Pups prove popular at fair

Proving anything is paw-sible with a supportive team and cheering crowd, the WoofJocks Canine All Stars made a triumphant return to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair stage this week.

It was “magnificent” being back at the fair after seeing it cancelled for the past two years due to COVID-19, said WoofJocks emcee Karen Sandford. Sandford was at the show with her dogs Ringo Starr and Johnny B. Good.

“The crowds have been amazing, so welcoming and just so happy to see us again,” Sandford said. “We’re so glad to be back.”

The dogs are especially feeling pumped to be back, said Winnipeg-based WoofJock Emily Lowes, bringing their ultimate tricks and athletic feats to the Westoba Place Main Arena and Flynn Arena TD Ag Action Stage for six-action packed days. Lowes appeared in shows with her dogs Fidget, Shuffle and Wilson.

Future of 4-H looking brighter

The pandemic put a lot of pressure on 4-H around Manitoba, but the future is looking brighter as clubs adapt to become more flexible.

Many clubs lost members over the pandemic as events moved online, or were shut down completely, but the Brandon Explorers 4-H saw their numbers grow as families sought out activities.

Formed only three years ago, most Explorers are aged six to 10 years old, said leader Kristen Phillips. It’s a multipurpose club, meeting from May to September with activities ranging from outdoor living, to crafts, small and large animals, woodworking and agriculture.

They held some activities remotely over Zoom and others in person and outdoors, depending on what the restrictions were at the time.

Doodles a Winter Fair icon

Boasting an unbelievable 40-year career in the entertainment industry, Royal Manitoba Winter Fair icon Doodles the Clown is grateful to be back on stage doing what he does best — bringing joy to children and families.

Doodles, a.k.a. Shane Faberman, has been performing at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and Manitoba Summer Fair for almost 30 years. Now, he’s back at the Keystone Centre after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doodles has forged strong friendships in the Wheat City and it has been a joy for him to watch fans he entertained in their youth now bring their young families to his shows.

“It’s such a thrill. When I walk around, people will come up to me, and I just want to do photos and have fun with everybody.”

The 2022 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show takes centre stage

It has been 16 years since Tom Bishop and his travelling Wild West Show performed at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, and the days of trick roping and trick riding have returned in full swing.

More than 2,300 kilometres of driving separates Brandon from Tom Bishop’s 4B Ranch near Pelham, Ont.

In front of a raucous crowd at the Keystone Centre, Bishop and his two performers, Alyssa Remenda and Braillyn Giroux, delighted thousands of fans Monday afternoon and evening as they started off the week with a bang.

The Monday afternoon show included several hair-raising stunts as Remenda and Giroux took to trick riding off the side of Remenda’s horse, Chance, and Bishop showed the audience why he has a strong connection with horses, performing several lasso tricks and a math sketch with the animals that drew immense applause from the audience.

Our lens on the RMWF

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has long been a favourite of Brandon Sun photographers, as every day offers something interesting to view through our lenses.

We have been blessed with the talents of some highly skilled men and women behind the cameras over the years, all of whom have given us a visual record of the fair for decades - even before it ever earned the designation "Royal."

To kick off Brandon's fair week, I have selected some of our best images over the last two decades in our archives, and pulled them together for this Royal photo essay.

I hope you all have a great week at the fair!