George Panko can not help but be impressed with the community’s connection to agriculture and how that connection manifests itself into the incredible support received by the Dauphin Agricultural Society (DAS) at its annual fair and exhibition.
The DAS president reflected on that support as the 2026 fair wound down around him this past weekend.
“Our core is the agriculture part of it and it’s just nice to see all the participation. Everybody comes to Dauphin this weekend and it’s great,” Panko said.
“It’s the excitement of bringing agriculture back to the community and and then tying in with the midway. That’s always fun when the midway is full, the lights are flashing and the music is going and there’s lots of cotton candy and everything else. It’s been a huge success.”
While that success was evident in the crowds which flocked to the gates on all four days of the event, Panko’s measure of success extends beyond the number of tickets sold.
“Our Friday, for being the last day of school and considering the weather was kind of hit or miss, our gates were strong. Saturday is always our big day and then Sunday is a little smaller day, but people come out and all the activities are here,” Panko said.
“So the attendance is great and we appreciate the community and the communities around us coming to our fair, but our participation in all the events has increased year after year. The 4-H show on Thursday night was a huge success. Over 50 kids, over 70 animals. The light horse show had over 75 entries over the last three days. We have 21 chuckwagons here and 16 chariots. They’re putting on a heck of a show. It has just been great.”
That success was also not guaranteed with the weather forecast looking threatening leading up to the event. Panko said he stopped checking weather maps early in the week before he drove himeself crazy.
“What’s going to happen is going to happen,” he said.
“There’s nothing you can do about it.”
In the end, Mother Nature co-operated for the most part, as a brief downpour Friday afternoon, which delayed chuckwagon races for less than an hour and sent midway patrons scrambling for a few minutes shelter inside Credit Union Place arena. Rain predicted for Saturday did not materialize and Sunday, although cool and overcast, remained relatively dry.
Panko was pleased the weather co-operated with all of the organizers and volunteers, who work tirelessly to make the fair and exhibition happen each year.
“Our committee, they work hard all year long to put this all together. Our board of directors, we meet once a month to make the plans. Hats off to them because they’re volunteers. They’re in the community. They don’t have to be there and they come out every month and they come out at fair time. It’s just amazing,” he said.
“And the volunteers that come out and help and also the businesses that give us sponsorship. Without them we we wouldn’t be able to put the fair on. Without their support, we wouldn't have fairs.”
Not being ones to rest on their laurels, Panko said the team is diving right back into planning for 2027.
“Come Sunday night, we look at where we had the highs and lows and if we need to fill a gap somewhere or something like that. We’re working on it basically year round,” Panko said, adding new people with new ideas are always welcome to join the fold.
“We’re always looking for different ideas, different changes. If there’s people out there that have any ideas, they’re more than welcome to come and join a meeting.”