1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Hanover Ag Society sponsors its first fair

SEPTEMBER 26, 1946 – The Hanover Agricultural Society was more than pleased with the success of a September, 1946 attempt at reviving an annual agricultural fair, which had not been organized in the Steinbach area since the Steinbach Board of Trade staged a similar event in 1932.

Two days of incessant rain preceded this first edition of the Hanover Agricultural Society Fair, and by 10 a.m. the grounds on the west outskirts of town still showed very few signs of life.

But suddenly the picture changed, and in a short time the grounds were humming with activity. Calf clubs were starting to come in and Ag Society members were busy pitching a large tent, courtesy of the Winnipeg Kiwanis Club, for use as fair headquarters.

Adding to the good humour of the morning was the sight of a man trying to catch a pig that had broken out of his trailer before he got as far as the fair grounds. An occasional glimpse of the sun also helped to further raise spirits.

But most encouraging for organizers was the arrival of 100 calves entered by members of nine area calf clubs, who were not going to let a little rain dampen their enthusiasm. The boys’ and girls’ Calf Club Rally turned out to be the most popular event at the fair.

The articles entered by various clothing clubs made for a very interesting display put up by the T. Eaton Co. in one of the booths, featuring handmade articles of clothing exhibited by young stitchers.

Of special interest to many was the beet lifter-topper-windrower combine, exhibited by the Manitoba Sugar Co. Ltd. Farmers were looking forward to seeing the machine in action during field demonstrations to be held the second week of October, and Carillon News readers were encouraged to watch the paper for an announcement of the date and place.

The dandy prizes offered at the fair was due, in large part, to the special donations made Winnipeg Kiwanis Club to promote interest in agriculture, which, according to a Kiwanis spokesman was one of the aims of their organization.

“We realize that fundamentally all are sons of the soil, depending directly or indirectly on the farmer for a living.”

The Kiwanis Club, through its city and country relations committee, provided more than $150 in special cash prizes. Individual Kiwanis members, Winnipeg business owners, donated a wide range of prizes, including a baby’s high chair, a baby’s playpen, an electric lamp, jewellery and, five-pound and three-pound packages of Melrose coffee.

The unsolicited offer to the Hanover Agricultural Society to help with special prizes and cash was a wonderful morale builder and the substantial prizes were expected to go a long way in creating interest amongst possible exhibitors for next year’s fair, and should help in making the Hanover Fair of the future an annual success.

On the day of the fair, about 40 Kiwanians visited Steinbach, and it was through their efforts better relations between city and country could be established, the Ag Society spokesperson added.