The fonds is arranged into two series, Administrative and Fall Fair and contains prize lists, prize tickets, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, entry forms, certificate of incorporation and a brief history on the founding of the fair.
Talk of forming a Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association to oversee the planning of an exhibition began in 1910 (Interior News, May 1910). Various names were used before incorporation, such as: Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association (Interior News, July 27, 1912), Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association and Farmer’s Institute (Omineca Herald, June 7, 1913) and Bulkley Valley Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition Association (Interior News, June 21, 1919). On July 14, 1919, the Bulkley Valley Agricultural and Industrial Association was incorporated under the Agricultural Act. The mandate of the Association was to "advance the interests of agriculture and to hold an annual exhibition of agricultural products at Smithers, and to do all such other things the directors may decide for the advancement of the association, the farmers and farming." The first directors of the Association included A. Kilpatrick (President, Smithers), J. G. Wood (Vice-President, Telkwa), and L.B. Warner (Secretary Treasurer, Smithers), George Oulton (Smithers), A. J. Prudhomme (Telkwa), E. C. Barger (Telkwa) and William S. Henry (Smithers) (Interior News, June 21, 1919). Smithers held its first Fall Fair in Albert Park, September 30th, 1919. After several years the Fair became a three-day event, presenting a wide variety of exhibits including agricultural displays, livestock and logging shows, handicraft and homemaking exhibits, stage shows, and a midway.
Scope and Content
The fonds is arranged into two series, Administrative and Fall Fair and contains prize lists, prize tickets, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, entry forms, certificate of incorporation and a brief history on the founding of the fair.
Arrangement
Records were rearranged in September 2016 by Manda Haligowski to better reflect archival standards and to improve accessibility.
The Agricultural Advisory board and others in Smithers. J. Sealy top row, third from right. Dr. Wrinch top row, far right. Appears to be the Dominion Telegraph Building.
Written on back: "Agricultural Advisory Bd. (& others); July 1919"
Established as an experimental substation in 1938 and an experimental farm in 1955. Located on the old Sproule Farm between Smithers and Telkwa. The directors were W.H. Hicks and K. McBean, and the farm provided information on the major agricultural problems of the area.
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