2024 Brussels Fall Fair: Former Fair Queen Maggie Speer 'honoured' by 'Fair Mom' title

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

While the Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador Committee consists of four past winners - Maggie Speer, Nicole Lowe, Hannah Hodgins and Morgan Zoccolante - it’s only Speer who is often referred to as the “Fair Mom” by the ambassadors of today.

 

Speer was crowned the Brussels Fall Fair Queen in 1992, besting 11 other young women. In those days, it wasn’t uncommon to have a dozen people from the community wanting to be the next queen. 

 

Speer is also the final Brussels Fall Fair Queen, as it was soon changed to the title of ambassador. Speer likes to joke that her reign is still ongoing because she was never succeeded by the next queen.

 

Growing up, Speer always attended the fair. As a member of the Brussels Legion Pipe Band, she was often in the parade as a musician. However, when she was crowned Brussels Fall Fair Queen, she had to take a small step away from the band, as she had other duties to attend to as the queen.

 

As an elementary school student, Speer was a natural public speaker and has won a number of competitions in her time. That was why she had no problem putting her name forward in hopes of winning the crown. However, she says, back then, it’s just what young women from the village did. When they were old enough to vie for the crown, they would. 

 

Speer first threw her hat into the ring in 1990, but was unsuccessful. Then, if she remembers correctly, there was no competition in 1991 before she returned the following year and won.

 

One of the most passionate advocates for the ambassador program, Speer said that the confidence and public speaking prowess she developed in part through being the queen all those years ago now pay her bills as a wedding officiant and marketing manager. She has seen those skills take hold in other young people too over the years and thinks the program has the ability to do wonders for young people, if they’d only give it a chance. 

 

Unfortunately, contrary to what she said about the 1990s, many young people aren’t making the ambassador program part of their lives and Speer thinks they’re missing a chance to do something great as a result.

 

Speer presented the example of Emily Bieman - this year’s Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador - who was, back in 2017, the Junior Ambassador in a year that the fair was held at the International Plowing Match (IPM) in Walton. Back then, Speer said, Bieman was shy and still finding her way in the world, but now she’s returned to take on the Fall Fair Ambassador role. Another is Paislee Ribey, who fully grew into the role of Junior Ambassador, going from a shy young lady to an outgoing young woman in just one year. 

 

It’s those changes and the ability to help young people grow in the world that keeps Speer coming back.

 

After her year as the Brussels Fall Fair Queen, Speer stepped back and started a family, but, one day, when Nicole Lowe came calling, looking for help to administer the ambassador program, Speer answered the call.

 

In the time since, the two have reversed roles. When Speer decided to step up, she had small children and was very busy - now, it’s Lowe who has three small children and Speer has taken a more active role to allow Lowe to step back a bit.

 

And while Speer remains dedicated to helping with the program and loves helping the young people of today, she has no idea why she’s singled out as the “Fair Mom” by many of them. She thinks it’s just because she’s so often there with them, but they seem to genuinely appreciate the care and attention that Speer brings with her to Brussels Fall Fair-related events.

 

She says it’s an honour and it reflects a level of trust that she’s established with not only the ambassadors, but with their parents as well.

 

To put a period on her story, Speer said that another thing about being the Brussels Fall Fair Queen that has stayed with her throughout her life has been what it means to others who can appreciate the community aspect of being a fall fair ambassador. 

 

When she was in her thirties, she was in a job interview and she said the first thing the interviewer wanted to ask her about was being the Brussels Fall Fair Queen. She spoke about it and, when the interview concluded, she asked why that, of all things, was what jumped out on her resume. The interviewer said that she had been chosen by her community to represent her community outside of her community and that he couldn’t think of a better vote of confidence than that.