Records of the formation and early growth of the Russell Agricultural Society have largely been lost. If you know of anyone who can contribute some history or who has recollections from important Agricultural Society events then please let us know. We would love to hear from you or them.
Timeline of Significant Events
1881 – Russell Agricultural Society started
1883 – Agricultural Society is Chartered with Manitoba Department of Agriculture: Charter #16
1917 – Received Certificate of Organization under Manitoba Agricultural Societies Act
2009 – Manitoba Incorporation: 26 March, 2009
Historical Articles
Some articles we have found are listed on this page.
Note: Our information indicates that the Society was established in 1881. Some of the articles below refer to 1883. Since these articles were written based on people’s anecdotal memories we suspect they may have had the start year and the charter year mixed up.
1944: THE RUSSELL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY DIAMOND JUBILEE
Source: Banner Country History of Russell & District, 1879-1967
by: Bob McMurray
Records of the formation and early growth of the Russell Agricultural Society have been lost. Information about those early days has had to be derived from personal conversation with John
Mclntosh, one of the first directors, and a patron of the present society.
The Society had its origin at a meeting called in the spring of 1883. At this first meeting, W. Denmark was elected the first president of the Society. Among those elected with him to the directorate at that time were: Peter Wallace, Peter Hyde, John Peddie, Wm. Hembroff, George Murray Shaw, Geo. Smellie, A. McLennan, John McIntosh. Major Boulton and W. Crerar.
At the organization meeting in the spring of 1883 it was decided to hold a Fair that summer. The show grounds of the first Fair were behind where the present post office stands, and the exhibits were shown in the hall built there by Major Boulton. Successive annual fairs were held from that day forward until 1933.
At the Winnipeg Exhibition in 1893 Russell County was awarded a Banner as the county showing the best exhibits in the exhibition. This was presented by Sir Donald A. Smith, afterwards Lord Strathcona. This caused Sir Wilfred Laurier, at a public meeting here to say that “many counties in the East claim to be Banner Counties, but this is the first time I have seen the, Banner itself as proof of the boast.”
Since its inception in 1883 the Agricultural Society has grown into a large organization with many people working for its success. The present fair grounds situated in the South-East corner of
Russell have many fine buildings to house the exhibits and the racing programme each fair day attracts entries from far and wide.
Although the fair each year was not the main project of the Agricultural Society it was by far
the most popular event. Besides this the Society has undertaken the problem of supplying men for farm work and industry at busy times during the war period; cattle and swine sales have also
been projects of the Society and at one time a community seed cleaning plant.
Presidents of the Society over the years have been Roy Stevens, R. C. Coulter, Everard Boulton, Jack Crerar, James Rea (who was also Secretary for 25 years), Frank Jones, Mervyn Coulter, Tom Kieper, Mervyn Dunn, Dennis Trinder and the present day H, E. Way. Secretaries during this time have been J. S. Warrington, A. M. Pratt, Cameron McLennon, H. R. Barry, Jim Burgess,Cec Sanderson, Art Kinney, Dick Wheatley and the present day, Bill Stasiuk.
In the year 1944 the Agricultural Society celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. Premier Stuart Garson of Manitoba officially opened the two-day celebration. Nearly 11,000 people attended the fair that year and weather favoured by being fine.
A monster parade opened the day with Secretary Harold Renton Barry as the parade marshal clad in the top hat, red coat and white breeches of a Master of Fox Hounds. The No. 10 S.F.T.S band from Dauphin blared forth martial music, and behind came the rigs, gigs and buggies, the old autos including an 1898 Oldsmobile driven by Frank Robertson with its steering rod and one cylinder engine, and a 1903 Reo driven by Frank Clement. People riding in the first vehicle that passed included Premier Stuart Garson and Jas. Rea, President of the Agricultural Society, and Bob Page, the driver. A two-hose shay contained the Hon. T. A. Crerar, Mrs. Crerar and J. H. Evans, Deputy Minister of Agriculture. There were covered wagons, a Red River cart and various floats loaded with charming ladies dressed in flounces, furbelows, poke bonnets and ankle-length pantelettes. One of the biggest laughs roused by the parade came when Bill Fenton trudged past wheeling a large baby buggy in which was the biggest infant yet seen around these parts. The infant who wore a baby’s bonnet, and sucked what looked like a baby’s bottle was John Ed. Rea.
To commemorate the Diamond Jubilee the Society took the opportunity to publicly honour two of its oldest members. Mr. John Mclntosh, the only surviving director of the Agricultural Society was
presented with a cane and Mrs. John Davidson, one of the first and most consistent exhibitors, was presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Hon. T. A. Crerar made the presentations.
