Wingham's Watson earns Elementary School Fair Ambassador crown

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Ten-year-old Harper Watson of Wingham is the newest Elementary School Fair Ambassador, taking over the crown from Bryn McInnes, who has held the title for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated fair cancellations.

 

The Maitland River Elementary School student says the fair is in her blood and her great-grandfather Lawrence Taylor was the same age as she is now when he first began attending the fair. In an interview with The Citizen, Watson says it really feels like the fair has been a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation.

 

Watson says she has been exhibiting at the fair since she was just five years old in as many categories as she could and she looks forward to attending every year.

 

Going into Friday night’s Elementary School Fair birthday party, Watson said she felt like she had a good chance of winning the night’s Ambassador competition, but admitted to being very nervous. She said it had been more than two years since she had done any public speaking, so there were some butterflies as a result. However, she spoke about her family’s history with the Elementary School Fair and the “past, present and future” of her family’s experience with the fair and she felt that resonated with everyone there that night.

 

As for the months ahead, Watson said she plans to do everything she can to promote the fair and encourage her fellow young people to attend and exhibit at least one piece there.