Despite the snow and the storm, this Orne fair survives: “It was complicated”

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After the Caetano storm, maintaining the Sainte-Catherine fair in Briouze (Orne) was a real challenge. challenge for all.

The municipality, the companies, the exhibitors all played the game and took up this challenge. From November 23 to 25, 2024, the fair held its promises.

The Sunday sweetness brought a smile to everyone's faces and saw the numerous arrivals of visitors!

Good turnout for agricultural machinery

Very beautiful tractors brand new were out. “There are more than usual,” observes a regular. An alley was reserved for them, where agricultural machinery from the largest to the smallest was displayed.

The Briouz-based company Laurent motoculture did well with a record sale of generator. “People have suffered from the lack of electricity, they no longer want to be caught off guard. We have to recommend it! “.

Other exhibitors saw their sales lower. Coming from La Ferrière-aux-Étangs to present his work clothes, fatigues, boots and socks, Mickaël Leboscq does well with a mixed clientele.

Sunday is more reserved for a clientele leisure or hunterswhile on Monday, the place is given to work clothes. “Monday is campaign which is present with the calf market and the auctions,” he explains.

Food stalls take advantage of the Foulées briouzaines

The gourmet place worked well on Sunday thanks to the Foulées briouzaines. The race, which celebrated its 40 ans this year, brought a lot of people who needed something to eat.

The Butchery Roulé with its fried sausage stand was always full.

We could find very local products with honey, apple juice from producers, but also spices from Madagascar and even Corsican charcuterie…

THE peasant bakers from Lougé-sur-Maire responded despite the power outage which impacted their production.

We poured the bread by flashlight! And for production calculations, we returned to paper, pencil and multiplications by hand! With a wood oven, cooking was not a problem.

With trees to clear, coming to the fair was aexploit…

A more mixed situation for nurserymen

This is the sweet sunday and sunny which saved the fair for some nurserymen. A beautiful sun saw the arrival of visitors.

Despite this large crowd on Sunday, sales were not not excellent. “Usually everyone has a tree in their hand!” We see less of it,” underlines Pierre Angué, nurseryman in Durcet.

This observation also comes from new practices visitors and exhibitors. Estelle Lebrun, nurseryman in Caligny, brings fewer large trees and more shrubs.

“People come to the nursery to big trees. They no longer want to take them in their cars to the fair! »

“My worst fair in five years”

Despite everything, the fair remains important for it and creates many contacts. She also emphasizes that the weather report didn't help. “Thursday, I didn't think I would come, it was complicated! “.

Came as a neighbor Bertrand Plançon, nurseryman in Saint-André-de-Briouze, rejoiced in the mildness of Sunday after a gloomy Saturday. We found among all the nurserymen a great energy and a rare optimism.

Even those like Thomas Boniface, of the Louvière farmwho performed less well, remained positive. “This is my worst fair in five years. Saturday was catastrophic, there was no one there! But, it's good to be there all the same, we meet great people, and Sunday, there was sunshine! » he confides with a smile.

Thus, the Sainte-Catherine fair, although marked by challenges, as usual made it possible to make connections and bring together the surrounding population.

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