LINDSAY — The Lindsay Agricultural Society is racing to complete the new exhibition grounds, visible from Hwy 7, just south of town. The new grounds – 120 acres — can be seen from the highway, making it more accessible. "We feel that with the additional space we can work on expanding the fair in the coming years and introduce more attractions," explained Cecelia McMorrow one of the organizers. The old 20-acre site will be developed for houses, high-rises and a restaurant.

Organizers have received recent donations from the Bank of Montreal and Farm Credit Canada. They have also received private donations and are beginning to hold events to raise more money for the new fairgrounds. "We have stayed on the building process each day to make sure it gets done. We meet once a week with the different companies that are building, wiring and installing plumbing to coordinate schedules," explains McMorrow. "We also stay in contact with city councilors to make sure everything goes smoothly with the city. In addition we keep a close eye on our budget to ensure we meet our needs."

So far, so good. "The building process has gone quite well," says McMorrow. "Most of the roads, parking and water lines are finished. The office is done. The barns and grandstands are scheduled to begin construction (the first week of July). The only set back has been the livestock pavilion, which has been put on hold. Other than that, everything is on schedule and will be ready for the exhibition."

The livestock pavilion this year will likely be under tents and domes, she said. A permanent structure will be built in a few years when they have the funds, she said.

Other features of the new grounds are the 48,000 sq. ft. exhibition centre, livestock and 7.5-acre midway area.

The exhibition includes more than 300 volunteers and averages 50,000 visitors each year. It is one of the largest agriculture fairs in Ontario and features numerous shows and entertainment including their Holstein show and sale, considered one of the premier breed events in the province. The fair has been named local fair of the year, provincial fair of the year and best fair of the year by the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions.