At the 2025 Common Ground Country Fair, held in Unity, Maine, on September 19, 20, and 21, fairgoers young and old participated in an array of annual games and exhibitions, from the to the Common Ground 5K and Harry S. Truman Manure Pitch, to Fleece Show and livestock demonstrations.
5K Footrace
Age Groups
- <10 1st — Soren Adolphsen
- 11-15 1st — Micah Chartier
- 11-15 2nd — Grayson Staggs
- 11-15 3rd — Jesse Dittmar
- 16-25 1st — Robert Denegre
- 16-25 2nd — Jake Linck
- 16-25 3rd — Ty Mahnke
- 26-35 1st — Frank Sternberg
- 26-35 2nd — Isaac Vaccaro
- 26-35 3rd — James Longo
- 36-55 1st — David Silberberg
- 36-55 2nd — Silas Hagerty
- 36-55 3rd — Meg Mitchell
- 56-70 1st — Scott Vlaun
- 56-70 2nd — Brent Graham
- 56-70 3rd — Becca Gagne
- 71+ 1st — Paul Yates
Click here for the full list of 5K results.
Best of Food
- Best Beverage — Chai Wallahs of Maine
- Best Bite for the Buck — Taste of Taj India
- Best Booth Presentation — Sprouted Karma
- Best Farm to Table — Deer Isle Oyster Company
- Best Service — Tinder Hearth
- Best in Show — Nor’Easter Oyster Co.
- Better than Chocolate (dessert) — Fields Fields Blueberries
- First Impression (best new food or drink) — The Farmer’s Daughter
- Here’s the Meat — At Ata Wood Fire
- Taste, Not Trash — PieCones
- That’s Some Different! — Pressed for Cider
- Tradition! — Ye Olde English Fish & Chips
- Where’s the Beef? (vegetarian) — Shiitake Farm
- Where’s the Cheese? (vegan) — On A Roll Catering
- Best Fresh and Simple — Deer Isle Oyster Company
Thanks to all vendors who participated!
Draft Horse Show Placings
Junior Showmanship (9-17 years old)
- 1. Rylee Rancourt
- 2. Madalynn Cote
- 3. Zakaya Krantz
Tots Showmanship (8 years old and under)
- 1. Kora Fraser
- 2. Kloe Fraser
Geldings
- 1. Jessica Ferro
- 2. Kris Fraser
- 3. Pamela Rickenbach
- 4. Mark Carlow
- 5. Pete Stratton
- 6. Mark Carlow
Mares
- 1. Erika Marczak
- 2. Kris Fraser
- 3. Erika Marczak
- 4. Ada Yeates-Quinn
- 5. Pamela Rickenbach
- 6. Pete Stratton
Grand Champion Mare
- Erika Marczak with “Zosha” Brabant
Bred, Raised, and Owned
- 1. Erika Marczak
- 2. Erika Marczak
Junior Bareback Riding
- 1. Ada Yeates-Quinn
- 2. Rylee Rancourt
- 3. Madalynn Cote
Bareback Riding Adults
- 1. Elisabeth Simmons
- 2. Jessica Ferro
- 3. Aryanna Turner
- 4. Kris Fraser
- 5. Pete Stratton
- 6. Erika Marczak
Cart Class
- 1. Erika Marczak
- 2. Mark Carlow
- 3. Ada Yeates-Quinn
- 4. Jessica Ferro
- 5. Pete Stratton
- 6. Mark Carlow
Single Twitch
- 1. Dave Fish
- 2. Pete Stratton
- 3. Pete Stratton
- 4. Mark Carlow
- 5. Erika Marczak
- 6. Kris Fraser
Team Scoot
- 1. Dave Fish
- 2. Mark Carlow
- 3. Pete Stratton
- 4. Erika Marczak
- 5. Pete Stratton
- 6. Kris Fraser
Exhibition Hall Awards
- Most Educational — Maine Department of Corrections
- Special Thanks — Open Source Seed Initiative by Nikos Kavanya
- Special Thanks — Maine School Garden Network, Kat Coriell
- Special Thanks — Water by Eli Rogosa
Judge’s Awards
- American Snow Flake Cowl — Emma Hathawan, Rockland
- Amish Paste Tomato — Kathryn Russell, Limington
- Broccoli — Seth Yentes and Anna Shapley-Quinn, Monroe
- Brown Eggs — Courtney Huff, Burnham
- Charley Harper Organic Quilt — Susan Dunlap, East Waterboro
- Crochet Quilt, “Solar Spiral” — Aurora Green, Orono
- Dahlia “Cornell” — Martha Fenn King, York
- Dried Garlic Scape Powder — Amy Francis Leblanc, East Wilton
- Dried Lavender — Kathleen Fitzgerald, Mechanic Falls
- “Fall End of Season Bouquet” — Kerry Anne Williams, Winthrop
- Galine Eggplant — Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast
