The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Markham Fair. Cassie Ferguson. daughter of Ken and Christine Ferguson of Stouffville. is the fair's 2014 ambas- sador. Martha (Mulholland) Gard- house. daughter of the late Dr. Fred Mulholland and wife Ernily. formerly of 18th Avenue in north- ern Markham. was Markham Fair's queen back in 1973 â€" 41 years ago. Cassie. 18. a graduate of Sloufi‘ville District Secondary School. is enrolled in a thaw-year sports management course at Dur- ham College in Oshawa. She was the choice of judges Shirley ()"Neill. Bryant llulshof and Allan Bell at a crowning ceremony last 'l‘hursday. Her attendants were Bethany Henshall. 19. of Markham and 'I‘eghan Wan. 17. of Mount Albert. Cassie was presented with an offi- cial chain of office by last, year's recipient. Kaitlin Francis. For the Stouffville girl. the honour rounds out a remarkable two months. In addition to the fair ambassador award. she was COLUMN Specific program information. including Information night dates and nppllcotlon deadlines. is posted at: www.yrdsb.calspecializedprograms DISCOVER , UIUVV V 5" . , New" ; (I 9'5 WOH‘ ROPEOH [)w“! ‘kX BUMFQ‘ R«f\.17dx i“ g ' Secondary School “’ p‘r’ogmm 'Dance, DramaNisualArts and Musiqm at MSW) Big year for Markham Fair’s new ambassador assie. meet Martha. Martha. meet Cassie. Unknowingly. their paths undoubtedly crossed Saturday at junior class champion at Scptcm- hor's International Plowing Match near Barrio. litn li‘rgttson. an uncle who lives near Blackwater. was her coach. In 2015. she'll advance to the ambassador competition at the (ENE. At age 10. Cassie joined the Y 4-H calf and plowing clubs. 1 became a fair volunteer one y later and hopes to continue ‘ invr’flvement far into the future. Although a Leafs' fan. her favou- rite sport is soccer. So much so. she's worked for 'l‘l"(‘.. the pm club Roaming Around with lim Thomas York She year this HPg/nn IHIIIKV $(I00l loll. “no-fold celebration in 'l‘oronto. At the conclusion of the ambas- sador contest, a cheque for $2,000 was presented to the committee by Ken Rovinelli of Upper Unionville Inc. The donation will be divided among the three contestants to assist them with their education. Manha (:ardhuuse marked her (Slst birthday ()et. 4. What better way for the 1973 queen of Markham Fair to celebrate the occasion than to again return 41 years later. But it wasn't the same site as where the crowning ceremony took place. That occurred at the former location at the corner of highways 48 and 7. She recalls the event like yesterday. "It was a beautiful evening.” she remembers. “clear and cool." The judging took place in the arena dressing room. The judges included radio commentator Don Daynard. Mrs. Alan Wall. wife of then York County's Agricultural Representative and me. ' Following a series of questions. the 10 young women were assist- ed onto a hay wagon and pulled 1974 (Ianadian National lixhihi- tion as well as a fair convention at 'l‘oronto's Royal York Hotel. Following graduation from Stouffville District Secondary School, (iardhouse studied fash- ion retail at Seneca College. She has a daughter Becky. the ambas- sador of the 200] Schomlwrg Fair and a first runner-up to Miss (INli in 2002. In 2005. she was grand Scan the code In“! vamuzg by a farm tractor onto the race track. There. the announcement was made: Martha Mulholland of Unionville. first; lane Yusko. Stouffville. second and Sylvia delong. Markham. third. The orga- nizing committee included (Berri Seeley and Janie Amistrong. 'l‘he fair's president was Ellis Britton. "I'll never forget the anticipa- tion." (iardhuuse recalls. “my hcan was in my mouth. I had to swal- low quickly bcfore stepping up to accept the crown. sash and a bou- quet of flowers." She also remembers what she was wearing â€" a V~nock dress and platform shoes. ()ardhouso recalls playing the role of Snow White on the fair's float at Markham's 1973 Santa (Ilaus Parade and attending the 1974 (Ianadian National lixhihi- tion as well as a fair convention at 'l‘oronto's Royal York Hotel. champion showpcrson at the Beef Congress Ir. Exhibition held at Lon- don's Western Ontario Fairgrounds. Gardhouse‘s mother and brother David live in Stoufivilie. Remembering Karen A scholarship in memory of Stouffville’s Karen (Paisley) Mur- phy has been established by the Markham and East York Agricul- tural Society, (Markham Fair). She was the fair's president in 2009. The announcement. beside an enlarged ofl‘lce photo reads: “In honour of Karen Murphy, a schol- arship will be awarded annually to a deserving fair member in post- secondary education who exem- plifies the values of volunteerism. community involvement and the promotion of agriculture". Bartenders working the fair last weekend donated all their tips to the fund. Murphy died following a coura- gmus battle with cancer July 1. _ jim Thomas vs a Stouflvr'lle reSrdenr'who has written 1m area newspapers for more than 60 years.