Between February snowstorms, members and directors of the Compton County Agricultural Society (Cookshire Fair) gathered at the Island Brook town hall to review a successful 2024 and start planning this summer’s fair, just six months away, which will run from August 14 to 17.  

President Brandon Ward was re-elected, along with treasurer Neil Burns and secretary Manon Corbeil. They are joined by first vice-president Shane Coates and second vice-president Troy Rothney, as well as Larry Everett and Dallas Campbell, on the Fair executive committee.  

Eight seats on the board of directors were up for re-election. Six of those were filled by acclamation, and two required elections with two candidates for each, voted by the roughly 25 members attending the Society’s annual general meeting.  

In his president’s report, Ward was especially thankful to the crew of volunteers that helped at the gate and elsewhere last year, saying they were one of the main reasons the Fair did not lose money.  

The treasurer’s report of the financial statements showed total income for the year of $315,000 and total expenses of $283,000, for a $32,000 surplus.  

“Our expenses are relatively high compared to what we bring in, which puts us at risk if we have a bad year with rain,” Ward said. “This year, who knows, it could even snow,” he added, bringing the first touch of levity to the assembly.  

Cookshire, the Eastern Townships, and much of northeastern North America did, in fact, get snow every month of the year in 1816, known as the “year without a summer,” due to dust in the atmosphere from a massive volcano in Asia.   

The Cookshire Fair had not yet started then, though. It celebrates its 180th anniversary this year. Last year, good weather also contributed to the Society’s positive bottom line, compared to rain the previous year.  

At February’s assembly, much of the discussion among members focused on controlling expenses, particularly the rising cost of the midway rental. David Grey recommended cooperating with other fair boards in the Townships to strengthen Cookshire’s negotiating position. Someone else in the room wisecracked about trying tariffs, but the idea gained no traction, unlike Grey’s more promising proposal. 

The new board then held its first meeting at the fairgrounds office on March 17.