Brussels Fall Fair 2026: Crystal Blake eases into second year as Society President

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Crystal Blake is now in her second year as president of the Brussels Agricultural Society and she can say, unequivocally, that planning the Brussels Fall Fair with her fellow society members has been a lot more straightforward this year with the experience of last year now firmly under her belt.

 

Last year, she said she had a lot to learn, but wanted to step up within the organization and help bring the Brussels Fall Fair to fruition. This year, after having done it once already, she is ready for 2026 and feels a lot more prepared.

 

This year, she has an added motivation, as her niece, Sophia, is the society’s Junior Ambassador. Seeing her represent the society once again (she was the Little Ambassador a few years back) is a real treat for Blake, seeing as how bringing along the younger generation is, really, what the Brussels Fall Fair is all about.

 

Blake grew up in the Molesworth area and was a regular attendee of the fair, first as a student at what was then called Grey Central Public School - now North Woods Elementary School - just outside of Ethel, and then later as a teen. She then travelled outside of the county for her post-secondary education and, when she returned about seven years ago, she decided that the time and circumstances were right for her to get involved with the Brussels Agricultural Society in an official capacity.

 

A long-time patron and fan of the fair, she attended the Brussels Agricultural Society’s annual general meeting that year and, after speaking with some of the members, decided to put her name forward as the vice-president of the organization. Those two years would be formative and informative for her, as she learned so much about the inner workings of a fall fair, ahead of inevitably taking over the society’s top position.

 

At first, she said, she wondered why it was a two-year term for the president and the vice-president, but, after serving that two-year term in the second-to-top spot, she was grateful for that time to learn. It made her feel so much more prepared for stepping into the role of the president, that it all made sense to her then.

 

Blake says she’s always been one to take charge and throw her hat into the ring when leadership positions are available, so that’s part of the reason that she immediately sought an executive position with the society upon returning to the community and joining the society. Another part of the reason is just the love that she’s had for the fair over the years, from being part of the parades as a student and showing her animals on the fair’s 4-H Club achievement day to now planning the whole event with the help of a tremendously generous membership that’s always willing to lend a hand where it’s needed.

 

She says she really can’t emphasize that point enough, that the society has a great membership and that she has so much help, whether it be practical, hands-on help or advice from seasoned members on what to expect this year as she serves as president of the society.

 

Since becoming involved, she has learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes with members of the society as they work to put on another great Brussels Fall Fair. The work that goes into it, she said, was a real eye-opener and she’s sure that most people who simply attend the event or submit exhibits to be part of the event have no idea just how much work hosting a fair of this size entails. 

 

And while Blake is very clearly a fan of the fair and all that it does, she can’t speak highly enough about the Brussels Agricultural Society. The work that the society does, in Huron County and through outreach in communities beyond, is so important in today’s world, Blake says. Educating people on the realities of agriculture and its place in Huron County and the greater provincial economy is a priority for the society and she wants to be part of that process, helping wherever she can.