NEWS RELEASE FERGUS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Fergus, ON – The Fergus Agricultural Society has honoured three community members with lifetime memberships. Susan Harrop, of Fergus, Henry Vervoort, of Elora, and Wendy Whittaker, of Rockwood, were recognized for their longtime contributions in a presentation on September 7 in Fergus.
“We are pleased to recognize and honour these volunteers who have had a profound impact on the activities of the Fergus Agricultural Society for many years,” says Tayler Black, past president of the Society.
Harrop joined the organization 40 years ago after she moved to the Fergus area. She has been the co-chair of the Fergus Fall Fair handicraft committee since 1987 and has coordinated the yard and business display competitions since 2005. Harrop served on the board for many years, including as president in 2001 and 2002. While she retired as a director in 2008 to encourage new volunteers to take on leadership positions, Harrop continues to support the board at monthly meetings and volunteers as the organization’s liaison with the Township of Centre Wellington.
Vervoort has been a volunteer at the Fergus Fall Fair since 1984. He has organized the dairy cattle show and field crop competitions for four decades and now involves his children and grandchildren in helping at the fair. Vervoort served as board director for many years and was Fergus Agricultural Society president from 2007 to 2008 and 2015 to 2016.
Whittaker has volunteered on numerous Fergus Fall Fair committees over the last 37 years, but most notably has served as secretary or secretary-treasurer of the Fergus Agricultural Society since 1993. This role involves preparing meeting agendas, distributing materials and recording minutes on a monthly basis, accepting fair entries and managing competition records each year, and much more.
The new members join existing lifetime members John Broadfoot, Bonnie DenHoed, Peter DenHoed, Ted Kent, Jim McFarlane and John Worton.
Society volunteers revived the lifetime member program in 2024 and plan to name three members annually.
Lifetime membership is a class reserved for individuals who have contributed exceptional time, effort and work to improve the Society. They must have volunteered for at least 25 years and continue to be involved in some capacity.
The Fergus Agricultural Society is a non-profit organization that aims to promote agriculture, celebrate community involvement and inspire connection. The organization hosts the annual Fergus Fall Fair on the second weekend after Labour Day.
