Supporting local farmers at the heart of the East Central Farm Show

The East Central Farm Show (ECFS) prides itself on a grassroots foundation built on strong community ties.

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“The theme of the East Central show is supporting local as much as possible and providing insight on what’s available at the local level,” said Neil Moore, ECFS treasurer/secretary.

“We don’t need to be any bigger. We’ve got everything in one big building.”

The inaugural ECSF was held in the first week of March in 1981. It was followed by the Ottawa Farm Show in the second week and the London Show in the third week of March.

But when the London Farm Show shifted to the first week of March decades later, there was some concern regarding securing exhibitors, as exhibitor’s corporate offices said there wasn’t enough in the budget to cover both shows.

“The local dealers said, ‘No problem, I’ll make up my own exhibit and come,’ and they did,” Moore said. “Ever since then, we’ve had no problem (securing exhibitors).”

He said the people in the 140-plus booths are the ones you’ll see at the local shop, providing regionally informed advice producers can bank on.

The show, held at the Lindsay Exhibition Ground on March 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and March 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers free parking.

Moore said staying open late the first night allows people who work off-farm during the day to attend without taking a day off.

“And a lot of them bring their family,” he said. “Ten dollars is really affordable for a full day of fun – (the cost) is no different whether you’re a farmer or somebody from town.”

Moore said purchasing a $40 East Central District Soil and Crop Improvement Association membership will cover the whole family and support the local soil organization.

The Kawartha Lakes Halliburton 4-H Association hosts the ECFS’s food booth each year and is a significant fundraiser for the association and its clubs.

Moore said the farm show uses some of the proceeds to fund up to a dozen $1,500 scholarships for students from the East Central area of Durham and York Regions, Haliburton and Peterborough Counties or Victoria (City of Kawartha Lakes) entering their second year or higher at a post-secondary institution.

The one-time scholarships are selected based on academic performance, leadership, community contributions, and involvement with conservation or environmentally focused rural youth organizations.

“We are not trying to make money,” said Moore. “So, we give it away to good events, including Junior Farmers, 4-H and other area agriculture events.”