In January, Ken McKnight followed in the footsteps of his father, Keith, his grandfather, Murray and great-grandfather, Edwin, to become president of the Rockton Agricultural Society (RAS), which for the past 156 years has hosted the widely known and highly successful Thanksgiving Day weekend event. It’s pretty much a ‘rite of passage’ for the McKnight offspring to step up and take the reins for the yearlong term and Ken, like those before him, wasn’t about to let tradition die.

“It’s been a family tradition and lifestyle for my family,” he said during a recent interview at his 190- acre dairy farm on Valens Road just a few kilometres from the fairgrounds. Spruce Haven Farms has been in McKnight hands since 1883.

McKnight, his wife Judy and three sons, Cameron, Derek and Evan, hold the fair in high regard. Like many other residents of the area, they’ve been involved in it for years. And they expect to be for many years to come.

McKnight equates the event to “a large family.” Every October, it draws people from miles around who come to see who won the bragging rights for having the top exhibits in the many agriculturally-related competitions or they come to enjoy the midway rides, see the livestock shows or watch the demolition derby, one of the fair’s most popular events. “Nothing else draws like the demo derby,” McKnight’s mother, Shirley, stated.

“It’s great to see so many people from all over and getting along reasonably well to make such a large event successful,” McKnight observed, candidly admitting that he’s “more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy” than a man called upon to give speeches at Agricultural Society functions. “I’m much more comfortable at the demo derby than speaking in front of large crowds.”

His dad Keith, who also lives on the family farm, jokingly offers some homespun advice on how past presidents should conduct themselves when they visit the fair. “Keep walking, and stay out of the road,” he said.

On a more serious vein, it’s clear that he and his wife, Shirley, are big supporters of the fair. A few years back, their contributions were recognized when the Ag Society bestowed lifetime memberships upon them.

“We just live the fair,” Shirley explained. Her comment applies to everyone in the immediate family. Judy, who serves on the Hamilton- Wentworth 4-H board, can’t remember a time when the fair wasn’t a part of her life. Last year, she was co-chair of hospitality, helping to make sure refreshments were available in the Home and Farm Building for all the volunteer workers at the fair. “It’s so much fun seeing all the workers come in and chatting with them,” she said. Her work also entails helping with parking and admissions, as well as with the juniors.

Cameron, 23, a Rockton volunteer firefighter, likes “the community atmosphere” that invariably shrouds the fair. Derek, 21, likes the fact that “the village comes to life” on fair weekend and 16-year-old Evan looks forward to visiting with the older folks in the hospitality room. “They always have such interesting stories to tell,” he said.

Like their dad who chaired the juniors in 1981-82, Cameron and Derek have taken on the responsibility; Cameron was chair of the juniors five years ago and Derek is retaining the position this year for a second consecutive term. Evan, second vice-chair of the juniors, will soon have his turn.

As this year’s president, McKnight knows he’ll have to find extra time to devote to RAS activities but he doesn’t begrudge the work he does on the group’s behalf. “It’s a 12-month-a-year job but it’s not a hard job when you have lots of willing people helping with the work,” he said. With just over 700 members, the Society has plenty of helping hands.

One of the first social functions the McKnights attended after Ken was named president was the annual convention for Ontario Association of Agricultural Society (OAAS) members held in mid- February at the Royal York Hotel, in Toronto.

Asked to bring some bottles of wine to share with the guests, the couple decided the bottles should be outfitted with a distinctive label. Former Ag Society president John Overmeyer made a label featuring the names and faces of the four generations of McKnights who have served as RAS presidents.

Family members are proud of the recognition and no doubt anticipate a day when the label will have to make way for a fifth-generation McKnight.