Eastern Kings Exhibition in full swing today and Sunday at sportsplex in Souris

By Nancy Willis
The Guardian
SOURIS - The 168th Eastern Kings Exhibition is set to go this weekend with a lineup of exhibits and classes reminiscent of the glory days of one of the oldest of Canadian country fairs.
The event began Friday and runs today and Sunday at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris.
For 168 years, farmers, animal lovers, cooks and artisans have been bringing their prized wares to compete against one another, taking a break only when wars or other major inconveniences interfered.
Although the exhibition faced decline over the past 15 years as participation lessened, a rebirth has occurred over the past two years under the leadership of president Melvin Ford.
He is joined this year by vice-president Ian MacGregor, secretary Kelli Miller Kickham, and treasurer Lois MacInnis.
This year's fair offers an outstanding number of events and classes, including the largest handmade quilt display on Prince Edward Island. In addition to silent auctions, trade shows, demonstrations and displays of every nature, there is an outstanding array of classes and competitions.
They include: 22 flower classes, 52 domestics food classes (jams, jellies, pies, cakes, breads, rolls, cookies, fudge, etc.), 28 fruit and vegetable classes, 22 youth classes (crafts, painting, photography, domestics), 49 adult handcrafts sections (rug-hooking, knitting, quilting, crafts and more), 58 poultry sections, 52 horse and pony categories, 20 different horse performance classes, horse pulls, plus a light horse and pony show including games and classes.
Special $50 prizes will be awarded for the best potato cake, in honour of the Year of the Potato, and for the best French apple pie in honour of the 400th anniversary of Quebec.
Gates open today at 9 a.m. with animal judging and horse shows starting at 10 a.m. and running throughout the day.
Also on the agenda are antique tractor displays, food demos, rabbit displays and scores of others.
Entertainment begins inside the arena at noon, followed by opening ceremonies at 1 p.m., a cake and food auction at 2 p.m., and a seafood chowder competition at 3 p.m.
An adult dance with music by MacBeth runs from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m..
Sunday features horse pulls at the racetrack behind the sportsplex at 1 p.m. In case of inclement weather today, the horse show will also be held on Sunday afternoon.
People can call 687-2157 for details. Admission is $5 per person, per day.