By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

In its’ 101 years of pleasing the public, the Unionville Community Fair could not have asked for kinder weather or a more inviting program of events.

The fair, which began as a small gathering of farming-bound students at the school of the same name a century ago, filled the senses of and entertainment of more than more than thousands of visitors this past weekend.

It brought them scores of special programs, exciting competitions, rides around the country and friendly greetings from affectionate animals.

Throughout the past century, the Unionville School District has grown into a well-rated, suburban-like institution from what was originally an educational destination for the sons and daughters of the local farmers who were earmarked to step into their fathers’ vocations.

Likewise, what was first called their “Corn Show” has grown with that enhancement into the annual Unionville Community Fair at the Landhope farm in Willowdale.

This year, fair activities began two weeks earlier, when the 2025 Unionville Fair Pageant on Sept. 18 crowned Madelynn Van Aken as queen and Abby Stone as Princess, Gina Gallo was named the Queen Alternate and Miss Congeniality, Lizzy Caron was named Princess Alternate and long-time fair matriarch Bonnie Musser was crowned “Honorary Queen” and was announced as the individual honored for this year’s fair dedication.
On Oct. 1, the public responded to the call for entries into the crafts, food and art competitions in the large barn on the fair property along Route 926, which was followed by the judging of the contests and the selection of winners.

On Oct. 2, a tailgate party on the fairgrounds drew many participants vying for the best and most elaborate back-of-vehicle banquet creation, then on Oct. 3, students from the four elementary schools in the district came for a visit.

One of the events that drew many of the students’ attention was the show of the Aim High dogs, who performed amazing tricks of fetching and jumping. The students also appeared to be especially interested in checking out the artwork that they and their classmates had submitted as well as who had earned awards.

Also arriving from the beginning were scores of vendors selling both food and crafts. They were joined later in the day by the return of the beer and wine station and the haunted house - all popular additions having arrived in recent years.

That haunted house, that has been extremely popular with youth in the past few years, again featured scary and not-so scary time slots for visitors whose tolerance for fear was variable. 

The goats and cows that arrived on Oct. 4 were very popular. Even the youngest visitors appeared pleased with the opportunity to pat the animals, and the animals as well seemed to enjoy the attention.

The cow milking contest on Oct. 4 engendered tremendous excitement, especially as the representatives of the four elementary schools competed against each other for the most milk extruded. This year’s competition was won by the teacher-student team of Katelyn Hill and Elise Jacob from Pocopson Elementary School. Jacob said she and her partner had never milked a cow before, but, “We watched a video and practiced on plastic bags.”

The student cow milking was followed by competitions between fair queen court members and another with members of the community. This year’s fair also featured an antique car show on the west edge field of the property, featuring a substantial array of vehicles and their owners, including retired mushroom grower and state Secretary of Agriculture Charlie Brosius.

At 95 years old, he still brings his antique truck and calliope to the fair every year.

In the autumn of 2022, Brosius slipped in his garage and broke several ribs. On his way to the hospital in an ambulance, he was informed that his garage had burned and was a complete loss – including his beloved calliope. Since then, he has acquired a replacement calliope and an antique truck to haul it around.

On Oct. 5, scores of tractors arrived for a parade with their operators dressed in red, white and blue to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday.

Under steady leadership by Musser, the fair has kept its rural themes. She said she has seen other fairs in the area become more commercial and money-making, but she has always wanted to keep honoring the district’s farm roots and stay connected to the school.