Help Hymers Harvest: How to Pitch In at the Hymers Fall Fair

The Hymers Fall Fair returns on Labour Day weekend, Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, and it’s brimming with the kind of country charm that’s kept it going since 1912. Think prize-winning pies, shiny tractors, toe-tapping music, and neighbours greeting neighbours. But the real secret of the fair’s success isn’t the ribbons or the rides—it’s the people who pitch in. If you’ve ever wondered how to help, here are three joyful, practical ways to make a real difference: volunteer, sponsor, and become a member.

Volunteer: Put on a Smile and a Sturdy Pair of Shoes

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Hymers. Whether you have two hours or two days, there’s a role with your name on it. (Hymers Fall Fair)

• Front Gate Greeters: Be the friendly face that welcomes visitors, scans tickets, answers quick questions, and sets the tone for their day.
• Barn & Exhibit Helpers: Love livestock, veggies, or homecrafts? Help organize entries, keep aisles tidy, and guide guests (and the occasional curious chicken).
• Kid-Zone Crew: Support family activities, crafts, and games, perfect for energetic folks who like to make little ones smile.
• Set-Up & Tear-Down Teams: If you’re more “behind-the-scenes,” help set up signs, benches, and tents before the gates open, then lend a hand after the final goodbyes.

Perks? Besides that good-to-the-bones feeling, you’ll meet new friends, build community spirit, and learn the hidden rhythms of the fair. High school students can often get volunteer hours, and anyone can pick up skills you never knew you’d love—like coaxing a reluctant zucchini onto a judging table with grace and humour. (Hymers Fall Fair)

Sponsor: Grow Your Roots in the Community

If you’re a local business, farm, artisan, or service, sponsoring the fair is a smart, heartfelt investment. Hymers draws a broad audience that values local, authentic experiences, exactly the kind of people who become loyal customers. Consider:

• Activity Sponsors: Put your name on a demonstration area, kids’ zone, or educational display.
• Prize & Class Sponsors: Support a competition category, from baking to photography, and get acknowledged in programs and announcements.
• Infrastructure Sponsors: Help fund essentials like seating, shade, signage, and accessibility upgrades, gifts that keep on giving.

Sponsorship isn’t just a logo on a banner. It’s a handshake with the community, a promise that you’re helping keep a cherished northern-Ontario tradition thriving into its next century. (Hymers Fall Fair)

Become a Member: Keep the Tradition Strong

Membership is how you turn support into stewardship. As a member of the fair’s agricultural society, you’re not just attending an event, you’re shaping its future. Members typically: (Hymers Fall Fair)

• Vote at Meetings: Have a say in what’s next, program ideas, improvements, and priorities.
• Champion Agriculture: Help promote local growers, makers, and rural heritage all year long.
• Sustain the Fair’s Legacy: Since 1912, Hymers has weathered change by leaning on its members. Your name on the roster helps secure grants, build partnerships, and keep the fair independent and community-led.

If you loved the fair as a kid—or you’ve only just discovered it, membership is your ticket to making sure future generations can love it too. (Hymers Fall Fair)

Make This the Year You Jump In

Not sure where to start? Try this simple plan: (Hymers Fall Fair)

1. Pick One Way to Help. A two-hour volunteer shift, a small prize sponsorship, or a brand-new membership, any step counts.
2. Bring a Friend. Everything’s better with company. Double the impact (and the laughs).
3. Spread the Word. Share the fair dates and your involvement on social media, at the office, or around the kitchen table.
4. Show Up with Heart. The best volunteers and sponsors aren’t perfect; they’re present. Come as you are, learn as you go.

This Labour Day weekend, Hymers won’t just happen; we will make it happen, together. Since 1912, that’s been the Hymers way: good people rolling up their sleeves to celebrate food, farming, and community. If you love the smell of fresh hay, the taste of homemade jam, the sound of fiddles, and the sight of kids winning their first ribbon, then you already belong here.

See you at the fair, where your helping hand is the best attraction of all.