Creemore youth compete for ambassadorship

Three young ladies from Creemore are taking part in the ambassador program at the Great Northern Exhibition.
Rebecca Redpath, 17, is competing for the title of senior ambassador. Sarah Crawford, 10, and Grace Millsap, 12, are competing in the junior ambassador category.
Contestants are judged on interviews, a written biography, speeches and a Q-and-A.
There are four competitors in each category.
Redpath, a Grade 12 Collingwood Collegiate Institute student, won the junior title in 2011.
Fair ambassadors represent the region throughout the year, making special appearances at event and parades.
The winner of the senior ambassador competition goes on to compete at the CNE.
The ladies will be on stage at the agricultural building Friday, opening day of the 159th annual fall fair running from Sept. 19-21 at the GNE.
The junior ambassadors present speeches at 6 p.m. and the senior ambassadors present after the opening ceremonies, which begin at about
7 p.m.
The ambassador competition is interspersed with the junior talent show during the opening ceremonies, kicking off a weekend celebrating all things rural.
During the ceremony, fair organizers will officially flip the switch on the 100-kilowatt solar project. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the exhibition hall and the agricultural building.
Local band Midnight Low will be performing on the outdoor stage Friday night.
There is a full line up of entertainment including bands, a fiddle and step dance contest, double toe cloggers and the midway.
Also on Friday is the 4-H achievement day.
“That’s the future of agriculture and the fair, is those kids,” said Garry Milne, a past president of the Collingwood Agricultural Society.
Throughout the weekend farmers will show off their talents and livestock during the horse and cattle shows and sheep shearing demonstrations, tractor and machinery shows, a tractor pull and horse pull.
In terms of food, there will be competitions for vegetables, preserves and, new this year, a pie contest.
The pies will be sold during a silent auction with all proceeds going to the fair.
Anyone submitting a pie will get free admission. Pies must be registered Saturday between 10 a.m. to noon at the agricultural building. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four pies.
“There’s all kinds of indoor events and event under the tent if the weather’s not good,” said Milne. “Everybody’s going to be shy after last year’s mud bath and I don’t blame them but there’s a lot events that are under cover.”
Area elementary school students will visit the fair on Friday.
The Collingwood Agricultural Society owns and maintains the GNE fairgrounds.
For a full schedule of events and pie contest rules, visit www.greatnorthernex.com.
The Great Northern Exhibition is located at 2220 Fairgrounds Rd.