of a pickup truck, explaining the various happenings and items of interest for the crowd.

The "Parade of Power" provided an excellent opportunity for the crowds filling the grandstand and lining the parade route to see many of the magnificent machines in motion.

MLA Evan Berger (left)

The merchant mall was again a popular attraction, and has been renovated this year, making it a much more attractive space. Live music was performed periodically throughout the event in a small auditorium at the back of the merchant mall quonset. Folks also flocked to watch plowing demonstrations, with everything from mule teams to a steam-driven behemoth demonstrating the evolution of ranching methods and equipment. The model train exhibit has been greatly expanded upon, filling several hundred square feet and providing amusement for young and old. The deck surrounding it proved to be a popular place to sit and watch the proceedings below during the course of the weekend. Older favourites like the Crystal Village and the Dukhoubor barn retain their charm and appeal. Tractor pulls, home-made pies, antique cars by the score, sawmill demonstrations, an incredible quilt display, rib-expanding pioneer-style meals, horse drawn wagons... the list of entertainments and diversions was a long one.

C. Davis photos

With the temperature hovering near 30 degrees under a bright blue sky, one could certainly not ask for more ideal weather conditions either.

Many attendees chose to take advantage of Heritage Acres' reasonably priced onsite camping, staying for the entire weekend and immersing themselves in the events.

RCMP Cst. Doug Sokoloski

The effect on our local economy of this event is actually quite significant, with visitors coming from all over western Canada and the northern United States, and spending money around town and at other tourist attractions in the area.

The incredible amount of work performed by local volunteers both in creating and maintaining Heritage Acres itself and all of the equipment housed there, and in mounting such an enormous event, cannot be overstated.

Click here for winners of the tractor-pulls and draws