By Karen Idzik, for the Confederate

Ambassador of the Arthur Fall Fair Lisa Billiald has done a lot in the past 11 months and is gearing up for the CNE competition this weekend.

She has attended a District 7 meeting in Wellesley, the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) convention in Toronto and lots of community events.

Lisa said she really enjoyed the OAAS convention in February. All of the Ontario Fair Ambassadors were there and had the opportunity to get to know each other as well as attend seminars on public speaking, setting goals and other self-improvement topics.

Lisa also said she learned a lot about her community, agriculture in the community, and how agriculture affects the community.

She also competed in the Miss Mid West Competition in Walkerton on July 14. She is very proud that she finished as second runner up. Lisa said she couldn’t believe she made it when she made it to the to top five, let alone when she finished as second runner up, as all the girls in the competition were title holders and great competitors.

Some of the community events Lisa has attended included the Duck Races, the first meeting of the House Wives of Wellington County at Club 177 and the Agricultural Society Entertainment Night to raise money for the next fair. She helped serve at a 4-H dinner, rode in the Santa Claus Parade and attended both the volunteer appreciation dinner for agricultural society helpers, and the age society’s Annual General Meeting.

One of the highlights of her year was visiting the schools in the area and talking to students about the upcoming fair. She said it was great to see the excitement of the students for the fair and agriculture, as agriculture is a big part of our community.

Shortly after being crowned Arthur’s Ambassador Lisa attended the Grand Valley and Erin Fall Fairs. At the Erin Fall Fair she made and decorated a cake to be auctioned off.

She has also attended some sporting events in Arthur to ceremoniously open games by dropping balls, pucks and throwing pitches.

Just recently, she attended a workshop for the five contestants in this year’s ambassador competition.

And this weekend is the CNE – which has Lisa very excited.

She’s already met the other contestants, which includes five males. They will all be doing interviews with the judges at the CNE this morning (Friday) and then this afternoon there are seminars and practice for the remainder of weekend. She thinks they participate in two parades, one today and the other tomorrow, and the actual Ambassador competition is on Sunday.

Lisa said she has made lots of new friends over the past year. Many of these people she would not have met had she not been crowned Arthur’s fair ambassador.

Lisa is the 18-year-old daughter of Carl and Anna Billiald. She is going back to Wellington Heights Secondary School in September for one more semester and then plans to join the working world.

Lisa said she wants to thank the agricultural society for giving her this opportunity, for standing behind her, and for answering any questions and giving her advice when needed.

And she says she looks forward to seeing everyone at the 156th Arthur Fall Fair.