The history of the society has two phases; from 1852 - 1906, from 1907 - 1967.

Sutherland's Gazetteer of 1867 reports that "the township of East Zorra has a farmers' organization named the East Zorra Agricultural Association." From the account book of this association, we find the first entries in 1852, giving the membership as 50 and the expenditures of 12 pounds for the purchase of eight rams. Two years later a stud horse was purchased for 175 pounds and fees were paid for entries to the London Fair. In 1862, $89.50 was paid to Murdock Brothers for seed. This seems to indicate a co-operative effort to improve the stock and grain. There is no indication where its first annual fairs were held, but hearsay, from the daughter of one of the presidents at the turn of the century, has it that they began at Strathallan and were later transferred to the Adam Mohr farm, just south of Tavistock. In 1871 there were 182 members, with prize money of $233. The payment of $11 to Zoellner's Hotel for dinners for the judges and stabling for their horses would bear out the change of venue.

The prize money gradually increased to $388.75 in 1876, including a grant of $9 from Premier Oliver Mowat.

It seems that the farmers of South Easthope formed a similar organization, the South Easthope Agricultural Society, and according to Mr. Emerson Kalbfleisch used to hold its fairs on the John Mogk farm, on the site of his present home, the corner of Oxford and William Streets with entrance along Mogk Street. No records are available, but at some time the two organizations must have agreed to hold union fairs.

In 1879 the South Easthope Agr. Society paid the East Zorra Agr. Ass. the sum of $110, in 1880 the sum of $118, in 1881. $140 for a union exhibition, from 1882 -84 the payments were reversed. This would suggest a three-year term for each society; this arrangement is borne out by later entries, In 1903 the South Easthope Agr. Soc. met at the Commercial Hotel on January 14 under the president J.G. Field; on the same day, the East Zorra Agr. Association met under the president, Conrad Wilker, at the Oxford Hotel. They both adjourned to hold a union meeting, W.S. Russell secretary to both.

This union became a reality in 1906 when the passage of the Agricultural Society Act forbade the holding of union fairs. The two societies decided to unite and form the Tavistock Agricultural Society and to hold its first fair in 1907 - September 16 and 17. The officers were Pres. J.G.Field, Vice-president Ed.Caister, Sec-treas. W.S. Russell.

Except for the year 1873, the original societies held an annual fair. The new organization has continued to do so and, contrary to the trend of smaller fairs has improved, and has never reneged on its prize money. There evidently was some trouble with the Village Council over the grounds for in 1915-18 we have entries of "grounds still not settled. Finally in 1918 the grounds were turned over to the Village, as Queen's Park, with the proviso that the Agricultural Society have free use of the facilities for two days for the annual fair.

Through the good offices of the society, government grants of $5000 for the Memorial Hall and of $12,000 for the new arena were made available.

In 1929 the Women's Institute under the drive of Mrs. H.H. Sippel erected the stone gates at the south entrance. Here too in 1952 the society erected a memorial to mark the Hundredth Anniversary. The Tavistock Fall Fair is still a very popular event. The first Friday and Saturday after Labour Day. Many former residents make it a home-coming. It has fine displays of handicrafts, and cooking, of flowers, vegetables, school projects and the work of the Women's Institutes, the Junior Farmers and of an increasing number of local merchants. The tug-of-war competitions on Friday night have replaced the concerts. Saturday is given over to the Jumpers and to Junior Farmer competitions in showmanship and the showing of horses. The early interest in herd and crop improvement is continued tin the sponsoring of calf and swine and grain clubs. The dual origin of the organizations still evident in the election of directors from South Easthope and from East Zorra, with a few from the Village.

Mr. W. S. Russell served as secretary-treasurer form 1889 to 1917; A.E.Roth to 1926. Henry Schlemmer to 1933. Mr. Robert Rudy has stepped into their shoes and has served not only in this capacity since 1934 but also emcees the evening and afternoon performances with the able assistance of his "better half".