A mix of old and new, Luxton Fall Fair celebrates 101 years

Chugging along with high speed belts and spiked metal rollers, Clayton Sidlick has yet to lose a finger in the vintage 1920s threshing machine.

Each year at the Luxton Fall Fair, Sidlick loads oats harvested in Metchosin into the B次元官网网址渨idow makerB次元官网网址� machine, an old device that separates seed from the chafe.

He knows his way around an antique thresher and enjoys giving people a handful of fresh oats. They always give him a puzzled look.

B次元官网网址淭hey say, B次元官网网址榃hat do we do with that?B次元官网网址� Then I ask them if theyB次元官网网址檝e ever had a bowl of oatmeal,B次元官网网址� Sidlick chuckled.

Sidlick has volunteered at the fair for the past 33 years because he loves it. He spends the day minding the thresher in the field with other antique farm equipment, such as the Sawyer-Massey steam tractors.

Antique equipment upkeep, quilt making, cow milking and blacksmithing will bump up against the smell of cotton candy and the sounds of carnival games for this weekendB次元官网网址檚 101st Luxton fair.

B次元官网网址淧eople can come here so they will know the history of the West Shore community,B次元官网网址� said volunteer Ian McKenzie. B次元官网网址淟ife was a lot harder back then.B次元官网网址�

During the weekend fair McKenzie will spend his time among the historical displays, talking to fairgoers about the exhibits. To help connect an increasingly  urban population with the rural history of the area, McKenzie is helping organize a gardening contest this year, which will take the place of the horticultural display.

B次元官网网址淚 like telling people about (our rural history) and helping then understand what itB次元官网网址檚 all about,B次元官网网址� McKenzie said.

A 10 year volunteer, McKenzie enjoys the community aspect of the fair more than the rides and food, but he will sneak away to get a corn on the cob. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a whole grain,B次元官网网址� McKenzie smiled.

For people who like their fairs a bit more modern, there are plenty of carnival games and rides. Thrill seekers can be locked in the cage of the Zipper or dare to try the assortment of high flying rides.

In the Luxton arena, the popular jacked up 4x4s try to climb seemingly insurmountable obstacles for the popular Tough Truck Challenge.

B次元官网网址淗orse power always attracts an audience,B次元官网网址� said Zillah Erickson, the tough trucks volunteer organizer. B次元官网网址淲e are the only registered fair in B.C. that has an off road truck event.B次元官网网址�

Boulders, logs and five-foot diametre cement pipes provide the obstacles, but the bravado of mainly young male drivers delivers the entertainment.

In itB次元官网网址檚 fifth year, the course has been rejigged to keep drivers and audiences on their toes.

The crowds keep coming back to see, B次元官网网址渨ho can maneuver over the obstacles and the carnage that happens,B次元官网网址� Erickson said.

Not all trucks are tough enough to endure the gruelling combat course and Erickson said itB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon to see a rollover or a gas tank go up in flames. B次元官网网址淭hat oneB次元官网网址檚 on YouTube,B次元官网网址� she joked.

Anyone with a 4x4 truck who wants to give the course a try can sign up at the fair. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an open invitation,B次元官网网址� Erickson said.

The Tough Truck Challenge starts at 11 a.m. on Sept. 17 and 18.

Admission to the fair grounds if free but to enter the tough trucks show. The admission fee is $15 adults, $10 seniors and youth 11-18 and children 10 and under are free.

See www.luxtonfair.ca for a full schedule of events and entertainment.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com