Thursday, January 21, 2021
I grew up in Brandon just down the street from the old arena where the Winter Fair was held every year. When I was very young about eight I joined the other kids in getting a job there. My preferred area was looking after the bulls and they were kept in their own stable area on the second floor. I started with Jack Olive and Ron Batho who showed together. I went back and worked for them every year and they were generous enough to have me!! We had a lot of fun with the bulls getting them washed and in show polish. Along the way I had the honour of handling the Reserve Champion and there were many highlights with Jack and Ron. The most memorable though was not altogether pleasant. Jack had lost his thumb baling that summer which my young soul thought tragic but he took in stride with his typical sense of humour. One day while doing my chores I opened a bale and a flake of hay folded out with a perfectly preserved thumb sitting in the middle of it!! Jack got a real kick out of that and we had a lot of fun with it in a pail showing it off to everyone who came by. I have a lot of great memories of Jack and Ron whom I noted went recently also. My condolences to the loss of a true character.
