Events go on without them

Valley residents and guests are preparing to enjoy the 76th Apple Blossom Festival - the princess pageant and crowning of Queen Annapolisa, the creative apple-related foods, agricultural-based shows, concerts, competitions, the grand street and children's parades and orchard tours. It's a celebration that takes a huge amount of volunteer work by hundreds of Valley residents.

The various events draw hundreds of thousands of participants or visitors, and is seen as a good reason for Valley natives to return home for a visit.

In fact, the festival has been one of the major bus tourism draws on the continent.

One notable person will be missing this year. Kentville resident Garth Calkin, the last surviving founder of the festival, passed away in March. He was the 2007 festival honourary parade marshal at 100 years of age, and it looked as though he would be around to help out in this year's as well.

It was not to be: age finally caught up with the long-time volunteer, community leader and businessman; and the Valley lost a valued citizen.

As well, a more recent agriculture-related Valley celebration -- the Windsor/ West Hants Pumpkin Festival and novel Pumpkin Regatta - will be missing a vital player, and yet another valued citizen is lost to the Valley. Windsor resident Howard Dill - the Pumpkin King - passed away at 73 years of age May 20, having contributed decades of service to agriculture, hockey heritage and local tourism.

Whereas Calkin helped create the Apple Blossom Festival through his organizational skills, Dill actually developed and grew the basis of the Pumpkin Festival and Regatta: the giant gourds, Atlantic Giant pumpkins. It took decades for Dill to grow giant pumpkin - and then make them even bigger, drawing huge attention to his native Windsor. As well, Dill's enthusiasm for the game helped found the Hockey Heritage Centre in the "Birthplace of Hockey."

Each man - Calkin and Dill - was obviously comfortable in himself, each with his own style. Both remained in their home communities, providing leadership and volunteerism.

The events the two men helped found in their own ways will miss their erstwhile builders, but the strength each festival received from those men - and many, many other volunteers over years of its operation - ensure each will carry on, and continue to grow like the agricultural crop they represent.

The Valley and those who love it and its agriculture past, present and future have benefited from the efforts of these two men.