Three generations of the Lowry-Hartwell-Aubin family at the Cookshire Fair’s Bulwer QFA canteen: Janice Lowry, Caitlin Aubin, Adam Hartwell, and Abigail Hartwell. Photo: Scott Stevenson.

It’s not just the burgers that make a visit so appealing to the canteen of the Bulwer Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA) at the Cookshire Fair. It’s the people serving them.

Janice Lowry’s family of volunteers spans three generations, and Theda Lowry’s four.

Theda’s daughter, Christine Robinson, 66, said she’s been helping at the booth for as long as she can remember. That would make the fundraiser canteen an institution of the Fair with likely a 70-year history or more.

Robinson said the booth does well financially, with its offering of not only cheeseburgers and other lunch items, but also breakfast, drinks, and its popular strawberry shortcake with Coaticook ice cream.

Funds raised go toward various organizations and needs in the farming community, including bursaries for students in Agriculture programs at many local and other cegeps and universities.

“It’s money that we put back into the agricultural community,” Robinson said in an interview during last year’s 2025 Cookshire Fair.

Family members are all ready to get cooking and welcoming visitors again this year to their canteen August 20 to 23 at the north end of the grandstand.