The 144th Annual Portage Exhibition's set for this July. Board member Pat Crandall shares her thoughts about knowing it's the 144th edition, and what it's like to keep that kind of continuity going.

Pat Crandall"I'm not sure whether there's much thought about it. We just kind of continue on with it. We're older than the city itself. We've been around, and agriculture is very important in our lifestyle. I think over the years it has changed as to what the fair has represented, from an educational tool type of thing to entertainment."

She outlines some features this year.

"We've got some children's activities. We've got pails of grain that the kids can actually feel what canola feels like, and what flax feels like, because they're very different grains; just to make people aware of where your food comes from. There is a representative coming from Ag in the Classroom on the Saturday, and she'll be showing the kids how you get oil of canola."

A few children's activities took place in previous years, with cows they could milk, and a wooden cow with straw they wheelbarrowed over to feed it, showing them what previous generations took for granted. Besides activities for the kids, Crandall explains there'll be the usual musical entertainment with old time dance music on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon in the exhibition building. The midway will be moved down a bit to the east toward the PCU centre, and the music tent will be by the big stage near the horse and cattle rings and petting rings.

The 4-H club's a huge part, but it's changed over years. Crandall says it's still important, but the fair today is aimed more toward horse and cattle projects than the home ec. clubs from previous years. The cattle showcases their achievement time; the grand finale of raising the steer. The calf auction is on Saturday afternoon highlighting the calves that were raised and grown to show-weight and market-weight.

The Portage Ex starts on Friday, July 8th and runs through til Sunday, July 10th, on the island in Portage, with music most of the time both inside and outside.