- Ginger Gold Apples — Mt. View Elementary School, Thorndike
- Green Mountain Potato — Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast
- Kennebec Tomato — Courtney Ross, South Bristol
- Knitted Afghan — Eryn Winter, Brunswick
- Kombucha (Peach, Raspberry, Ginger, and Sugar) — Anne Warner, East Dixmont
- Large Rosemary Plant — Sharon Turner, Washington
- Mandala Flower — Jonah Fertig-Burd, Durham
- Medium Mid Summer Honey — Beth Goodwin, Wells
- Music Garlic — Lee Cataldo, Brunswick
- Peach Jam — Yvonne Waldron, Unity
- Red Basil Infused Vinegar — Amy Francis Leblanc, East Wilton
- Seed Ristra Spitfire 7th Generation — Amy Francis Leblanc, East Wilton
- Shiitake Mushrooms — Lee Cataldo, Brunswick
- Silverado Swiss Chard — Mark Rubie, Winslow
- Stained Glass, “Root Crops” — Susannah Koch, Swanville
- Veronica Romanesco Cauliflower — Seth Yentes and Anna Shapley-Quinn, Monroe
- Watermelon Radish — Prentice Grass, Village Side Farm, Freedom
- Quilt Art Block — Emily Mackeown, Portland
Fleece Show 2025
The 2025 Fleece Tent Wool Show was another success with 12 wool fleeces entered for judging. Rae Reimer was our wool judge for the 2025 fleece show. She carefully assessed each of the 12 show fleeces, explaining her scoring at each step of the way. Due to her thorough review of each fleece it took her almost four hours to complete the judging. Each wool grower received notes on their judging forms, with scores and judge’s comments, to take home regarding their individual fleeces. A big thank you to our scribe, Jeanne Caron.
The following wool growers received ribbons and premiums.
Colored longwool:
- 1st place — Becky Bartovics for a Coopworth fleece from Cider Hill Farm, North Haven. 2nd place — Sandy Redemske for a Coopworth fleece from Chick-Goo-Ewe Farm, Jefferson.
White longwool:
- 1st place — Becky Bartovics from Cider Hill Farm, North Haven.
Colored medium fleece:
- 1st place — Erin Carter for a Corriedale fleece from Shepherdess of Black Sheep Farm, Orono.
- 2nd place — Cindy Cronin for a Finnsheep from The Cronin Farm, Garland.
White medium:
- 2nd place — Erin Carter for a Corriedale fleece from Shepherdess of Black Sheep Farm, Orono.
Colored fine:
- 2nd place — Erin Carter for a Corriedale fleece from Shepherdess of Black Sheep Farm, Orono.
- 3rd place — Cindy Cronin who entered a Finnsheep from The Cronin Farm, Garland.
- White fine:
2nd place — Erin Carter for a Corriedale fleece from Shepherdess of Black Sheep Farm, Orono.
Alpaca fleeces:
- 1st place — Nancy Adinolfi for a dark colored adult alpaca fleece.
- 2nd place — Nancy Adinolfi for a fawn colored adult alpaca fleece.
The Best in Show Rosette went to Becky Bartovics.
Congratulations to all our dedicated wool growers. We are already looking forward to next year and more entries! Submitted by Meredith Toumayan, Fleece Tent Coordinator.
Harry S. Truman Manure Pitch Awards
Distance and Accuracy
Friday 11 a.m.:
Children’s Bracket:
- 1st — Isaac B. (43 ft.)
- 2nd — Eli F. (40 ft.)
- 3rd — Addison W. (39 ft.)
Bracket #1:
- 1st — Melanie L. (50 ft.)
- 2nd — Karen E. (48 ft.)
- 3rd — Amy D. (43 ft.)
Bracket #2:
- 1st — Sam VB. (84 ft.)
- 2nd — Don A. (78 ft.)
- 3rd — Angelo P. (70 ft.)
Friday 2 p.m.:
Children’s Bracket:
- 1st — Michael Y-O. (44 ft.)
- 2nd — Seriah P. (29 ft.)
- 3rd — Theo (26 ft.)
Bracket #1:
- 1st — Melanie L. (50 ft.)
- 2nd — Sharon (44 ft.)
- 3rd — Caitlin H. (43 ft.)
Bracket #2:
- 1st — Kenny I. (59 ft.)
- 2nd — Emmanuel (58 ft.)
- 3rd — Trevor B. (48 ft.)
Saturday 11 a.m.
Children’s Bracket:
- 1st — Joel W. (22 ft.)
