Day one brought families to the Brigden Fairgrounds Friday to learn more about agriculture.

The regional fair – dubbed the Thanksgiving Weekend Tradition – draws upwards of 50,000 people to the St. Clair Township community each year.

During the course of the weekend, there is always minor medical emergencies and problems which require police help, says the President of the Brigden Fair, John Scott. Friday, the Moore Agriculture Society chair was giving tours of the Emergency Services Unit. Enbridge Gas donated $18,000 to the society to purchase a former construction trailer which will do double duty as an area to find police and first aid.

Scott says last year, over the course of one day, paramedics on the grounds dealt with 126 bee stings alone. Another year, they helped a woman in labour before she left the grounds for the hospital, Scott added.

The Emergency Services Unit can be seen from anywhere on the grounds by simply looking for the large flag pole with the red cross flag.

Friday was Agriculture Awareness Day. Families and preschool groups toured a number of displays including from the Egg Farmers of Ontario, the Grain Farmers of Ontario and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority.

The Brigden Fair runs until 4 pm Thanksgiving Monday.

Lambton OPP remind drivers this year, St. Clair Township has banned parking along Courtright Line and Brigden Road near the fairgrounds to improve traffic flow. Fair officials say there is plenty of parking on the grounds and a people mover to help get everyone right to the action.