About BCAS - Brome Fair

In a newspaper article published in the Eastern Townships Advertiser in September 1963, the author Harry B. Shufelt cites Taylor’s history for his account of the early beginnings of the BCAS.

According to Shufelt, a public meeting was held on July 12, 1856 at the Inn of Albert Kimball in the village of Knowlton, Que., (presently Auberge Knowlton) to organize an agricultural society.

The Honourable Paul Holland Knowlton chaired the meeting and Nathaniel Pettes acted as secretary. The motion passed at that meeting, be it resolved that “ …whereas upwards of seventy people had already become members by signing the declarations and subscribing five shillings and upwards…” And the society was formed.

The first officers were George Boright, president, Asa Frary, vice-president, and Nathaniel Pettes, secretary-treasurer.

Later in July 1856 another meeting was organized to determine the list of premiums, the rules and the names of the judges for both a fall and a winter show.

The first financial report dated February 1857, showed receipts of 238 pounds, 13 shillings and 3 pence. The Government Allowance for support of the Society was 173 pounds, 19 shillings and 6 pence.

As the Society grew and the Horticultural Society (formed in 1880) joined the agricultural exhibition, a larger, permanent location was needed. In 1891 in a by-law passed by the mayors of Brome, Sutton, East Farnham, East Bolton, West Bolton, Eastman and Knowlton, the present site of Brome Fair was determined.

Over the years many changes and improvements have taken place within the Society and on the Brome Fairgrounds but for thousands of visitors “all roads still lead to Brome on Labor Day weekend”.

A Short History Lesson

The provincial parliament passed the Agricultural Act entitled “An act to make more ample provision for the encouragement of agriculture.”

Brome County was formed out of parts of Stanstead, Shefford and Missisquoi counties in 1855. Then on July 12, 1856 with a subscription of more than 70 persons an organizing meeting was held with the Honorable P.H. Knowlton in the chair and Nathaniel Pettes appointed as secretary. The first president elected was George Boright with Asa Frary as vice-president.

In the beginning the Society organized two cattle shows a year, one in the fall and one in the winter. The first fall show was held on the first Wednesday of October, 1856 and the winter show was on the first Wednesday of January, 1857 in the village of Knowlton. The total expenditures was $954.00 with the government covering most of this with a grant for almost $700.00.

In 1861, it was decided to hold only one exhibition, in the fall. These continued to be held in Knowlton until 1890 when the directors bought 12 1/2 acres in Brome. In 1905, they increased their holdings to 18 acres, the current grounds for the Fair.

Past Presidents From 1856 to 2016

2001 to 2017

2017	Sophie Giroux	2013	Paul Santerre	2009	Dick Cadarette	2006	Ernie Banks	2003	Larry Frizzle
2016	Tom Enright	2012	Phil LeChasseur	2008	Barrie Paige	2005	Karen Crandall	2002	Richard Cadarette
2015	Bill Miller	2011	Karen Crandall	2007	Bob Soles	2004	Karen Crandall	2001	Gaylon Davis
2014	Gaylon Davis	2010	Gaylon Davis

1951 to 2000

2000	Ernest Banks	1990	R.K. Douglas	1980	Rod Crandall	1970	Rod Crandall	1960	J.C. Blackwood
1999	Donald Soles	1989	R.K. Douglas	1979	L.C. Horner	1969	Alan C. Webster	1959	Stanley Mount
1998	Larry Frizzle	1988	Alain Lavigne	1978	Yvon Menard	1968	John Beerwort	1958	Geo. Salisbury
1997	Lloyd Wright	1987	Larry Frizzle	1977	M. Crittenden	1967	Clyde Burbank	1957	Lawrence Draper
1996	Hugh Salisbury	1986	Grant Payne	1976	E. Vogel	1966	Ben Lavin	1956	L.C. Horner
1995	Gaylon Davis	1985	Rod Crandall	1975	Garth Hadlock	1965	J.A. Jolley	1955	Geo B. Mizener
1994	Alain Lavigne	1984	Hugh Salisbury	1974	Leverett Jewett	1964	L.P. Knowlton	1954	M.W. Miller
1993	James Robinson	1983	Garth Hadlock	1973	Wilson Frizzle	1963	Earl Marsh	1953	J.P. MacIntosh
1992	Diana Frizzle	1982	Donald Soles	1972	George Rogerson	1962	Léo Duquette	1952	Max Gagné
1991	Royce Dustin	1981	Royce Dustin	1971	Jerry Jackson	1961	Fred Shufelt	1951	Vollen Hastings

1856 to 1950

1950	Gordon Perkins	1940	W.D. Soles	1930	George Cameron	1919	A.T. Woodley	1861	Eli W. Hall
1949	L.C. Horner	1939	S.C. Powers	1929	Dan Green	1918	Frank Strange	1860	Stephen Pettes
1948	A.T. Woodley	1938	Fred Perkins	1928	Dan Green	1917	F.A. Jewett	1859	Ezra G. Ball
1947	E.H. Foster	1937	Charles McClay	1927	Dan Green	1916	S. Courtney	1858	Levi A. Perkins
1946	H.C. Salisbury	1936	P.W. Taber	1926	A.T. Woodley	1915	J.M. Bryant	1857	Asa Frary
1945	Homer Salisbury	1935	A.C.Carter	1925	P.W. Taber	1914	Alex Burnet	1856	George Boright
1944	E.S. Bradley	1934	J.J. Crawford	1924	S.W. Courtney	1913	W. Safford
1943	P.W. Taber	1933	J.J. Crawford	1923	A.C.Carter	1912	S. Courtney
1942	Errol Marsh	1932	J.J. Crawford	1921	Mark Tibbits	1911	A. Harvey
1941	George Mizener	1931	J.J. Crawford	1920	F.E. Ray	1890	H.G. Hall

Some Interesting Facts:

Gaylon Davis has served 4 terms as a president.
Paul Santerre was the youngest president to be elected.
Rod Crandall and Larry Frizzle have each served three terms as president of BCAS.
Diana Frizzle was the first female president of the society.
Rod Crandall and Karen Crandall Allnutt are the only father/daughter presidents of the society.
Larry Frizzle and Diana Frizzle are the only husband and wife who have served as presidents