At first glance it may appear like the Apple Harvest Craft Show is all about kitschy country crafts, but a closer look reveals it more about community, caring and co-operation.

As soon as you arrive at the fair grounds on Collingwood Street, you are directed to your parking spot by a team of volunteers from the Rocklyn Junior Farmers. Crossing the street, you buy your ticket from parents from the Meaford Amateur Athletic Association.

Then you walk past the Meaford Rotary Club's barbecue and show your admission slip to members of the Meaford Lion's Club who are watching the doors.

Jenn Strut, a member of the Junior Farmers was working her second shift in the parking lot Sunday morning when I arrived. Traffic had calmed down a little from the big Saturday crowds.

"It's not as busy as it was on Saturday," she said. "They were lined up all the way down to Sykes Street at 8:30 a.m. waiting to get in," she said.

The eight-member team from the Junior Farmers makes sure traffic flows smoothly and people don't try to sneak into the handicapped parking spaces.

"We've been doing the parking for a few years now," said Strut. "They (the craft show committee) like to get as many local service clubs involved so they can put the money back into the community," she said.

"They do a great job for us," said Apple Harvest Craft Show Committee spokesperson Rod Brebner. "Last year, the money we gave them to manage the parking lot, they turned right around and donated to another local group that need funds."

Since its start 24 years ago, the Apple Harvest Craft Show has donated the proceeds from the show - more than $600,000 - back into the community by supporting big projects like the hospital capital campaign, with more than $100,000 or the restoration for Meaford Hall with $52,000, or smaller worthwhile endeavours like sponsoring the bantam girls hockey team.

"We're proud of that," said Brebner. "Everything goes back into the community.

"Not just through direct donations from the craft show committee, but through the money we pay the various service clubs and organizations to help with different jobs."

For example, the bantam girls hockey team works as runners throughout the show, helping vendors and exhibitors by watching their booths while they go for lunch or run other errands during the day.

They work in shifts and the whole team helps out.

"We appreciate them sponsoring our team and this is something we can do to help out," said volunteer runner, Jennelle Willis.

The Meaford Firefighters Association provides security for the site during the evening and they use the money they receive from the craft show to help by new equipment.

The Kiwanis Club looks after the set up and take down of the tables with help from Community Living Meaford.

All of these groups, working together, have helped make the Meaford Apple Harvest Craft Show one of the best organized and well-attended shows in Ontario.

The show attracts between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors over the two-day weekend. They come by bus, by car, and by bike. This year, black leather-clad bikers browsed through the 200 booths alongside grandmothers with walkers and mothers with baby strollers. Almost all of them were carrying multiple bags containing their purchases.

"They come in waves," said Brebner. "The vendors I've been talking to are ecstatic. We've had big crowds and they've been buying a lot."