The non-profit Nechako Valley Exhibition Society was formed in 1965 and provincially incorporated in 1970. The mission of the Society is to promote the development of agricultural industry in the northern interior and to increase public awareness of the region’s economic potential through the hosting of the Exhibition. The Exhibition (Fall Fair) is Vanderhoof’s largest annual event, hosted over three days in August at the Society owned and operated 42-acre Exhibition Grounds.
The Society and Grounds are governed by a 15-member Board of Directors and operated by full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. We have an active membership of over 100 individuals and families, 150 drop-in attendees per month, and approximately 10,000 major event attendees per year.
The Exhibition Grounds provides an affordable, multi-purpose community centre for horse-back riding, horse boarding, clinics and shows, Vanderhoof and District 4-H, major sanctioned rodeo events, public camping, archery tournaments, wildfire evacuation facilities for people and livestock, youth summer camps, public recreational vehicle storage, company picnics, family reunions, weddings, and more.
The Society is a welcoming and inclusive organization which enhances recreation opportunities, provides safety reserves, and serves to boost the attractiveness of our community for residents and tourists alike.
The Society is supported in large part by our generous sponsors as well as grant funding through the federal government, Province of BC, and private organizations. Sponsors are recognized in a wide variety of ways, including acknowledgement on the website, social media, signage throughout the grounds, announcements during events. Please get in touch with the office to find out how you can work with us to help support agriculture in the region and get your company's name out there!
If you have an interest in any aspect of agriculture and want to get involved, please consider becoming a member or volunteering with us today!
Everyone is welcome to attend our monthly meetings, held the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the NVES office (inside the arena building).
| President | Clayton Gull | clayton.gull@gov.bc.ca |
| Vice President | Kirsten Friesen | kirstenforsberg@hotmail.com |
| Treasurer | Chantelle Wiebe | loperch@telus.net |
| Secretary | Julie Macdonald | jewelsmacdonald@hotmail.com |
| Director | Lois Crosby | ronloiscrosby@gmail.com |
| Director | Delmer Siemens | d-siemens1@hotmail.com |
| Director | Rita Steffey | rita_lynm@hotmail.com |
| Director | Alex Kulchar | akulchar@outlook.com |
| Director | Brittany Cook | smitty_18@msn.com |
| Director | Dawn Cummins | dcummins441@live.com |
| Director | Lareina Muehlen | lareina.f.ketlo@gmail.com |
| Director | Dexter Friesen | dexterfriesen@gmail.com |
Society membership is offered in three categories: General, Arena Rider, and Recreation. General Membership revenue supports our ability to deliver community programming and is available to all community members who are interested in supporting the Society.
General Membership costs only $10.00 per calendar year.
Benefits include:
- Eligibility to participate in meetings and vote on decisions which affect the membership and community
- Eligibility to join Fall Fair Committee and Arena Riders Committee for the planning and production of events
- Members are not required to participate in meetings or events
- Membership helps demonstrate community support and assists us in procuring operational and event funding
Nechako Valley Exhibition Society
PO Box 863
Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0
For a full list of our valued sponsors, please click here .
As one of Vanderhoof’s most highly anticipated events of the year, the Nechako Valley Exhibition draws over 6,000 competitors, exhibitors, and spectators to the area. Attendees arrive from all over the province, and as far as Alberta and Saskatchewan. The influx of visitors to our region gives a tremendous boost to our community, especially in the hospitality and service industries.
Beyond the Fall Fair, the Nechako Valley Exhibition Society works to maintain this community recreation facility year-round by providing indoor and outdoor riding arenas, venues for community events such as car shows, dog training classes, horse clinics, field days for summer camps, affordable RV storage in the winter months, and much more.
We have a dedicated Board of Directors and many volunteers who serve throughout the year, but as a non-profit society we rely largely on outside funding to continue our operations. We would like to invite our local businesses to support us. If you or your business is interested in contributing to the NVES by donation or event sponsorship, please contact the office for more details at (250) 567-3011 or by e-mail at nechakoexsociety@outlook.com.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you and your families for your continued support and participation in the Nechako Valley Exhibition, and NVE Society
Billboards at the Nechako Valley Exhibition Grounds are seen by upwards of 8,000 people throughout the year who attend the facility on a daily recreational basis or for major events!
Your business can show its support for the Exhibition and gain exposure by having a billboard hung at the entry gates, on the front wall of the indoor arena, or in the spectator stands, for only $225 per year!
The Exhibition Society offers volunteer opportunities for all ages, all abilities, all year-round!
We are happy to sign off on volunteer hour forms for school or employment. Contact the office for more information on upcoming opportunities.
Past projects include:
2007: Bandstand and Music Pavilion re-build
2008: Arena Roof Replacement
2013-2014: New Commercial Building
2016: Co Op renovation of Small Animal Barn
2017: Water Management Project
2018: Two Phase Indoor Arena Infrastructure Upgrades
More projects will be coming up soon. If you are interested in sponsoring a project or volunteering to complete one, please contact the office.