From War to Whimsy (The Sutton Fair Revisited)

Six weeks after we arrived in Canada after the Iran war, we arrived at the ultimate antidote to wartime stress. The Sutton Fair & Horse Show.

Last year we rediscovered it on a Saturday in August, during a spur of the moment trip to cottage country; and I was charmed enough by the whole experience that I wrote a post: “Of Butter Tarts and Fire Blankets”. However I was bitterly disappointed to have missed one of its most popular featured attractions by only one day.

This year we planned ahead!

Arriving with a full hour to spare, we set out to find the Arena — the site of the contest. On the way we passed a petting zoo, and an animal feeding area replete with sheep, goats — and these critters?

When we got to the Arena (hockey of course), we found that frog-jumping was not the only competition in town, to say the least. The Sutton fair is full of contests, and the winning entries are proudly displayed in the arena, not far from the stage where earlier the Sutton Fair pageant winners were crowned. (This multi-purpose venue would soon feature the frog- jumping event. ) There was also a guy sitting with a ferret—you know — just in case you felt like patting a ferret.

All around us there were prize quilts, prize Christmas decorations, prize pipe-cleaner art, prize colouring pages — you name it. Hundreds of them.

But the “piece de resistance” in my opinion — shared by Mike — was the following: proof positive that people will make ANYTHING into a competition.

It’s true. Canadians are obsessed with duct tape. This harvest basket not only won first in its category, but “Best in Show”.

But enough diversion; it is time to get to the main event — Frog Jumping.

First, I should clarify that this is not the professional circuit of Bull Frog jumping that made Rosie the Ribiter so famous at the annual Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee. (Her record is not in jeopardy.) This contest is for kids, and it is a BYOF affair (bring your own frog).

And bring them they did…

In tupperware, deli containers, pails, and even pickle jars. With water on the bottom, and covers with air holes, these containers (and the frogs within) were accompanied by a small army of kids, parents, and grandparents, who appeared right at noon. It was well we arrived early. It was standing room only.

The contest is divided by age group: 0-4, 5-10, and 10 plus. Since the age of the child has little to do with the jumping prowess of their frog, I am not sure of the thinking on this; but there is no denying that toddlers chasing frogs are very entertaining to watch.

And the truth is, chasing runaway frogs is a big part of this event, which unfolds along these lines:

Each child, when called up by name, comes to the stage clutching his or her container. There they are greeted by the event convener, plus the three teenage winners of the Sutton Fair pageant, who had been on this very stage just two hours ago to receive their sashes and tiaras. We had seen these young women earlier, being driven about in the VIP golf cart, accompanied by their chaperone/ photographer. We were not sure of their exact role but frog chasing duties would not have been my first thought.

Once on stage, the child removes the frog from its container, which is not as easy as it sounds. Although none of the kids are the least bit squeamish about handling their little pets, almost without exception, the frog — who is, after all, wet and slippery — wriggles free and takes off. Mass hilarity ensues as the child, convener, and pageant winners chase the frog, joined by other kids when it leaps off the stage. (see video below)

Once recaptured, the frog is put back on the stage and covered with the yellow container. Being in the dark apparently calms the frog down, possibly to a fault. The convener gets ready with the tape measure, and one of the teens gets ready to capture the distance of the first jump. The yellow pail is removed. And…

Bubkes… nothing. The frog blinks. The convenor gives it a bit of a bump from behind, and finally it jumps. And jumps. And jumps some more. Generally right off the stage…

Where kids are waiting…

All the adults agreed that watching their offspring chasing down escapee frogs was the best part — and more than a few of them joined in!

The winning jump in the 4-10 category was 3.5 feet, which may not sound like much, but when you consider the length of the frog (maybe 4 or 5 inches), that is about 8-10 times its body length. So not bad at all. Rosie would approve. As it happens, the winner was one of the pickle jar frogs, perhaps hoping to escape it’s green prison permanently. Its beaming owner accepted a first place ribbon, had his picture taken, and little green plastic frogs were given to all the participants.

After about 45 minutes, our mission accomplished, we headed off for a final walkabout before heading home. And it was at this time that I felt —acutely— the lack of a little granddaughter. After all, when faced with the all-pink Cowgirl Haven…

What’s a girl to do…

So ended our annual escape to the past. Where children and frogs draw a crowd. Where Canadian duct tape art is properly honoured. And where Cowgirls can revel in pink.

We were not disappointed.