Why an Interview,,,

Over the years we have been able to meet and talk with some very interesting people. They have shared with us their knowledge and have provided us with a great deal of insight as to how and why festivals and events work and why they are so important to our communities and to the Province of Ontario. With this in mind, we decided that we wanted you to meet and hear from some of the wonderful people who work so hard to provide us all with such wonderful Ontario Festivals and Events! We are pleased and proud to present "THE INSIDE SCOOP"!

Friday, June 10, 2016

"Agritainment" ~ Behind the Scenes ~ Milton Fall Fair ~ Interview & YOUTUBE VIDEO ~ Great Photos & Music!

THE INSIDE SCOOP” ~ YouTube Video, Photographs, Music & More!

Interview with President of the Halton Agricultural Society, Vincenzo Carito and Penny Patterson, Homecraft President 

... Milton ... "Home of the “Milton Fall Fair”.

Join us in this great insightful interview with Vincenzo and colleagues ... or CATCH our Ontario Festivals Visited YouTube Video at this LINK.

Full of fun photographs, music and great "content" from "Behind the Scenes with the Milton Fall Fair"!

MILTON FALL FAIR ~ HALTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

Presented by Judi “Scoop” McWilliams
Ontario Festivals Visited
Penny Patterson & Vincenzo Carito
Halton Agricultural Society
Milton Fall Fair
Agritainment
This edition ofTHE INSIDE SCOOPwe talked with President of the Halton Agricultural Society, Vincenzo Carito and Penny Patterson, Homecraft President, and great insights from Jodi Passmore. 
They shared with us, that the “Ultimate goal of the Milton Agricultural Society is based around education and awareness surrounding agriculture”.
Although the Fair provides entertainment, they also want to bring back a “Taste of the Heritage” and preserve the “History” and “Legacies” for years to come.
Their goal is to not only create awareness of where family’s food comes from, but what life was like decades ago.
Educational aspects are tied in with the entertainment at the Milton Fall Fair.
Scoop McWilliams” states that … “It is important to stay true to the core of agriculture! It is “Our past & Our future!”
Milton is close to the Greater Toronto Area and the Halton Agricultural Society feels it is important to keep “City Folks” aware and in touch about the agriculture that is so vital, and so close to the city.
The Milton Fall Fair is smaller than other “Fall Fairs” in the Province (not the smallest by far, as the Festival Nomad and I have experienced). Vince says it has a “more intimate feeling” where you can get closer and experience on a personal level.
You can get more time with the agricultural industry both from the “farmers” to “producers” in the area.
This Milton Fall Fair offers a little more “hands on experience”.
WHERE VOLUNTEERS COME FROM … 
Halton Agricultural Society ~ Milton Fall Fair

