The 2009 Chilliwack Fair will be held Aug 7-9. That may seem like a long time away but if you want to enter your vegetables or craft project the deadline is fast approaching!

The 2009 Chilliwack Fair prize book is now available and can be found online at www.chilliwackexhibition.com or at many local businesses. The book has been completely redone and we are sure it includes something for people of all interests, all ages (preschool to senior), and all abilities (novice to advanced). As an added incentive we will give one FREE gate pass to each elementary school child who enters a class.

To make it easier for you to find things we have divided the book into several parts: Growing Things, Creating Things, Livestock, and 4-H Clubs.

The Creative Things section of the book includes Art, Photography, Hobbies, Needlework and more. Here you will find classes for young artists and experienced photographers, scrapbookers and quilters. There are classes for metal sculpture, woodwork, and Lego creations. High school students are invited to enter their art, woodwork, or metalwork projects. You can enter Hofstedes Country Barn Peach Desert, the Yellow Barn Apple Dessert, or the Chilliwack River Valley Natural Honey Cookies to win a blue ribbon and bragging rights. The deadline for most things in this section is Friday July 10.

The Growing Things section includes: Fruit, Vegetables, Floral, Family Horticulture, and more. Recently many people have become interested in gardening and this is the opportunity to share your interest with others. Family and Junior Horticulture is one of our fairly new categories with one of the classes being a basket of assorted fruit and vegetables from a family garden. Department K includes some fun things like the Largest Maple Leaf you can find, corn husk dolls and seed pictures. Classes for heritage fruit and vegetables are also gaining popularity. There are over 100 classes in the Floral Department including houseplants, cut flowers, floral arrangements and the ever popular ?plant creature? and ?Veggiesaurus?. The deadline for most things in this section is Friday, July 31.

People interested in entering the Gymkhana or Open Horse Show should note that the entry deadline is July 31. Miniature Horses, Poultry, Sheep, Goats, and all 4-H Club entries are due July 10th.

It is easy to enter ? just pick up a book at one of the many participating merchants: Chilliwack Progress, Chilliwack Library, Chilliwack Times, Hofstedes, Minters Country Garden, Rona, Classic on Alexander, Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, The Mill Store, Trasks, and many, many more. You can also download the book and entry forms from our website www.chilliwackexhibition.com Entry Fees are minimal ? usually $1 for adults and only fifty cents for youth. Prize money and ribbons awarded to third place. Forms can be mailed in or brought to the Exhibition Office at Heritage Park, located off Lickman Rd. behind the main buildings.

If you have ever enjoyed looking at the things your friends and neighbours enter in the Fair perhaps this is the year for you to take the plunge and give it a try! If you have any questions please call the Fair office at 604-824-8191 and they will be happy to help.