Five days in September: One of Ontario’s top 10 fairs set to open

When the Lindsay Central Exhibition began, the idea of Canada was still 13 years away. What started out as a modest event of the Lindsay Agricultural Society has turned into the fourth largest agricultural fair in the province and one of Ontario’s top 10 fairs overall.

In fact, General Manager Harry Stoddart says the five day event which starts Sept. 20 this week, had gotten so large and sprawling that organizers took steps to make it feel more intimate this year.

“It will feel smaller and more compact this year,” Stoddart tells The Lindsay Advocate.

“People will notice we’ve moved the midway this year, which we think will help a great deal” in giving the exhibition a more close-knit feel.

Also new this year is ‘The Story of Food’ exhibit, which builds on the exhibition’s reputation as a top-notch agricultural fair. Among other features, the new exhibit has such aspects as:

• “Plant a Bean” – an opportunity for children to plant a bean seed and take it home to watch it grow
• “Roots” – the exhibition been growing corn, soybeans, oats, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, beets, and carrots in a special garden box with a plexi-glass side that will allow viewers to see what the plants look like under the ground.
• A 1/64th scale model of the farm countryside featuring the beneficial management practices that farmers are using to protect the environment

For other features of the new exhibit, check it out here.

The exhibition, even in the off-fair season, “drives a lot of economic activity” in the town, says Stoddart, from hotel business to restaurant meals and other retail activities.

That’s thanks to its 30-40 hosted events throughout the year, from cattle shows, horse shows, and dog shows, among many other events, often hosted in the Commonwell Mutual Building, the largest open room in east central Ontario.

This is the 10th year the exhibition is at its current location at the corner of Angeline Street South and Hwy 7.

Other facts and figures about the Lindsay Central Exhibition:

• The Lindsay Agricultural Society is the governing body of the Lindsay Exhibition.
• The Lindsay Exhibition is a five day event, commencing each year on the third Wednesday following Labour Day.
• The LEX, as it is also known, is a not-for-profit, charitable organization run by the support of its vibrant community, donations, and volunteers.
• Over 30 committees and 300 volunteers work together to stage the annual Exhibition and other events.
• The Lindsay Exhibition is the single largest annual event in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
• Average annual attendance is approximately 45,000
• As host of the East Central Ontario 4-H Championship Show, the Lindsay Exhibition is a qualifying event for 4-H members to compete at the Royal Winter Fair in November.
• Supreme Champion beef animals at the LEX qualify to enter the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK – Canada’s largest livestock show. The only other event in Ontario with qualifying spots for Agribition is the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
• Average of approximately 7,000 entries each year.
• The LEX is a member of the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series Inc. and competitors earn points towards competing at the North American Championship Finals.

-- facts and figures courtesy of the Lindsay Central Exhibition