Bethany Wilken is Ripley-Huron Fall Fair ambassador

Bethany Wilken (above) has been named the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair ambassador, as the 153rd annual event is set to run this weekend, Sept. 23-24, at the Ripley fairgrounds, with the theme: "Farm Gate to Dinner Plate."

The sole contestant this year, Bethany is the daughter of Dan and Cheryl Wilken of Ripley. She is a Grade 12 student at Kincardine District Secondary School and plans to attend university to study law or medicine. Bethany is very involved in the community and can be found coaching soccer, figure skating and basketball, as well helping at vacation bible school, and Link Crew and the Christmas Knights food and toy drive at KDSS. She enjoys track and field, cross-country running, figure skating, volleyball, and basketball. Bethany is proudly sponsored by the Ripley Legion Brach 440.

The Ripley Agricultural Society is very excited to have Bethany represent the organization, and hopes she has a fun-filled year ahead as the 2016–17 ambassador. 

Instead of an ambassador contest, this year's fair will open Friday night with an ambassador variety show upstairs at the arena, with the program getting under way at 8 p.m.

 

The evening will include the annual Prince and Princess of the Fair pageant which features Grades 1 and 2 students from Ripley-Huron Community School, the auction of the prize-winning pies and cakes in support of the Grade 7 trip to the Royal Winter Fair, and a friendly game of Fair Trivia to test the knowledge of the fair and the community for three lucky contestants.

Also Friday night, are the Super Frog contest, Pedal Tractor pull, Garden Tractor pull, and Friday Under the Lights activities - car smash and demolition, egg toss, log-sawing and nail-driving - come and test your strength and finesse!

Saturday, features the Mammoth Parade at 11:30 a.m., followed by the official opening of the  fair, as well as Snippity the Clown, a petting zoo and pony rides, 4-H beef, dairy and sheep shows, light and heavy horse shows, poultry show and T-bone show and sale.

In addition, the Huron County Chuckers knife- and axe-throwing will be at the fair, along with Skateboards and Scooters by Evolve Camps, a car and truck show and antique tractor display, Jamie's Reptiles, Pat Lucknow tribute artist (Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison), and Clarol the Clown.

The Midway runs Friday from 5-10 p.m., and all-day Saturday (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Pay one price - $30. Purchase advance discount bracelets and save $5 per bracelet - offer available until Thursday, Sept. 22, at 11:59 p.m., for Friday and Saturday only. Visit: www.cartershows.ca/pre-order/buy/

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults, $2 for youth (ages six to 13), and free for children (ages five and under).