After a successful first year, the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society (RRVAS) is bringing back the Fair Ambassador program, which replaced the former Fair Queen program as of last year’s RRVAS Fall Fair.
Open to all residents of the Rainy River District aged 17 to 24 of all genders, the Fair Ambassador program offers the winner a $3,500 bursary split between the beginning and end of their term. But the program is more than just a scholarship, according to organizer Mary Croswell.
“The Fair Ambassador Bursary Program is more than a scholarship–it is an investment in the future of our community,” Croswell told The Times. “The program was designed to engage and empower community youth to represent and promote the fair. It recognizes young individuals who demonstrate leadership, volunteerism and a commitment to making a positive impact both within the fair and throughout the community.”
Incumbent Fair Ambassador Alexis Latter says she always wanted to be the fair queen, but when that program was disbanded and replaced with the Ambassador, she was also happy to apply.
“When I was younger, I won the mini queen contest, and when I was the mini queen of Emo, I always wanted to be a fair queen after that,” Latter said. Unfortunately, the summers were too busy to allow her to run.
“So when the Fair Queen program ended, I said, ‘Oh, I wish I could have done it.’ And then the Ambassador program came up, and I said, ‘Oh, I’ll have to look into that.’ And so I started. I looked on the website about what it was, and I thought that it was such a great opportunity because I’ve always loved being so into my community and helping out in the community and volunteering. What attracted me to it was the part about getting to be involved in the community.”
While the program is tied to the Agricultural Society’s fair, applicants need not be tied to agriculture. A basic knowledge does help, according to the handbook for the program: “Participants need not be from a farm but should have some knowledge of our local system and the annual Fall Fair. Interview questions may include these topics.”
Latter calls Fort Frances home and did not have a deep background in agriculture when she applied last year.
“Some of the questions they asked during the interview were agriculture-based, but they also want people who like different aspects of the fair,” Latter said. “So, although I wasn’t as big on the agricultural side as some people maybe, I was into different aspects of the fair as well. So I gave all the knowledge that I knew about the questions that they asked; some of them were about the agriculture side, but also just how to improve the fair in general as well and what I could do to make a difference.”
Over the course of their year as the Fair Ambassador, the successful candidate will represent the RRVAS at various events including all three days of the fair.
The ambassador will act as the face of the fair, building excitement before and during events through social media, word of mouth and direct engagement,” Croswell said. “The bursary is designed to support fair ambassadors as they pursue future pathways. By easing some of the financial burdens, the program encourages recipients to continue growing as leaders while achieving their personal and professional goals.”
The program also goes beyond the fair.
“The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair has been a celebration of agriculture, community, education, and tradition for over 125 years. While the livestock exhibits, competitions and entertainment often take center stage, the new ambassador program is making a lasting impact both during and beyond Fair weekend,” Croswell said. “The Fair Ambassador program is much more than a title or a crown. It is an opportunity for young people to become leaders, advocates, and role models within the Rainy River District.”
Over the course of her year as ambassador, Latter has attended numerous events representing RRVAS.
“So, I started out on the Saturday of the fair last year, and I got to be involved in a bunch of different things there,” Latter said. “I got to help with the Mini King and Queen Contest; I rode in the parade; I helped sell 50/50 tickets; I helped at the steer auction. Like I got to do a bunch of different things at the fair. Then I got to attend different events throughout the year as well. Just to name a few, there was the Bergland Giant Pumpkin Festival. I helped with some stuff at Christmas; I was in the parades (Fort Frances and Emo) at Christmas as well, and I helped deliver meals in Emo on Christmas Eve.”
More recently, Latter was also in the dunk tank at the Canada Day Celebrations on the fairgrounds.
The Fair Ambassador handbook also notes that ambassadors will help with the next year’s competition and announce the winner.
Anyone considering applying should get on the ball as the application window closes as of the end of the day on Saturday, Aug. 1.
The application can be done online through the form available at https://emofair.weebly.com/fair-ambassador.html.
Applicants are required to include a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay that tells the judges who they are, discusses their community involvement, and explains why they want to be the Fair Ambassador and more. The full application requirements are available through the website. After applying, entrants will be subject to an interview by a panel of judges.
Applicants will be judged on the following: personality, enthusiasm, energy; community knowledge; general knowledge of the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society/Fall Fair; overall presence and presentation; the written component.
Latter says she encourages anyone considering it to apply, noting that the newer program is open to all genders as opposed to the former Fair Queen program, which was only for young ladies.
“I just really want to encourage people to try it out, and also to really emphasize the point that although Fair Queen was mostly targeted towards young girls and females, this is completely open to anyone who wants to do it. Anybody can do it,” she said. “I really suggest that if this interests you at all, like I suggest, go out there and just try.”
As she wraps up her term as fair ambassador, Latter is planning to attend Trent University this fall in Peterborough to study Honours Psychology with the hope of working with children in some capacity in the future.
Anyone with questions about applying for the Fair Ambassador program can contact organizer Mary Croswell by email at mcroswell@hotmail.ca or by phone at 807-271-1586.
