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	<title>Markham Fair</title>
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	<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca</link>
	<description>Canada&#039;s Largest 4 Day Fair</description>
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		<title>OAAS Members Vote for New Manager</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/02/22/oaas-members-vote-for-new-manager/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/02/22/oaas-members-vote-for-new-manager/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:13:52 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Members voted in favour of the following motion to start the process of finding and hiring a new Manager for the Ontario Association of Agricultural Soceities.  &#8220;NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the membership of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies approve the hiring of a General Manager, based on the recommendations presented by the Board of Directors. This position is based on a three year contract, reviewable annually and the funding for this position is to be shared on a 50/50 basis with affiliation/membership fees and existing OAAS funds. This is in accordance with a motion passed at the annual general meeting in February 2011.&#8221; This motion has been up for vote in various iterations over the past 4 years.  Either through lack of information or fear of trying something new, the membership had voted down the recommendation in the past. This vote is an important milestone for the OAAS.  There are 220 fairs in Ontario who could benefit from the leadership of a Manager.  Fairs need representation in government to help define and support changes to fair policies and many other topics affecting our fair business. Click this link to see 64 photos in a slideshow from this convention.]]></description>
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		<title>OAAS 2012 Convention Events</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/24/oaas-2012-convention-events/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/24/oaas-2012-convention-events/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:34:44 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2254</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tentative Seminar Topics~ subject to change without notice ~ Thursday Attracting New Exhibitors to Homecraft &#38; Junior Fairs How to create a homecraft committee Volunteer Recognition Conflict Resolution Fair / Amusement Business Relationship (panel discussion) New Convention delegate orientation Various round table topics: Improve relationships with vendors/concessionaires How to expand your audience Managing major changes to a fair schedule Friday Picking the Winner: Judging Do’s &#38; Don’ts Getting &#38; Retaining Homecraft Volunteers Ag Education Tradeshow Hands On Activities Becoming Involved with OAAS Horticulture Mobile Marketing Staging a Successful Horse Show Hosting a Demo Derby 4-H at the Fair Tips for New Board Members Contracts for Secretary-Treasurers Setting up an Effective website Choosing a database AGCO – The Liquor Law Creating a Fair Archive Tips for First Time Secretaries Saturday 10 ways to improve your fair How to attract other cultures to your fair Changing your exhibit area Making your fair work on a shoestring budget Inexpensive entertainment for all ages How to set up a Farmers’ Market at your fair How to make opening ceremonies exciting Partnering with other fairs Making District Meetings worthwhile Signage on the way to your fair How to encourage past exhibitors to come back Learning about new crafts How to keep hand quilting alive Managing pets at your fair Free ag education / activities ideas for kids source: http://www.ontariofairs.org/cms/attachments/195_Tentative%20Seminar%20Topics.pdf Convention Program 2012 Theme &#8211; ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL FAIRS:&#8220; Remembering Our Past, Embracing Our Future” Thursday, February 16, 2012: 1:00 pm &#8211; 4:30 pm       Receive Auction items ...]]></description>
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		<title>AGM 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/19/agm-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/19/agm-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:21:53 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Markham and East York Agricultural Society met last night in building #3 at the fairgrounds.  Meeting in the temporary location was necessary due to the office renovations currently underway and we have a Rental Client using Building #1 and #2. Financial introductions by Leanne Gordon: Poor weather, not yet able to test the effect of  gate fee increases, two good weather  years in a row are needed. Woody&#8217;s partnership &#8211; reduce potential liability. New Agri-Food tent covered 100% by grants. Rental fee increases for 2011 despite the previous year rental of a one time renter of $75K. Current renovations are to increase renter positive impressions and make the space more functional. Missed our yearly goal of contributing $250K to the capital fund.  Not too far off track though. John Morelli reviewed the details of our Financial Report.  Elections were then called. Congratulations to the newly appointed members; Andrew Dunlop voted in for in for a 2 year term, Dylan Armstrong and Kristen Miller voted in for the Junior Directors positions.  Bryant Hulshof was named to the Executive as the Member At Large. The Board of Directors appointed the current President of the Homecraft Division, Elaine Rennie, to be an ex-officio member of the Board with voting privileges.  Welcome back Elaine! Phil Redshaw is our 2012 Markham Fair President.  Congratulations Phil! Check out the Director and Officer’s page for a complete list of Board Members. A photo slide show of 15 images from this evening are available by clicking here.]]></description>
