2025 Ag Fair sees record attendance, contest participants

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce had a beautiful fall day to host their annual Eastern Shore Agricultural Fair on Saturday, October 4 which was held in Machipongo, VA.  With over 50 vendors, multiple active and submitted competitions, the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team Demos and a magnificent antique tractor display from the Peninsula Tractor Organization there was something for everyone to see and participate in!  In the 9 years since the event started this was the largest so far with over 1,600 attendees.

The antique tractor parade, which has been a fan favorite for years, was led by a spirited Northampton High School marching band.  Northampton County farmer Ray Newman, drove the lead tractor for the Peninsula Tractor Organization in a 1938 Model RC Case IH tractor, the same tractor model and year that he learned to drive as a child.  At 93 years old, Mr. Newman still farms 3,000 acres and is our oldest active farmer on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Virginia Cooperative Extension made a strong showing, with ANR and 4-H agents leading a variety of engaging competitions and educational activities. The ever-popular large prize pumpkins and sweet potato decorating contest stole the show again this year.  Vegetable baskets, soybean, and corn competitions showcased the region’s bounty. New additions included floral arrangements, honey entries, and the 4-H ham contest that added a savory twist to the lineup.

Active competitions were exciting as well, drawing large spectator crowds. Oyster Shucking had a fierce “shuckout” between Big Al and Rob Bloxom.  The skillet throwing competition started off with the Northampton High School Shore Bots Robotics Team robot throwing/chucking the inaugural frisbees on the course.  Numerous men, women, and children participated in this event.  Wader races had people of all ages laughing!

Submitted Competitions: 

Crop Competition Winners:

• Adult Largest Pumpkin – 1st Place – Garrison “Doc” Brown (also VA State Fair 4th place winner), 2nd Place – Bill Mytnik, 3rd Place – Randy Burton
• Adult Largest Zucchini – 1st Place – Bill Mytnik, 2nd Place – Nick Thomas 
• Adult Vegetable Basket – 1st Place – Anne Mytnik
• Adult Row Crops – Field Corn 1st Place – Nathan Eulo, 2nd Place – Nick Thomas
• Adult Row Crops – Soybeans – 1st Place – Ralph Dodd
• Adult Extracted Honey – 1st Place – WT Wilkins
• Youth Largest Pumpkin – 1st Place – Percy & Parker Thomas
• Youth Vegetable Basket – 1st Place – Hayden Morgan
• Youth Row Crops – Soybeans – 1st Place – Bailey & Walker Sturgis, 2nd Place – George & William Russell

Poster Competitions Winners:

• Youth Elementary (k-5) – 1st Place – Merrick Ford – 1st Grade Occohanock Elementary 
• Youth Middle School (6-8) – 1st Place – Willow Snead – 6th Grade Arcadia Middle School, 2nd Place – Group Effort of Elif Korkmuz, Kody Scarborough, Audrey Hinman, and Jhan’Nay Cranvilillgo (Nandua Middle),  3rd Place – Keischa Sylla/Bethnael Joseph – 6th Grade Nandua Middle School

Decorated Sweet Potato – 

• Youth Elementary (k-2) – 1st Place – Carsyn Ames, 2nd Place – Rhet Dukes, 3rd Place – Alexander Burpus
• Youth Elementary (3-5) – 1st Place -Summer Ames, 2nd Place – Halle Temy, 3rd Place – Caroline Marshall
• Youth Middle School (6-8) – 1st Place – Chandler Kellam, 2nd Place – Suri Doughty, 3rd Place – Isabel Rader

Salted Ham Show – 

• 1st – Caleb Dail, 2nd – Hayden Morgan, 3rd – Grace Deitch 

Critterless Critter Contest – 

• Cuddliest Critter – 1st Place – Sophia Rinaldo, 2nd Place – Thea Ford, 3rd Place – Merrick Ford
• Small Animal – 1st Place – Thea Ford,
• Large Animal – 1st Place – Darwin Farmer, 2nd Place – Lachlan Ford
• Most Realistic – 1st Place – Sophia Rinaldo

Photography – 

• Adult Aquaculture – 1st Place – Sophia Hoffman
• Adult Agriculture – 1st Place – Kate Dodson, 2nd Place – Sophia Hoffman, 3rd Place – Albert Turner
• Youth High School Aquaculture – 1st Place – Sadie Reiter
• Youth High School Agriculture – 1st Place – Sadie Reiter

Baking – 

• Adult Pies – Sweet Potato – 1st Place – Annie Mytnik
• Adult Bread – Sweet Potato Biscuits – 1st Place – Elizabeth Lankford
• Overall Adult Winner – Elizabeth Lankford
• Youth Pies – Sweet Potato – 1st Place – Hayden Morgan
• Youth Pies – Apple – 1st Place – Violet Yumans
• Youth Breads – Cornbread – 1st Place – Hayden Morgan
• Overall Youth Winner – Violet Yumans

Active Competitions:

Oyster Shucking – 

• 1st Place – Big Al, 2nd Place – Rob Bloxom

Skillet Throwing – 

• Adult Men – 1st Place – Luke Newman, 2nd Place – Spencer Parks, 3rd Place – Lee Robins
• Adult Women – 1st Place Erica Johnson, 2nd Place – Tiffany Ford, 3rd Place – Susan Bates
• Youth Boys (8 & Under) – Henry Robins (4)
• Youth Boys (8-10) – 1st Chasten Fitchett (9) – 44’, 2nd – Archer Hall (8) – 40’, 3rd – Elliot Cohen (7) – 34’
• Youth Boys (10-12) – 1st – Edward Burger (12) – 45’, 2nd – Will Long (11) – 44’, 3rd – Brooks Johnson (11) – 42’
• Youth Boys (12-18) – 1st – Finn Barrett (16) – 64’, Grayson Brown (18) – 57’; Garrett Fisher (15) – 48’
• Youth Girls (8 & Under) – 1st Place – Thea Ford (4), 2nd Place – Katy Parks (3)
• Youth Girls (10-12) – 1st Place – Ellie Marsh (12) – 34’
• Youth Girls (12-18) – 1st Place – Elise Irminger (16) – 59’, 2nd Place – Miriam Mendy (15) – 44’, 3rd Place – Abby Zodun (17) – 42’

A special thanks goes out to the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Ag Fair Planning Committee, the Peninsula Tractor Organization, and Virginia Cooperative Extension for making this event successful.  See you next year on the first Saturday of October.