Written By Jan Sims
ILDERTON - Western University student and Ilderton resident Rachel Little has been chosen the 2025 Ilderton Fair Ambassador. Rachel, who is studying civil and environmental engineering, was chosen at a competition held August 21st. The runner up was Hannah Nelemans.
“She’s very excited,” says Fair spokesperson Alicia Robson. “She was a strong public speaker. She had a lot of interpersonal skills, and she was able to explain the importance of the agricultural society’s work… She was thrilled to get people involved,” adds Robson.
Rachel has a full slate of activities leading up to and including the Ilderton Fall Fair which is being held September 26th to 28th. “She’ll be riding in the parade, attend various outings, judge certain activities. Her involvement doesn’t end at the Fair. Our ambassadors go to local events that are hosted by a number of different clubs; not just the Agricultural Society. We have our ambassador help out at events that are hosted throughout our community. And not just Ilderton,” says Robson. For Rachel, that includes speaking at local schools prior to the Fair.
The ambassador program has been running for more than 50 years. And an important goal is to help people, and especially young people, understand the importance of farm to table. “With a lot of the urban growth that a lot of our rural communities are seeing, it’s really important to have ambassadors that represent what it means to invoke a small town. It’s important to keep that tradition alive,” says Robson. “The ambassador brings a personality and a presence to the Fair, that creates a more approachable connection; especially for the younger generation, who are growing up in our community and trying to understand what it means to be an involved and engaged volunteer or participant,” adds Robson.
Rachel’s role as ambassador extends beyond the Fair. She’ll be taking part in an event at the Canadian National Exhibition next summer.
The August 21st ambassador competition also featured two new Prince and Princesses, as well as the Golden Ambassador. Bill Thirlwall is this year’s Golden Ambassador, in recognition of his many years of community service. “He’s very active in promoting youth education around agriculture. He’s farmed his whole life. He’s an active member not only in the Fair, but our community as well,” says Robson.