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		<title>Annual General Meeting and Elections 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/19/annual-general-meeting-and-elections-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/19/annual-general-meeting-and-elections-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:53:12 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Markham Community]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2237</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Markham and East York Agricultural Society met last night in building #3 at the fairgrounds.  Meeting in the temporary location was necessary due to the office renovations currently underway and we have a Rental Client using Building #1 and #2. Congratulations to the newly appointed members; Andrew Dunlop voted in for in for a 2 year term, Dylan Armstrong and Kristen Miller voted in for the Junior Directors positions.  Bryant Hulshof was named to the Executive as the &#8216;Member At Large&#8217;. The Board of Directors appointed the current President of the Homecraft Division, Elaine Rennie, to be an ex-officio member of the Board with voting privileges.  Welcome back Elaine! Phil Redshaw is our 2012 Markham Fair President.  Congratulations Phil! Check out the Director and Officer’s page for a complete list of Board Members.]]></description>
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		<title>Markham Stouffville Hospital Donation</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/16/markham-stouffville-hospital-donation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2012/01/16/markham-stouffville-hospital-donation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:25:24 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Markham Community]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Markham Fair&#8217;s 2011 President Rob Miller and 1st Vice-President Phil Redshaw and Manager John Peco present a cheque to Allan Bell Director of Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation and Dr. Bear. The cheque is presented on behalf of Markham Fair and World&#8217;s Finest Shows. Markham Fair and World’s Finest Shows have felt passionate for a number of years about donating to Markham Stouffville Hospital’s Dr. Bear program. Prior to 2001, Markham Fair would hold an annual beef auction where World’s Finest Shows would traditionally purchase the 1st place 4H beef calf and donate the meat from this sale to local retirement and special needs homes to help compensate the cost of providing meals to the residents of these homes. As time went by, the beef auction stopped at Markham Fair, however, World’s Finest Shows still felt strongly about their continued partnership with Markham Fair in donating to a charity within the Markham/Stouffville area. At that time, the idea of donating to the Dr. Bear program was introduced by the Manager of Markham Fair, Dave Morrison, and has been an annual tradition ever since. On January 13, 2012 Markham Fair, on behalf of World’s Finest Shows, once again presented a cheque to Markham Stouffville Hospital to contribute to this very worthwhile charity and wish the Dr. Bear program continued success.]]></description>
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		<title>Stouffville Santa Claus Parade 2011</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/12/07/stouffville-santa-claus-parade-2011/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/12/07/stouffville-santa-claus-parade-2011/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:02:06 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Check out the photos from the Stouffville Santa Claus Parade, December 3, 2011.  It was another warm day for the first weekend in December.  Thanks to everyone who came out to help put the float together, shuttle people and walk in the parade.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>2011 Photo CD for sale</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/28/2011-photo-cd-for-sale/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/28/2011-photo-cd-for-sale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:27:29 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Markham Fair has 10 Volunteer Photographers who run around the fairgrounds shooting a total of 15,000 images. All the images are shot in digital.  This probably does account for the volume of images we now take.  Back in the film days, we might have used more discretion.  It means today, we have the ability to capture more quality via quantity. Once the rejected images are removed, the total of all useable images is 2,900.  Because the images are digital and contain a time stamp, we assign a special file name to each images which allows them to be sorted in chronological order from Wednesday to Sunday.  The photos on the CD are in order from the start of the fair to the end. Also back in the film days, we used to provide a reprint service for our Members who wanted a copy of an important image.  It was a pretty hectic operation of “post-it” notes and a reprint order from Black’s.  People paid on average 50 cents for a 4&#215;6 and most ordered 10 to 20 prints. Now we are offering 2,900 photos on a CD which you can take to Walmart and print for 18 cents.  The photo CD costs $5 and is available at the office. We find most people copy the CD to their computer and customize their own slide show with the content of people and events they most enjoyed at Markham Fair. The CD is for our Members only.  Most of the images have ...]]></description>
