93rd annual Unionville Community Fair & Farm Show draws families, fun
10/10/2017 01:01PM ● By Richard Gaw
By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer
Despite an inclement afternoon that swept through Chester County this past Sunday, spirits were far from dampened at the annual Unionville Community Fair & Farm Show last weekend, as hundreds of families, artisans, performers and livestock made their way to the Willowdale Steeplechase grounds to enjoy three days of fun, participation and discovery.
A new feature this year gave visitors tours of the raised vegetable gardens and greenhouses being run by students at the Patton Middle School, demonstrating how students are learning about sustainable gardening, how modern technology is used in modern agriculture, and how the students are helping to supply food to the Kennett Food Bank. Other new exhibits included a new robotocs demonstration, and performances by the Salometer Band. Additional musical acts and performers included Junk Rock, Dan and Galla, storyteller Robin Moore and Little Circus.
For the first time, the Fair hosted its first large large pumpkin contest, featuring seeds from the plentiful garden of Charles and Carla Graydus of Elverson. Charles Graydus, an agriculture teacher at Octorara High School, works with Octorara's FAA (Future Farmers of America) students.
The Fair distributed the plants to ten organizations, each of whom appointed a representative to care for the growing of their contest entry: the Pro-Lin, Kennett and Avondale Fire companies; Boy Scout Troop #22, the Kennett Senior Center, the Avon Grove Little league, the Kennett County Club groundskeepers, the Ag-Grid, the Rotary at Longwood, and the St. Michael's Lutheran Church.
This year's fair was dedicated to long-time fair volunteer Dave Lichter, who began his assocaition with the fair in 1992 and served as the director of the petting zoo and the Farmer-for-a-Day exhibit. He was appointed to the fair's executive board in 2007 and served as its first vice president for the next four years.
Food vendors included Rita's, Sabatino's Mobile Pizzeria & Gril, Baily's Dairy, KJ Foods Concessions, Indian Post Cotton Candy, Mn'M Catering and Cob's Kettle Corn.
Although the Unionville Community Fair & Farm Show has folded up its last tent for the year, its companion event will take place this coming weekend. On Oct. 14, the 7th Annual Willowdale Pro Rodeo will be held at The Brandywine Polo Fields, located at 232 Polo Road in Toughkenamon. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and the main event will begin at 4 p.m. Tickets to he rodeo are $17 for ages 13 and older, $12 for kids 4 to 12 over and free to children three and younger. To obtain tickets, visit www.ucfair.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].
Staff Writer
Despite an inclement afternoon that swept through Chester County this past Sunday, spirits were far from dampened at the annual Unionville Community Fair & Farm Show last weekend, as hundreds of families, artisans, performers and livestock made their way to the Willowdale Steeplechase grounds to enjoy three days of fun, participation and discovery.
A new feature this year gave visitors tours of the raised vegetable gardens and greenhouses being run by students at the Patton Middle School, demonstrating how students are learning about sustainable gardening, how modern technology is used in modern agriculture, and how the students are helping to supply food to the Kennett Food Bank. Other new exhibits included a new robotocs demonstration, and performances by the Salometer Band. Additional musical acts and performers included Junk Rock, Dan and Galla, storyteller Robin Moore and Little Circus.
For the first time, the Fair hosted its first large large pumpkin contest, featuring seeds from the plentiful garden of Charles and Carla Graydus of Elverson. Charles Graydus, an agriculture teacher at Octorara High School, works with Octorara's FAA (Future Farmers of America) students.
The Fair distributed the plants to ten organizations, each of whom appointed a representative to care for the growing of their contest entry: the Pro-Lin, Kennett and Avondale Fire companies; Boy Scout Troop #22, the Kennett Senior Center, the Avon Grove Little league, the Kennett County Club groundskeepers, the Ag-Grid, the Rotary at Longwood, and the St. Michael's Lutheran Church.
This year's fair was dedicated to long-time fair volunteer Dave Lichter, who began his assocaition with the fair in 1992 and served as the director of the petting zoo and the Farmer-for-a-Day exhibit. He was appointed to the fair's executive board in 2007 and served as its first vice president for the next four years.
Food vendors included Rita's, Sabatino's Mobile Pizzeria & Gril, Baily's Dairy, KJ Foods Concessions, Indian Post Cotton Candy, Mn'M Catering and Cob's Kettle Corn.
Although the Unionville Community Fair & Farm Show has folded up its last tent for the year, its companion event will take place this coming weekend. On Oct. 14, the 7th Annual Willowdale Pro Rodeo will be held at The Brandywine Polo Fields, located at 232 Polo Road in Toughkenamon. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and the main event will begin at 4 p.m. Tickets to he rodeo are $17 for ages 13 and older, $12 for kids 4 to 12 over and free to children three and younger. To obtain tickets, visit www.ucfair.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].
Images from the Fair [5 Images]
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