Penny and Vince share withTHE INSIDE SCOOPthat most of their Volunteer’s typically are the family, friends, kids of families and their friends who are involved in agricultural in the area.
THE CHALLENGE…
The Volunteer Base is changing as the generations are getting older.
They share with us that one of their toughest challenges is to get Youth Involved.
Vince himself started volunteering in high school, after a school friend invited him to come along.
As age gaps and careers blossom, so does the core of the volunteer base.
Once people are involved through their own participation, such as animals, crafts, they usually stick around.
It’s getting them involved initially that is the challenge.
GETTING HOOKED ~ BECOMING A “LIFER”
Once they take that step … they generally “get hooked “become as Vince says “a lifer”!
He goes on to share …lives have not gotten busier than they were, per se, but our lives have changed, becoming complex, making it difficult for volunteers to make the meetings, do all the paperwork and more”.
Society today … A DIFFERENT KIND OF BUSY …
Life today is a “different kind of busy” prohibiting people from making a large commitment from being an Executive Director, Boards member or key role.
Vince has been President for 2 years now, being on the board for 11 years. A lot of fun, great rewards, but there is a bit of a time commitment, which can be the difficult part.
Being in such a Key Role is not what is always needed.
MANY ROLES at the FAIR …
Volunteers are needs for many aspects to host the Milton Fall Fair.
From set-up to tear down, to helping manage some of the actual events within the Fair. There is a lot that goes on “behind the scenes”.
THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! …
Halton Agricultural Society ~ Milton Fall Fair
Vince shares … “I truly believes there is something for everyone”!
It’s a matter of getting people to find what they like there! What is their interests?
Volunteering is part of the organizers responsibility to help find a “great fit” that the volunteer enjoys.
MORE FUN THAN WORK!
Vince says it’s important to not only “utilize their help (volunteers) but make it enjoyable at the same time”!
You want them to want to come back. “You have to make it as much enjoyable, if not more, then there is labour. You want to keep the Volunteers and appreciate them!”
MILTON FAIR GROUNDS ~ “THE HEART OF MILTON!”…
The Milton Fairgrounds are “The Heart of Milton” ~ “The Milton Fall Fair jams a lot Heart into the Fair”!
There’s is a lot of content in their Fair, a lot of Education, especially for the schools … and there is a lot of large amount of entertainment. Some people just want to come out for the shows, but actually, there’s so much more they could enjoy while at the Fairgrounds!
PLANNING FAR AHEAD …
We weren’t surprised when both Penny and Vince share that they plan the Fair a year in advance, if not further.
They plan their marketing and promotions and programming far in advance, so if there is a problem, say something needs to be cut out, or even added in, there would be time to manage it all. From the promotions, to entries or prize monies.
Youth Volunteers Outside of 40 hours requirements; How to engage youth?
Vince and I had a long chat about some ideas how to Engage Youth.
We talked about a perhaps holding a Competition during the Fair through Social Media. Vince says even that would require a Volunteer to coordinate.
 “Scoop McWilliams” shares … it wouldn’t it be nice if some of the youth brought their friends along.
If you asked a high school youth to Volunteer, the student might reply … “I don’t want to Volunteer at a Fair”, but, if you invited them to participate with Social Media such as “Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest”, they might be more inclined to get involved.
We need to offer our Youth something they are interested in!
Perhaps a Photo competition. Prizes given out on the final day of the Fair.
Offer Photograph Competition in all kinds of Different Categories.
Ideas seem to be endless … but starting the conversation on “Engaging Youth” would be a good start.
One way to ensure “quality control of Social Media” (nothing negative, rude, etc.) is to have the Students “Mentor” with a Senior Agricultural Society member. Together they can learn, grow and succeed!
ATTACHED TO YOUR DEVICE … HAVE FUN AND SHARE! …
As we continue to talk, Vince says people are so attached their phones and devices, that Engaging Youth through Social Media could be a great way to bring a little more promotion to the Fair.
Participation throughout Friday and Saturday, taking the shots and sharing, then Sunday, bring the family, parents, and grandparents to see if they “WON”!
A Choice ~ MILTON FALL FAIR ~ WEEKEND PASSES!
Halton Agricultural Society ~ Milton Fall Fair
Penny and Vince shared with me today there is a Weekend Pass available at the Milton Fall Fair. You can visit at your leisure. This will be great for people to experience different events all weekend long, come and go as they please.
Share YOUR EXPERIENCE at the Milton Fall Fair …
LEGACY! …. YOUR LEGACY! …
THE INSIDE SCOOPtalks with Vince, who shares with us today, that one of the most gratifying experiences at the Fair are the people that you get to meet!
KEEP GOOD THINGS GOING … IT’S NOT JUST THE FAIR … IT’S ALSO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY …
Vince says the people are really “one of a kind”, devoted to hard work and keeping good things going”.
Vince thinks that not only is it the Fair itself that is special, but the people involved in the community!
It takes an entire community, youth and volunteers to keep our “Fairs” alive!
LEGACY THROUGH GENERATIONS …
Halton Agricultural Society ~ Milton Fall Fair
Vince shares his experience with us … “It’s an honour to walk the Fair hallway to see the Past Presidents and the Legacy throughout the generations”. All the family names go so far back.
Vince is the first of his family involved and hopes that for many generations to come, he too can “pass the torch” and the Legacy will go on!
Many generations are the make-up of the Milton Fall Fair, Halton Agricultural Society.
Tradition or legacy, Fairs offer you the opportunity to establish a traditional legacy and keep them alive.
Scoop McWilliams tells Vince in response to his statement … “you wonder in life, where’s your mark, how am I different, what’s my legacy going to be? …It sounds like Vince found a nice niche and hopefully it will continue.
Scoop goes on to say … “There is a satisfaction and feeling in life that you helped, and contributed, and hopefully helped make something successful”.
YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT … YOUR LEGACY …
Vince shares … “It is a wonderful feeling to see how many other generations have been involved and you can be a part of it!”
We welcome you to check out the Milton Fall Fair ~ Halton Agricultural Society website to learn about the Fair and more! (Check out the Milton Fall Fair, and all the activities at the Fairgrounds, at LINK (http://www.miltonfair.com/).
Check out Ontario Festivals Visited YouTube Video of this Interview at LINK
Milton Fall Fair ~ Halton Agricultural Society Fairgrounds
Get connected! Become Involved in Your Future!