There was also a beard growing contest with Bill Fenton, Frank Robertson and Len Margetts
receiving the prizes. Many old-timers attended this celebration and all in all it was quite a fair to remember.
1956: THE RUSSELL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 75th ANNIVERSARY
The Agriculture Society again celebrated in the year 1956, this time their 75th anniversary
being the occasion. This celebration resembled the 60th in many ways with the beard growing contest again being popular, and the good old times remembered with the wearing of the apparel of yesteryear. One innovation that was different was the advertising of the fair. This was done by chartering a train to Winnipeg on March 17th in conjunction with the Russell Reunion being held in the city. The advertisers presented an incongruous sight being variously attired, some in modern dress and some in the clothes of the early days. There were a good sprinkling of beards amongst the men as they had pledged $5.00 to keep their beards on until after the fair was over, although six growers reneged and forfeited. From all accounts this train ride was quite an event and will long be remembered by the travelers.
Again many old-timers returned to Russell for this celebration. Racing, of course, has always attracted a lot of people to the fair, as ever since Russell was settled in the 1800’s it has always been noted as a racing centre. Of course, back in those days the racing was chiefly confined to Indian pony races, and it was in 1885 that the first good horses of breeding made their appearance. This of course improved the class of light horses in the district and it was not too long before race horses were battling for the small purses offered in such places as Russell, Binscarth, Moosomin and Cannington Manor. Later a new track was laid out on the grounds east of the creamery and with the coming of the C.N.R. it was moved to the present spacious grounds in the south-east corner of town. H. R. Barry an old-country man and famous jockey, was instrumental in getting the race track where it is now. It was built by voluntary labour consisting of work bees and teams.
THE RUSSELL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Diamond Jubilee Fair
July 20-21, 1944
The Russell Banner published an “Old Timer’s” Supplement in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of the Russell Agriculture Society. The following stories of the event are taken from that supplement.
The Programme of Events
Stuart Garson, Premier of Manitoba, has accepted the invitation of the Russell Agricultural Society to open the Diamond Jubilee Fair and Reunion of Old Timers on Thursday, July 20th. Premier Garson will later address a banquet of Old Timers in the evening. This will be Premier Garson’s first official visit to North Western Manitoba since his elevation to the Premiership.
Elaborate arrangements are being made for the two day Reunion and County Fair. The celebrations will be featured by a monster old time parade in which old oxen and Red River carts, covered wagons, democrats, buck boards and early vehicles of like character will take part. Some forty riders, decked out in cowboy and cowgirl costumes and mounted on fine horses, will also take part in the parade. Prizes have been announced for the “flashiest” riders and horses in the parade. Indians in full native costume will also form a section of this procession. The parade will move off promptly at 11 o’clock on Thursday morning. The R.C.A.F. Military band will lead the parade, followed by a coach in which Premier Garson will ride with other officials. Following the parade Premier Garson will officially open the celebrations at a ceremony in the exhibition grounds.
The first day of the Fair has been devoted largely to the entertainment of old timers and former residents of the town and district. A special feature will be an exhibition baseball game between the highly rated Dauphin and Yorkton Airforce teams. The milltary band from No. 10 S.F.T.S. will render numerous selections on both days.
A race programme of special interest to those attending on the first day of the Reunion will see a chariot, race, local running races anrd Indian pony races.
On Thursday evening a banquet is to be held at which those old timers over 70 years of age and who resided in the district prior to 1900 will be guests of honour. Premier Garson and other officials will address this gathering.
The committee in charge of registration of Old Timers and their entertainment includes Mayor H. S. Hembroff, Henry Clee, J. Harvey McLennen, John Peddie and D. E. Boulton. A log shanty is being erected in the exhibition grounds for the convenience of the Old Timers, in which pictures and other articles of the pioneer days will be on display.
As a special attraction for Thursday afternoon a junior baseball tournament will be held in which numerous collegiate teams will participate. On Friday, the second day of the Fair, a first class harness and running race meet has been arranged. Owners of horses from the best tracks in Western Canada have intimated their intentions of making entries. Following the race programme on Friday the Dauphin and R.C.A,F. teams will play another exhibition baseball game. Between races in the afternoon the Air Force band will play selections. Special horse jumping classes are also part of the second day programme. A dance will be held on the evening of each day of the Reunion and special theatre attractions have already been booked.
2022: A Celebration of Agriculture August 25-27, 2023
After many years of summer inactivity The Russell AG Society decided to celebrate the 141st anniversary of the AG Society with a weekend celebration on the AG grounds.