Meet the Team
Colleen Anderson - President since 1990
Being raised on a small hobby farm in Muskoka was Colleen's first encounter with Agriculture and flamed her love for animals. Her family's yearly outing as farm kids was the local fall fair where the ladies quilted in the hall and the gentlemen sat on benches along the side of the hall visiting. At precisely four o’clock everyone gathered outside for homemade ice cream, kept frozen with blocks of ice cut from the local lake during the winter and kept frozen in layers of sawdust.
After moving to Sundridge, her parents joined the local Ag. Society with her Father later becoming a Director and her Mother an enthusiastic exhibitor. How well she remembers marching to the Strong Fall Fair as a student, member of the Lion’s Bugle Band and then Teacher, rain or shine . It was Hazel Hall who encouraged her to join our Society, and when Hazel retired Colleen took her place as Secretary/Treasurer in 1973. She became a director in 1988.
In 1975 Colleen became a certified OAAS Judge and in 1980 a certified Ontario Instructor. From 1982 until 2016 when she retired, she felt it a privilege to sit on the Ontario Board, and twice during that time was elected Provincial Homecraft President. Last year a panel of six Ontario Judges was chosen to rewrite the rules of Judge’s Certification at Ontario fairs as well as the Judging Standards for exhibitors . Colleen was honoured to be one of them chosen.
Having the chance to judge and instruct from Thunder Bay to Leamington, Manitoulin Island, Walkerton, Ottawa, Ironbridge, Cochrane etc. has been fun and educational . But the best part of her fair life has been the years spent with the Directors and members of Strong Agricultural Society .They truly are a SPECIAL, hardworking , fun loving group of volunteers, making sure our fair is one of the best in the District!
Being raised on a small hobby farm in Muskoka was Colleen's first encounter with Agriculture and flamed her love for animals. Her family's yearly outing as farm kids was the local fall fair where the ladies quilted in the hall and the gentlemen sat on benches along the side of the hall visiting. At precisely four o’clock everyone gathered outside for homemade ice cream, kept frozen with blocks of ice cut from the local lake during the winter and kept frozen in layers of sawdust.
After moving to Sundridge, her parents joined the local Ag. Society with her Father later becoming a Director and her Mother an enthusiastic exhibitor. How well she remembers marching to the Strong Fall Fair as a student, member of the Lion’s Bugle Band and then Teacher, rain or shine . It was Hazel Hall who encouraged her to join our Society, and when Hazel retired Colleen took her place as Secretary/Treasurer in 1973. She became a director in 1988.
In 1975 Colleen became a certified OAAS Judge and in 1980 a certified Ontario Instructor. From 1982 until 2016 when she retired, she felt it a privilege to sit on the Ontario Board, and twice during that time was elected Provincial Homecraft President. Last year a panel of six Ontario Judges was chosen to rewrite the rules of Judge’s Certification at Ontario fairs as well as the Judging Standards for exhibitors . Colleen was honoured to be one of them chosen.
Having the chance to judge and instruct from Thunder Bay to Leamington, Manitoulin Island, Walkerton, Ottawa, Ironbridge, Cochrane etc. has been fun and educational . But the best part of her fair life has been the years spent with the Directors and members of Strong Agricultural Society .They truly are a SPECIAL, hardworking , fun loving group of volunteers, making sure our fair is one of the best in the District!
John Hornibrook - 1st Vice President since 2008
John comes form an an Agricultural Society family. His father, Joe, was president for 25 years and his mother, Wilma, was a director. John grew up on a farm involving pigs,dairy, horses, sheep and near the end, beef cattle. While John never had the time to enter in the fair - he says he was too busy farming and then setting up the fair for others to enjoy - his mom was famous for her baking, especially in the yeast categories. We have a trophy in her name! John always helped with fair set up and was responsible for the gate setup and then took over the outside food booths - flipping the best burgers going for over 25 years with his fabulous group of volunteers.
John started out as a director in 2000 and became 2nd vice president in 2007. The very next year he became our 1st vice president , a position he has held since. John has also been a member and leader of the local 4H Club, and the Sundridge Legion and is very active in bowling, euchre, curling and cribbage.
