WHITEWATER REGION The 153rd Cobden Fair experienced record breaking attendance on Saturday.

While attendance was up for Friday and Saturday, Sunday the fair seemed to draw its traditional numbers.

Cobden Civitan Club member, and Reeve for the Township of Whitewater Region, Donald Rathwell said over 4,000 people came out to the fair on Saturday.

"Saturday was the highest number of people ever," noted Mr. Rathwell. "It's getting better all the time,"

Throughout the weekend fairgoers had the opportunity to partake in a variety of activities, with many shows going on at the same time.

"We have had people saying it was good that there was a lot of variety of shows this year," said fair board member, Gerard Afelskie.

"We had the pet show, sheep show and dairy show all running at the same," Mr. Afelskie said.

The fair kicked off on Friday night with the opening ceremonies where last year's winners were acknowledge, along with Little Miss and Mr. Cobden being crowned.

For the fourth year in a row the Bailey family cleaned up in the exhibits competition earning the 2011 Wayne and Debbie McLaren Award for Family Achievement.

"Let me tell you this family puts a lot of time and a lot of love into their exhibits," said Tara Tennett, Cobden Fair board member referring to mom Tracey and her children Kaitlyn, Michael and Scott Bailey

Ms. Bailey admits entering the items into the fair exhibit gives her children something to do over the summer months.

"It keeps the kids busy during the summer and we love to it," said Tracey.

Her son Michael also took the top award for junior exhibitor with the most points

Nancy Kuehl was the recipient of the Sue and Keith McLaren Award for Individual Achievement and Mary Campbell won the Senior Exhibit Hall Special Prize-New Exhibitor.

Along with cattle, dog, dairy, horse and goat shows the fair also had a horse draw competition, heavy and miniature horse show, a petting zoo and rock climbing wall.

The cost of admission this year was $14 on Friday and Saturday and $12 on Sunday. Fairgoers had free reign in the fairgrounds as the cost of admission included access to the Crown Amusement midway rides. And on Saturday magician Steve Anthony was on hand, performing his people pleasing magic tricks.

The crowd pleaser, the demolition derby was a success on Saturday night with over 60 vehicles participating.

At the opening ceremonies fair president Stewart McBride thanked the business and community members who continue to sponsor the fair.

The Cobden Fair president stressed it takes a lot of volunteers to make the fair a success.

Cyndi Mills is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

cyndi.mills@sumedia.ca