Hanover Ag Fair celebrates 78 years

As the Hanover Ag Fair nears the end of their eighth decade, they continue to offer something for everyone.

This year a few changes have been made, including some schedule changes.

Sponsorship and marketing coordinator Brenda Levesque said bull riding continues to run on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday is described as a full day at the fair. Sunday features community worship followed by a faspa lunch.

Many of the events are ones that people come back for year after year.

Hanover Ag’s Bull Riders Canada Invitational takes place Thursday and Friday evening, featuring some of the nation’s best riders competing for their share of $12,000 in prize money.

Canadian country music icon George Canyon will take to the stage Saturday evening, with Emma Peterson opening for him. That evening will also be topped off by fireworks.

Tickets are available either at hanoverag.com or at the gate.

Heritage tours allow people to get on a horse drawn wagon and tour through Grunthal while soaking in the history.

The annual mud bog, scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will feature revving motors and lots of mud.

Saturday will also be home to the Front Porch Jam, running from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s our way of showcasing local artists and more of the arts and culture side of things,” Levesque said.

The schedule includes Indigenous hoop dancer Rylee Sandberg, Ukrainian-Canadian band By Request, Metis Prairie Steppers, Rozmai Ukrainian Dancers, LMNK, Jamaican band Yaadies, and the J. Doe Trio.

Other Saturday events include art at the fair with an opportunity to “paint the day away”, take in a quilt showcase, and watch chainsaw carvers Steph Penner and Cornie Krahn (known as Kornelius the Karver).

Other familiar events include a Friday morning pancake breakfast, and a Saturday morning parade, vendor village and World-Famous Chicken Barbecue hosted by the Grunthal Broiler Association.

Antique farm equipment will also be on display and fans can take in the Kevin Toews Memorial Arm-Wrestling Tournament.

Organizers expect to see 8,000 people throughout the weekend. While a small core group of board members and volunteers prepares for the fair, it takes about 100 to keep it operating smoothly on the weekend.