PICTON, October 28, 2022 - For 14 years, the Prince Edward Agricultural Society has been supporting our County hospital by putting their baking skills to the test.

After pivoting for two years due to COVID-19, the Picton Fair came back stronger than ever in 2022 and with it came the return of the beloved Picton Fair Bake Off Challenge. This event united dozens of bakers and bidders who demonstrated their community spirit, generosity, and commitment to Backing the Build for our new County hospital.

The Picton Fair Bake Off Challenge is an opportunity for businesses or individuals to put their culinary skills to the test by having their entries judged by local celebrities and then have their dessert auctioned off to raise funds to support the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF).

Seventeen entries were submitted and were judged by volunteers including Barbara McConnell, PECMHF’s board chairperson, Ken Menlove, PECMHF board member, and Jenn McKay with Cool 100.

Craig Carson was the volunteer auctioneer. His energy and enthusiasm was contagious amongst the crowd and resulted in this year’s event raising a record-breaking $7,005! These funds will support the major medical equipment purchases needed for the new hospital. Carson’s witty banter resulted in the best in show coconut cream pie auctioning off for $1,000!

“We could not achieve our goal of building a new, well equipped hospital for the residents of and visitors to Prince Edward County without support from the community.” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. We are honoured to have the continued support of the hard-working volunteers with the Fair Board and those who bake a pie or cake or come and bid on these delectable desserts. The Agricultural Society has supported healthcare delivery in our community for 14 years.”

The Agricultural Society wishes to thank all of the generous people who donated a baked good or participated in the auction. As medical care advances, the Picton Fair Board is committed to keeping our hospital well equipped– for you, your loved ones and for every person in our community.

“We were thrilled to move forward with an in-person Fair after a two-year hiatus and bring back the Bake Off Challenge, which benefits our local hospital,” said Larry Everall, president of the Prince Edward Agricultural Society. “We are grateful to everyone who attends the Fair, whether they ride the Midway, enter an item as an exhibit or as a vendor, participate in the Bake Off, or volunteer with us. We couldn’t be happier with this year’s record-breaking result from the Bake Off for our County hospital. Thank you to everyone who baked or bid to make that happen.”

This donation brings the Ag Society’s cumulative giving total to PECMHF to $27,695.

The Foundation is proud of their longstanding partnership with the Agricultural Society and hopes to see everyone at next year’s Picton Fair!

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

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Pictured in front of Picton’s Crystal Palace from left: Tina Hiddink, secretary/treasurer for the Prince Edward Agricultural Society; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Barbara McConnell, PECMH Foundation chairperson; Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation; Susan Harrington, vice president of the Agricultural Society; Larry Everall, president of the Agricultural Society and Briar Boyce, senior development officer with the PECMH Foundation.

Photo: John Tofflemire