Stories

This past weekend at the Kiskatinaw Fall Fair was an absolute blast!

Last summer, we started a new fundraiser for Young Life Dawson Creek. Out of the blue, Elaine Fitzpatrick called me and asked if we’d be interested in running the concession.

Heck yes, we were interested!

Anything that helps us fundraise for our programs and continue offering free opportunities for teenagers in Dawson Creek is something we’re excited to be part of.

The summer of 2025 was our first year at the Kiskatinaw Fall Fair, and while it was a huge success, we definitely learned a lot along the way. It was our first time running a kitchen, let alone running one with a bunch of teenagers!

There were plenty of hurdles and a lot of learning on the fly, but we also felt incredibly welcomed and supported by the rural community.

Apparently, they liked us because we were invited back for a second year!

A Little More Prepared This Time

Going into 2026, we were at least somewhat more prepared than we were the year before.

One thing I wanted to make sure of was that we had enough adult volunteers around to support the teenagers when things got busy or overwhelming.

The funny thing is, they barely needed us!

We had several teenagers back this year who already had experience from last summer, along with a number of new teenagers who jumped right into their roles and learned quickly.

And there were plenty of roles to fill.

The kitchen was hot.

Actually, it was always hot!

Two deep fryers were running side by side, one cooking chicken tenders and the other pumping out fries. We served poutines, fries and gravy, and then there was the large commercial grill that seemed to never turn off.

Unless the pilot unexpectedly quit on us.

Which it did.

A few times. 😂

In the mornings, we were cooking eggs, pancakes, and sausages. During the day, we moved into hamburgers and the rest of our menu. Teenagers were taking orders, preparing food, serving customers, refilling condiments, cleaning, and making sure people had everything they needed.

And they did an incredible job.

148 Plates of Roast Beef

Saturday night was the big one.

Our annual Roast Beef Dinner.

We served 5 to 6-ounce portions of roast beef, along with two salads, corn on the cob, a bun, and dessert.

It takes a lot of work throughout the day to prepare for that many people, but with many hands helping, the job becomes much more manageable.

We printed 150 tickets.

We sold 148.

And we successfully served 148 plates of roast beef dinner!

I’d call that a success!

The best part was that we ran out of almost everything.

First, the potatoes.

Then the salads.

Then the roast beef.

I’d say we had a lot of happy eaters!

Our Little Young Life Campground

One of my favourite parts of the weekend had nothing to do with fundraising.

Originally, the plan was for our family and Elaine to camp at the fairgrounds for the weekend.

That was it.

But Friday night came around, and suddenly we had two teenage boys staying with us, along with a mom and her two daughters.

Then, after we closed up the concession, we were surprised by more guests staying the night. Betty, her son Max, and their friend Aiden joined us.

The more the merrier!

Before long, we had created this little camping circle. Trailers around the outside and tents on the inside.

A little Young Life community right in the middle of the fairgrounds.

The next day, more teenagers wanted to stay overnight, and suddenly we had another four teenagers joining us in tents.

Saturday night was especially fun.

By the time I was ready to call it a night after a long day in the kitchen, the teenagers were just getting started.

They were heading out to play Sardines.

For those who haven’t played it, one person hides and everyone else tries to find them. When you find the person, you don’t tell anyone. You squeeze into the hiding spot with them and wait.

One by one, everyone eventually finds the hiding spot until everyone is crammed together waiting for the last person.

As I was falling asleep, I could hear them outside.

Giggling.

Yelling.

Screaming.

Running.

Just having fun.

And honestly, it was a great sound to fall asleep to.

It was around 10:30 PM by then, and unfortunately, 6:40 AM came around very quickly!

Guitars, Marshmallows and Community

Every evening seemed to end the same way.

The teenagers would gather around the propane fireplace. Someone would pull out a guitar, and before long everyone was singing.

They took turns playing.

Took turns leading songs.

Roasted marshmallows.

Laughed together.

Just enjoyed being together.

If camp wasn’t enough to remind me how talented this group of teenagers is, those two evenings certainly were.

Roasting marshmallows, playing guitar, singing songs, and sitting around the fire with friends.

Honestly?

This is life.

Sometimes the best moments aren’t the ones we plan. We didn’t set out to create a Young Life campground at the fair, but one person stayed, then another, and another.

Before long, we had a little community.

Sometimes you simply need to make room for people.

The rest takes care of itself.

Sunday and Selling Out

Sunday morning brought another early start.

Breakfast on Sunday is a little busier because Progress Church comes out and holds their service at the Kiskatinaw Fall Fair, directly in front of the concession.

It’s actually pretty neat.

We get to make food and attend church!

By around 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon, we were starting to run low.

Fries.

Gravy.

Cheese.

Our hottest menu item was poutine, and suddenly we were running out of the things we needed to make it.

We made a call, and a volunteer stepped up and drove more French fries and cheese out to us.

Just in time.

We were able to continue serving for another hour or so before finally closing the concession windows.

Because we had sold out of everything.

We purchased just enough product to make it through the weekend.

Thank you, God!

That’s important for a fundraiser because unused product often comes directly out of our profits. The more we sell, the more money goes back into our ministry.

And this weekend, we sold a lot!

More Than Just a Fundraiser

As successful as the fundraiser was, what encouraged me most was watching these teenagers work together.

They had to troubleshoot problems on the go.

They worked through busy and fast-paced situations.

They encouraged each other when someone was tired or frustrated.

They stepped in when someone needed help.

And they worked incredibly well together.

I honestly think camp played a big role in that.

Many of these teenagers spent a week together at camp this summer. They lived together, laughed together, experienced new things together, and made memories together.

Before camp, I watched many of these same teenagers fundraising together.

After camp, something was different.

They seemed to understand each other better.

They knew each other’s personalities.

They worked better together.

And watching that happen throughout the weekend was incredibly encouraging.

Sometimes teamwork isn’t created simply by giving people jobs to do.

Sometimes teamwork grows because people have spent time doing life together.

A Fair That Feels Like Community

The Kiskatinaw Fall Fair itself was another highlight of the weekend.

It’s not your typical Fall Fair filled with huge rides and attractions.

It feels more like a step back in time.

A place where community still thrives simply because people enjoy being together.

Young people can enter school projects, artwork, recipes, cooking, and much more. There are animals, competitions, heavy horse pulls, and events for people of all ages.

It’s truly a family event.

And speaking of artwork, three of our teenagers entered their artwork this year, including my 6-year-old son.

All three placed in their respective categories!

How incredible is that?

I’ll include some photos because, honestly, I took a lot of them throughout the weekend!

Why Weekends Like This Matter

At the end of the weekend, we raised a significant amount of money for Young Life Dawson Creek.

And every dollar of profit stays right here in Dawson Creek.

It helps us continue running programs and events for local teenagers.

Young Life has expenses throughout the year, but we are committed to keeping our programs 100% free for teenagers.

Events like this help make that possible.

So do the faithful donors in our community who continue to give monthly and believe in what we’re doing.

Together, you’re helping us create spaces where teenagers can belong, build friendships, experience community, and hear about Jesus.

This weekend was about much more than selling food.

It was about teenagers learning new skills.

Learning to work together.

Solving problems.

Encouraging one another.

Building friendships.

Laughing late at night.

Singing around a fire.

And becoming part of a community.

The Kiskatinaw Fall Fair started as a fundraiser for us.

But it became so much more than that.

It became a weekend full of memories.

And honestly?

What a weekend!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, supported us, ate our food, encouraged our teenagers, and helped make this another incredible weekend at the Kiskatinaw Fall Fair.

We couldn’t do it without you!