Ribbons are cherished mementoes in the agricultural community. Many a rural bedroom is lined with elaborate rosettes and sashes from livestock and horse shows.

During the Collingwood Agricultural Society’s fall fair at the Great Northern Exhibition, 1,500 ribbons are handed out to the winners. They are all made locally by Diane Edwards, of SE Equestrian.

Diane was actually recruited by her daughter Sara Edwards – the SE – who teaches riding lessons and boards horses in Clearview Township. Diane explains that when her daughter started doing horse shows she realized she could cut down on costs by making her own ribbons. Although Sara is still the designer, the crafting of the ribbons is primarily done by Diane, who says she wasn’t particularly crafty when she took on the job.

The ribbon orders are just starting to roll in, which is good timing because Diane’s part-time job as a travel agent is winding down for the season.

SE Equestrian fills orders for about 20,000 ribbons each year.

The assembly requires some special equipment – a machine used to sew the pleats into the ribbon, a button press to make the centres and a small printer to stamp the words onto the satin ribbons. A stapler and a hot glue gun are other essential tools.

Diane says there is a lot of tedious manual labour involved in creating the “petals” and “pinched points” that make up the more elaborate ribbons. Each piece is glued in place by hand.

Still considered a small operation, the business has grown solely by word of mouth. Their ribbons are given out at the fair in Feversham and as far away as Thunder Bay and Lambton County.