John comes form an an Agricultural Society family. His father, Joe, was president for 25 years and his mother, Wilma, was a director. John grew up on a farm involving pigs,dairy, horses, sheep and near the end, beef cattle. While John never had the time to enter in the fair - he says he was too busy farming and then setting up the fair for others to enjoy - his mom was famous for her baking, especially in the yeast categories. We have a trophy in her name! John always helped with fair set up and was responsible for the gate setup and then took over the outside food booths - flipping the best burgers going for over 25 years with his fabulous group of volunteers.
John started out as a director in 2000 and became 2nd vice president in 2007. The very next year he became our 1st vice president , a position he has held since. John has also been a member and leader of the local 4H Club, and the Sundridge Legion and is very active in bowling, euchre, curling and cribbage.
Garry McCreary - 2nd Vice President since 2010
Garry was born and raised on a farm in Pevensey - although he says he never professed to be a farmer! He has always had a love for the quiet way of life and the importance of agriculture for our very existence. Garry joined the Strong Agricultural Society in 2005 and became a director in 2007. He is an integral part of the fall fair and oversees the operation of the gate entries and parking as well as the set up and tear down of the fair. You will always find Garry fixing things around the fairgrorunds as part of the grounds committee and he was very involved in the committee set up to try and bring the Pevensey United Church to our fairgrounds!
Garry was born and raised on a farm in Pevensey - although he says he never professed to be a farmer! He has always had a love for the quiet way of life and the importance of agriculture for our very existence. Garry joined the Strong Agricultural Society in 2005 and became a director in 2007. He is an integral part of the fall fair and oversees the operation of the gate entries and parking as well as the set up and tear down of the fair. You will always find Garry fixing things around the fairgrorunds as part of the grounds committee and he was very involved in the committee set up to try and bring the Pevensey United Church to our fairgrounds!
Helen French - Treasurer since 2018
Being born and raised on a farm in Strong Township, she has always enjoyed attending the Strong Fall Fair. As a girl, she marched in the school parade, ran in the races and won prizes for printing and artwork. She was proud of her father, Charles O’Brien, as he showed his draft horses and competed in the draft horse pulls. Helen’s mother, Jessie O’Brien, entered her homemade bread in the baking exhibits. Years later Helen’s children entered exhibits and marched in the school parade. When she moved to Southern Ontario she often made the trip back north to attend the Strong Fall Fair. Upon her return to the area, she is actively involved in the happenings and events of the Strong Agricultural Society.
Being born and raised on a farm in Strong Township, she has always enjoyed attending the Strong Fall Fair. As a girl, she marched in the school parade, ran in the races and won prizes for printing and artwork. She was proud of her father, Charles O’Brien, as he showed his draft horses and competed in the draft horse pulls. Helen’s mother, Jessie O’Brien, entered her homemade bread in the baking exhibits. Years later Helen’s children entered exhibits and marched in the school parade. When she moved to Southern Ontario she often made the trip back north to attend the Strong Fall Fair. Upon her return to the area, she is actively involved in the happenings and events of the Strong Agricultural Society.
Jennifer Thompson - Secretary 20
Jennifer was born at Burk's Falls hospital and has lived in Strong Township all her life. Jennifer is the third generation of the Erven family involved with the Strong Agricultural Society. As a kid, Jennifer enjoyed, and looked forward to, exhibiting in the hall exhibits, participating in the parade, as well as riding her grandparents pony in the light horse show every year. Jennifer started as a director and then took on the secretary position and she assists with the variety night and light horse show. Jennifer enjoys dedicating as much time as possible to the society and is proud that it is a family venture with her husband and son, who also enjoy exhibiting and helping out with the society.
Jennifer was born at Burk's Falls hospital and has lived in Strong Township all her life. Jennifer is the third generation of the Erven family involved with the Strong Agricultural Society. As a kid, Jennifer enjoyed, and looked forward to, exhibiting in the hall exhibits, participating in the parade, as well as riding her grandparents pony in the light horse show every year. Jennifer started as a director and then took on the secretary position and she assists with the variety night and light horse show. Jennifer enjoys dedicating as much time as possible to the society and is proud that it is a family venture with her husband and son, who also enjoy exhibiting and helping out with the society.