For the 157th year, the Cowichan Exhibition (Cow Ex) brought fun, tradition, excitement and pride to the Cowichan Valley. From Sept. 12-14, the fairgrounds were alive with the aroma of mini doughnuts, the roar of chainsaws and the adorable sight of so many kids in cowboy boots.
The exhibition hall showcased the year-round community talent of the area. Featuring homegrown produce, handmade arts and crafts and baked goods from hand-me-down recipes, the exhibit highlighted the talents of children and adults alike.
Talent wasn't limited to the exhibit hall. Attendees got to experience thrills and chills courtesy of the Global FMX freestyle motocross riders who elicited gasps and applause as they flew through the air performing outrageous tricks.
The West Coast Thunder Drill Team executed precision drills, their well-trained horses kicking up clouds of dust as they wove in and out of formations.
The musical acts were wide-ranging with a special focus on tributes including Tragically Hip tribute band Nautical Disaster and CCR tribute band Completely Creedence who kept the beat going throughout the weekend.
Logger sports offered the public a close-up look at historic and contemporary skills of loggers, a staple of B.C.’s forestry heritage.
And of course, no Cow Ex would be complete without carnival rides. While older kids roamed the midway on their own and challenged each other to conquer even the scariest rides, younger ones eased into tradition accompanied by adults. Most of those adults were dragged onto rides by kids, while some adults were grateful for the excuse to hop on the amusements again and again.
From volunteers to performers, farmers to artisans, local producers to visiting competitors, the weekend was the setting for another year of great memories. With the midway lights now dark and display tags packed away, another Cow Ex is on the books, leaving valley residents wishing for just a few more weeks of summer while also looking forward to the coziness of fall.
