HERE IS HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
In 1824, a group of farmers, sharing the same concerns, decided to get together and go into action. Their discussions were fruitful, and in 1828, the Bedford County Agricultural Society was official recognized. At the time the county included the Missisquoi, Brome and Shefford counties. A year later, following a revision of the electoral map, it was renamed the Missisquoi Agricultural Society.
During the first 29 years, the Fair was a traveling event, which meant that it was held annually but in different villages. Firstly, it was held in Philipsburg, then East St-Armand, Dunham Flatts (Dunham today), Stanbridge-East and Frelighsburg. From 1853 to 1873, the Fair was held in a field in back of the Lower Bedford Hotel (the Maurice Hotel of yesteryear and now the Dr Adrien-Tougas town square).
In 1873, the Society purchased a piece of land from Mr. Joseph Cyr east of the new Pine Street near the old train station. In 1877, the Lake Champlain and St-Lawrence Junction build a railroad which cuts the grounds in half. They then had to buy another piece of land from Mr. Cyr (where the grounds are now) with a 25 foot wide right of passage to Main street.
In 1950, the Board of directors of the Society opted to build a new wooden arena. The building became popular by hosting the fair’s “Horse Show” and other sports related activities. The official opening was on the January 16th 1951 and did not go unnoticed: the “Montreal Canadians” hockey team played an exhibition game against a local team called the “Bedford Bruins”.
The same year, the Bedford Fair was upgraded to a category “B” Canadian fair, a logical step considering the efforts made so that it may continue it’s success. During the same era, the grounds were improved and the buildings renovated.
The grounds and the arena were sold to the municipality in 1969. Unfortunately the arena was entirely destroyed by a fire in 1972.
In 1973, a building was constructed to house a riding school and the race track was refurbished.
Since then the Bedford Fair has continued to progress, it is now classified as an “A” fair and attracts people from all over, who come to enjoy the shows, judgings and competitions.
In 2007, we proceed to the opening of the SAM Equestrian Center where are offered pension/box rental for horses, western riding classes, Option classes (in collaboration with Mgr Desranleau school), after school classes and equitherapy.
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Photos and images courtesy of EXPO Bedford © 2024