- 2nd — Lillian Shaffer (11 ft.)
- 3rd — Stone S.
Bracket #1:
- 1st — Meg G. (62 ft.)
- 2nd — Grace (45 ft.)
- 3rd — Darcy B. (40 ft.)
Bracket #2:
- 1st — Marc D. (72 ft.)
- 2nd — Willie D. (66 ft.)
- 3rd — Max M. (62 ft.)
Saturday 2 p.m.
Children’s Bracket:
- 1st — Luca M. (40 ft.)
- 2nd — Grayson S. (32 ft.)
- 3rd — Cavan M. (29 ft.)
Bracket #1:
- 1st — Katy B. (47 ft.)
- 2nd — Kaleigh J. (46 ft.)
- 3rd — Melanie L. (43 ft.)
Bracket #2:
- 1st — Nathan H. (84 ft.)
- 2nd — Andrew S. (84 ft.)
- 3rd — Mark H. (80 ft.)
Livestock Awards
Very Nice Display — Carlow Draft Horses, Darthia Farm, Mandala Farm, North Branch Farm, Pete Stratton, Rock Maple Acres, Daly Family Farms, Marston Homestead, Catawampus Farm, Full Moon Farm, Yeti Ridge Farm, Wind Song Farm.
Very Educational Display — Robinson Farm, Larrabee Farm, Casa Cattle Co., Mini Mt. Estate, Equiculture @ Anam Cara Farm, Beans Corner Farm, Hawthorn and Thistle, Red Oak Farm.
Very Educational Youth Demonstration — Morgan Family Farm, Daly Family Farms, Wind Song Farm.
Very Educational Demonstration — Equiculture @ Anam Cara Farm, MH Performance Horsemanship, Wind Song Farm, Beans Corner Farm, Hawthorn and Thistle, Red Oak Farm, W.I.S.H. Farm and Shearing, Yeti Ridge Farm, Casa Cattle Co., Mini Mt. Estate, Chris Lombard Horsemanship.
Steer and Oxen Demonstration Highlights
The steer and oxen in the Livestock Area at the Common Ground Country Fair were very successful with the quality of the animals, the demonstrations, and connectivity with the people attending the Fair. There were 20 teams of steer and oxen in the barns ranging from 4 months to 4.5 years old. Demonstrations this year consisted of:
- “How to Make an Oxen Yoke” by David Cox of Bryant Pond
- “Training a Young Team of Steers” by Mark Larrabee of Litchfield
- “Working a Team” by Melinda Larrabee Robinson of Litchfield
- “Training Two Teams to Work as a 4 Ox Hitch” by Cindy Kilgore and Norris Smith of Jay
- “Family Traditions with Steers” by Mike Henderson and family of West Paris
- “Training a Young Team and Young Teamsters” by Mark Winslow or Falmouth
- “Training 4H Teamsters and Teams for Showing” by Shyloe Morgan of West Paris and Lauren Robinson of Turner
- “Twitching Logs in the Woodlot” by Earland Luce of Appleton
- How Young Teamsters Can Succeed with Working Young Steers” by Shirley, Lincoln, and Mason Daly of Knox
Teamsters also answered many questions from the spectators while they were at the barns. Demonstrations were held in the round pen, show ring, woodlot, and the barns. Teamsters brought teams of different breeds like Brown Swiss, Miking Devon, Shorthorn, Chiania, Black/White Faces, and several other crossbreeds.
Teamsters also competed and demonstrated in afternoon scooting contests for three different weight classes.
Scooting contests were held consisting of a teamster traveling through an obstacle course with this steer or oxen team without touching any of the obstacles. The team that hits the least amount of the obstacles wins the event and that team is rated as the most “handy” or best trained.
Outstanding Teamster Award* — Delaney Morgan of Morgan Family Farms
*Presented in the memory of Newt Kocrin, a teamster instrumental in the creation of the steer and oxen department at the Common Ground Country Fair.
Submitted by Steve Norton, Steer and Oxen coordinator.
Teamster of the Day — Field
Elwyn Yentes, North Branch Farm
Logan Robinson, Robinson Farm
Jim Larocque, Larocque Farm
Teamsters of the Day — Forest
Earland Luce, Rock Maple Acres
David Fish, Twin Pines
Ken Lamson, New Beat Farm
Agricultural Products Blue Ribbon Winners
Best Family Farm Display — Jonestead Seeds, Baskets, and Tools, Michael Jones
Most Fairgoer Friendly — Sweet Dreams Lavender Farm, Marie Kirven
Best Educational Booth — Maine Heritage Orchard Tent, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Best Agricultural Booth — Joelsa Farm, Ellen Forbes