Wellesley’s Ella Jones earns junior championship trophy at Tavistock Fall Fair

Members of the Anna P. Lewis Women’s Institute following their dinner at Quehl’s Restaurant. From left: Mary Alice Roth, Jo Ann Porter, Carol McLeod, Jean Porter, Ella Jones (trophy recipient), her mother, Beth Jones, Chris Wiffen, Kaye Bickle, Irene Baker and Mieke Peters. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Ella Jones of the Wellesley area has once again claimed the Laura Masters Hansuld Award, presented annually to the top point earner in the Junior Division at the Tavistock Fall Fair.

The honour recognizes outstanding participation and achievement among exhibitors aged 10 to 18, and Jones’ name has become a familiar one on the trophy.

The award is named in memory of Laura Masters Hansuld, whose remarkable legacy in Waterloo and East Zorra-Tavistock continues to inspire young fair exhibitors today. Born and raised on a farm in Waterloo Region, Hansuld taught school before moving to Chicago, where she became head nurse at a major hospital. She later served as a Red Cross nurse in the U.S. Army.

In 1926, she married Edmund Hansuld and moved to East Zorra, where her interests turned to farming, homemaking and community leadership. She played a pivotal role in organizing rural women, founding the district’s first Women’s Institute group and serving as its inaugural president. She chose the name Anna P. Lewis Institute in honour of Anna Lewis, superintendent of Women’s Institutes for Ontario from 1945-1955.

Hansuld was known for her deep knowledge of institute work and her ability to guide members through any challenge. She also formed the first Marigold Club to spark young girls’ interest in gardening – an initiative that helped inspire future youth programs in cooking, sewing, gardening and eventually 4-H.

After Hansuld’s passing in 1961, a memorial donation from Burns Church led the group to establish a fund in her name. From that fund came the large trophy now awarded each year to the Junior Division’s top exhibitor at the Tavistock Fall Fair. The Tavistock Agricultural Society also presents the winner with a personal keepsake gift each year.

This year, Jones received an autumn ceramic figurine along with her name engraved once more on the Hansuld Memorial Trophy.

Jones said she looks forward to the fair every year and enjoys entering as many divisions as she can.

“I get excited when the prize list comes out and I can see all the entries I might be able to participate in,” she said.

She encourages other local youth to get involved as well, noting the friendly competition gives everyone something to look forward to during the annual fall celebration.