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		<title>Markham Santa Claus Parade</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/27/markham-santa-claus-parade/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/27/markham-santa-claus-parade/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:46:28 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2172</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Markham Fair Group at Markham Santa Claus ParadeWe were position #23 which was pretty much out front of Stevensons Rental.  The temperature was 10°C at 10AM.  No rain. No wind. Might have been the warmest Markham Santa Claus parade ever?   Let&#8217;s do it again next weekend in Stouffville! Click here for a link to the photos from Markham.]]></description>
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		<title>Parades in Markham and Stouffville</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/24/parades-in-markham-and-stouffville/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/24/parades-in-markham-and-stouffville/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:47:52 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Parades]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2164</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ We Won! Hi guys! WE WON!! The Markham Fair won  &#8220;1st Place Theme Markham Parade&#8221;!!!! The award ceremony is at the Town Council meeting on January 24,2012. Great job everyone!! I would like to thank the committee and board for their help over the last two weekends. Also all the people that came out to walk and support the Fair at the parades.  Great job!! Thanks again for all your support this past year. Rob Markham Fair will be entering a float again this year in both the Markham and Stouffville Santa Claus Parades. The Parade Committee has been working hard to put together another wonderful display on wheels. It will be towed by the Kubota tractor. Thanks to all the Volunteers who help make this event such a success! Come see Markham Fair and Santa in the next couple of weekends. 39th annual 2011 Markham Santa Claus Parade Saturday, November 26, 2011 Parade starts at 11:00 a.m.(front of parade arrives at 16th Ave at about noon) http://www.markhamsantaclausparade.com/ Stouffville Santa Claus Parade Saturday, December 3, 2011 Parade starts at 2:00 pm (Main Street (east of 10th Line) and Mohawk Gate) http://www.district8kin.ca/index.php/Stouffville_Kinsmen_Santa_Claus_Parade]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Thanks for your feedback!</title>
		<link>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/22/thanks-for-your-feedback/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markhamfair.ca/2011/11/22/thanks-for-your-feedback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:24:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Attractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Concessions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markhamfair.ca/?p=2139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At Markham Fair we love to receive your letters, posts, emails and phone calls.  Most of the comments we receive are words of congratulations and encouragement, but occasionally we hear constructive criticism as well.  One such letter left us feeling a little defensive and thought we might offer a few comments by way of explanation&#8230; At this year’s Fair we entered into a business partnership with Woody’s Burgers, a professional catering and hospitality company, and we jointly managed our beer and wine tents.  This lead to great food and good service overall, and it allowed our volunteers to take on other fair assignments.  The Kinsmen who traditionally provided support in the beer tent were offered other roles at the Fair and they were quite supportive of the new approach. The vendors in the outdoor concessions area did their best to brave the elements this year.  Although we understand that every fair goer will not necessarily have personal interest in every vendor’s booth, we do believe that we ensured a wide array of vendors were on hand.  If you personally know a vendor that you feel would be an excellent addition to our Fair, please encourage him/her to contact us – we’d love to speak about exhibition space at our 2012 Fair! We at Markham Fair are very proud of agricultural history and will continue to celebrate agriculture for decades to come!  We are especially proud of the introduction of the Agri-food Tent at this year’s fair, showcasing modern farming practices, ...]]></description>
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