In the Star Trek franchise, the red shirts are traditionally the ones to get killed off first. But at the Prince George Exhibition, they're the last ones standing.
On Sunday evening, amid the din that accompanies rides being dissembled and tents being torn down, a tired group of directors identified by their dark red PGX t-shirts assembled outside of the fair's headquarters to toast the successful end of of the 2012 exhibition.
Fair general manager Terri McConnachie and Prince George Agricultural and Historical Association president Nancy Loreth raised their glasses of bubbly in tearful tribute to the hard work of all involved in making the 100th anniversary of the PGX a reality.
"If it wasn't for every single one of you I saw out there every day doing their jobs, this fair would not go on," Loreth said.
McConnachie stressed that the handful of people taking a few minutes to celebrate were a mere fraction of the bodies necessary to run the event.
"I don't think people realize what it takes to put the show on," she said, citing about 1,000 volunteers per day. "We're just a small representation of that."
Despite the rough weather that essentially shut down Wednesday's opening, McConnachie estimates that attendance was up from previous years.
"We weathered the storm, so to speak," she said.
Official numbers won't be available until mid-week, but McConnachie pointed to the consistently full parking lot, midway, food court and more as indicators of a fruitful season.
And with the centennial celebrations, she said attendees had more to do and see.
"We just packed on so much more," she said. "I think people wanted to show their appreciation for this organization and what we do every year and how we've been doing it for 100 years. We're very proud."
While she has yet to really sit and process her seventh year at the helm, McConnachie said Friday night's fireworks display and the Stewart family rodeo trick riders were easy personal highlights.
And even things that were initially hurdles were turned into bright spots.
The loss of the Kin 1, which is undergoing renovation for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, didn't deal the expected blow - thanks in part to the co-operative weather for the four full days. Two large tents served as the shelter for the Stetson Stage and accompanying beer garden
McConnachie said the group made it work and that feedback about the outdoor venue was positive.
But even though the gates are shut on the PGX for another year, there is still work to be done.
After a two-week vacation, McConnachie will get right back into the swing of things, with reporting on 2012 to finish and organizing for 2013 - henceforth titled the B.C. Northern Exhibition - to begin.
But despite the new name, the usual funding challenges remain.
"This show will only be as big and as diverse as funding will allow," McConnachie said, explaining the team will see how much money is left in the can and go from there. "We'll start planning, start searching, writing grants and it all starts all over again."
