Surprises are around every corner at the 2015 Cowichan Exhibition.
Calling all football fans. Would you like to get up close and personal with Canada’s legendary Grey Cup?
You can! Come see it on Sunday, Sept. 13 and get your photo taken.
It only takes a non-perishable donation to the food bank; it’s all part of the Kubota Grey Cup Tour.
Two top international lumberjack athletes, the Laughing Loggers, will square off in a lumberjack attack in two shows per day on Sept. 11 and 12. They’ll compete in axe throw, wood chopping, crosscut saw, chainsaw race, log rolling, and the loud and proud hot saw event.
In addition, Nick Hall from The Hall of Chain will be creating works of art with his chainsaw through the weekend. Sidekick Ben Lefler tries to keep up and once a day they will enter in to a duel where they will carve their best in 30 minutes before the crowd judges the winner.
Kids can learn to ride an ATV safely and responsibly in a special event aimed at reducing accidents and injuries. A special mobile training unit with Mudd Safety instructors at the fair supplies the ATVs and the riding gear for a fun and safe ride.
Fans will be pleased to know that again this year a draft horse show will take place on all three days featuring these magnificent crowd-pleasing animals.
•••
On Friday, Sept. 11, the fun kicks off in the morning with the 4-H horse show and hand milking contest (11 a.m.) and the first of the weekend’s antique tractor parades, and many, many indoor and outdoor displays.
By lunch time, the sheepdog and duck demonstration will be sure to please the crowd and by 3 p.m. the midway opens to add its special atmosphere to the grounds as activities continue throughout the site.
The grand opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the main stage and at 8 p.m. Me and Mae take over for an exciting evening of music.
The action heats up even more Saturday, with all kinds of livestock presentations in the show ring, the sheep shearing demo, the antique tractor race and the zucchini race (2 p.m.), the $500 Jackpot Yearling Heifer Show and the dog agility course.
In the late afternoon, it’s time for the annual 4-H auction and a log skidding agility demonstration.
And, of course, there’s everything else that makes the Cow Ex so delightful. Don’t miss all the displays in Mellor Hall and be sure to take the kids around to see all the animals before hitting the midway.
At 8 p.m., country diva Karen Lee Batten brings her magic to the main stage.
Sunday is the final day of the fair so if your schedule’s been tight there’s still time to see all the exhibits and enjoy the outdoor fun like the miniature horses in the show ring, the jumper show in the horse ring, the antique tractor parade and the displays as well as Twiggly Wiggly the Clown and The Wizard and The Enchantress roving the grounds.
Another special lunchtime event on Sunday is the annual pet show at 1 p.m. on the main stage. Don’t miss it.
•••
Inside Mellor Hall, the exhibits range widely from field and garden produce to home crafts like flower arranging, baking, needlework, hobbies, photography, quilting and winemaking. Competition is fierce and there’s lots of inspiration in seeing what Valley folks of all ages get up to when they put their minds to it.
Outdoors, in the Exhibition’s barns, families can enjoy seeing rabbits, sheep, poultry, beef and dairy cattle, horses and more. There are always people ready to answer your questions and many interesting displays as well.
For more details, see our special section starting on page 13.