The LEX at 170
Ontario’s fourth largest agricultural fair ready to welcome thousands
It’s fair to say this is the event so many families look forward to each year.
As the fourth largest agricultural fair in Ontario, the Lindsay Exhibition (LEX) is one of the most anticipated events in the community. This year, celebrating its 170th anniversary, it’s being held from Sept. 14 to 22.
Shanice Sproule, the general manager at the Lindsay Agricultural Society, says they will be hosting a party to celebrate their anniversary on Saturday night of the opening weekend.
“The 170 LEX is promising to be a fair to remember,” she tells the Advocate. The party will be a unique addition to the fair that not only allows us to truly embrace our theme — Harvesting Heritage — but brings a new dimension of fun to opening weekend for exhibitors and visitors alike.”
Being one of the largest agricultural fairs in Ontario, the LEX needs a great deal of support. To put it together they rely on about 400 volunteers and six permanent staff. They also have thousands of exhibitors and about 290 sponsors who all help to make it happen.
That includes Lisa Bowen, the chairperson of the agricultural products committee. She says her work begins as early as spring.
“I meet with my committee and LEX staff in the early spring to review the ag products prize list book and make any changes to classes,” says Bowen. “I confirm the judges for the various ag products classes. I answer any questions that exhibitors might have about entry requirements and processes.”
Like the committees who run the LEX, the families who participate are also very busy in the days leading up to it. Volunteer Gen Hayes, on the horse board of the fair and shows, says that they prep their horses all season, keep an eye on what poultry and veggies look good and figure out what competitions they want to enter. She says they love the competition at the LEX.
“We love to compete and see what everyone else brings.”
About a week before the fair starts Bowen says that they sort all the agriculture product entries and get them ready for judging.
“The busiest day for me is the Tuesday prior to the fair when all the adults and children bring their ag products entries to the fair. Sorting the entries by class number in preparation for judging, recording the judges’ standings, attaching prize ribbons and then arranging the products on the display stands in an attractive manner for fairgoers to view occupies the afternoon and evening on the day prior to opening day.”
The day of the fair is just as busy as the days leading up to it. Hayes says once it’s time for them to show their products and horses they arrive early in the morning. They make sure to have everything packed and the horses bathed the night before. She says it can be quite hectic.
“It’s basically a week of frenzy, or so it feels like.”
Bringing community together is not the only positive. Sproule says that the LEX strengthens local business.
“The Lindsay Exhibition regularly contributes nearly $800,000 in tourist spending to the local economy. The LEX is the largest festival or event in our region and our facility is the largest tourist draw after the Trent-Severn Waterway and the area’s natural features.”
Among all the craziness that happens in the weeks before, the families who participate in the LEX appreciate the tradition of the fair and a lot of them have been participating for generations. For Bowen, continuing this tradition comes naturally to her.
“My parents’ enthusiasm for helping my sister and I grow and prepare our vegetables to enter in the fair spilled over into my adult life as I then encouraged and helped my three children to prepare entries.”
Bowen continues to be involved in the ag products aspect of the fair and says, “volunteering in this capacity has just been a natural part of my life and something that I look forward to each September.”
