Lucknow hosts another successful fall fair, ushers in new ambassadors

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Lucknow held its annual Fall Fair this past weekend, which marked the agricultural community’s 161st year of celebrating the many hard-working farmers and talented citizens that make it special. 

 

In addition to all the games, entertainment, and excellent exhibitions of food, art, and crafts, each year, rural fairs all over Ontario hold a Fair Ambassador Competition in which local youths compete for the chance to represent the agricultural interests of their hometown for a year. The competitors each make a short speech at the fair about a community-oriented topic about which they’re passionate, and the winner goes on to speak at various agricultural events in Huron County and beyond. Each Ambassador also attends the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) each year, where they compete for the position of CNE Fair Ambassador. 

 

In 2024, Lucknow’s Ambassador was Shelby Barger, who ably represented her hometown at the CNE with her speech about the economic strength of small town rural economies. Barger may not have won the CNE competition, but she did graciously lend her extra socks to winner and fellow Huron-Kinloss Ambassador Hannah MacDonald of Ripley, who had failed to pack extra clothes because she was not expecting to win.

 

Barger has now passed her Lucknow Ambassador sash on to the new 2025 Ambassador, Graham Howard. He may have been running unopposed, but he still gave it his all in his speech and thoroughly impressed the judges. Lucknow also has a new Junior Ambassador in 11-year-old Lyndon Gillespie, who narrowly edged out competitors Jasmine Scott and Evelyn Scott for the title. 
Howard is already taking his new responsibility seriously, and offered this official comment to The Citizen, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the Lucknow Ambassador - I think this is a great opportunity to become a part of our proud history. I’m so glad to have the chance to go and see all the other ambassadors. I’m just delighted with everything that our fair is, and everything it stands for.” 

 

With Howard at the helm, it seems Lucknow’s agricultural community will be well represented in 2025.