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Capital Campaign 
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair strives to make the experience at Devon the best it can possibly be for everyone who enters the grounds. We have made a significant investment this year to make improvements to the facility and increase the services offered. Our goal now is to replenish our resources. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation. For more information about the capital campaign, or to make a donation, please visit our web site. If you would like a call to discuss opportunities, please click here. ___________________________________ | |
Black Tie & Boots Ball Returns to Bryn Clovis, May 5.
There is still time to join us for this festive evening under the stars at fabled Bryn Clovis. Click here to have an invitation mailed to you or on the image below for a printable version.
Enjoy cocktails overlooking the rolling paddocks, followed by dinner and a live auction featuring great prizes such as a cruise for two on Holland America, two unrestricted business class tickets anywhere that Lufthansa Airlines flies, a 10 day sleep-away riding camp for your horse crazy girl at Top Ranch Riding Camp, Wells Fargo has contributed a VIP Flyers package for 6, and more! Following the auction, kick up your heels as Sugarfoot Farm brings down the house!
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Volunteer Appreciation Party, Hospitality Room at the Horse Show Grounds, May 6, 4 - 6 PM
Where would the Devon Country Fair be without volunteers? Please join your fellow volunteers for some tasty nibbles and libations. If you've already signed up via Shiiftboard, you'll be able to pick up your volunteer and parking passes. If you still need to sign up for your shifts, you can do that too!
Please remember that the Devon Derby relies on the volunteer's support to be successful and bring $10 to purchase your Derby book and a chance to win a 2012 Volkswagon Jetta!
If you have any questions about volunteering please click here to contact our Volunteer coordinators.
Presenting Sponsor:
Photo Credits:
Brenda Carpenter
Meg Wiederseim
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Schooling Area Footing Nears Completion
The most significant improvement at Devon for 2012 is the complete reconstruction of the schooling area. The third and final riding surface to be redone has been, by far, the largest of the three projects. For the third year in a row, Equestrian Services International was engaged to provide the all-weather footing. This year, however, the project went much deeper, literally, than installing a new surface. The entire schooling area was excavated to install a new water mitigation system. Brett Raflowitz, the founder and president of ESI, broke it down by the numbers: the schooling area at Devon is 135' by 250', that's roughly the size of a football field. Massive earth moving machines dug up mountains of soil and then installed almost ½ a mile of drainage pipe which is set into 3,500 tons of drainage rock. That's 700,000 pounds, the equivalent of 42 elephants. The drainage system in, the schooling area was then back filled and a level surface was created.
 In addition to all of the work in the schooling area, the drainage of the Dixon Oval was further improved by increasing the drainage basin that collects run off from high northwest corner of the property. A system of sub-surface piping was installed to drive water into the water mitigation system below the schooling area.
Once the footing is installed, the schooling area will be re-landscaped. The new schooling area will not only be more safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing, it will also be slightly larger and allow for additional schooling time for the different disciplines.
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You Asked, We Listened
In July of 2011, a survey was done to garner feedback on how you think we're doing. While we were pleased to learn that overall, you're very happy with your experiences at Devon, we were also pleased to get very specific information on areas that you felt there was room for improvement. This year we hope to have addressed several of those areas:
PARKING has long been an issue at Devon, this we know. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for this, but this year we will try to make Grand Prix parking a little more convenient. On May 31 only, we will be offering free parking at conveniently located off-site lots. The lots will be served by a free continuously running shuttle that will operate from 3:30 in the afternoon until 11:30 in the evening. Parking will be available at St. Davids Church and Main Line Unitarian Church from 3:30 on and Wayne Elementary School starting at 4:30. Parking is on a first come, first served basis.
 We also discovered that INFORMATION is not as readily available as we had thought. We'll be adding some high visibility signage that will provide the competition schedule as well as any events occurring for each given day. We are also working with Zero to 5, a Devon based marketing solutions company, to develop an app for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. Looking for results or orders of go? Want to know where the various shops are and what they carry? Want the time schedule in the palm of your hand? You'll be able to download the app and have everything you need to know at Devon in one place. The app is in development and will be ready in another few weeks.
When we asked about FOOD, you had a lot to say! While the classic "Fair" food is well loved, the need for healthier food offerings was a frequent request. This year the Hot Dog booth is making way for a salad bar! Don't worry, hot dogs aren't going anywhere, but now you will be able to select from an array of fresh greens, veggies and proteins to make a salad the way you want it, or have it as a wrap. There's nothing better than ice cream on a hot day, but if you're looking for a healthier way to cool down the Soda and Ice Cream booth will now offer water ice. The Hamburger booth is clearing some grill space to make way for a grilled chicken breast sandwich. While we're on Hamburgers...one of the other areas that we're focusing on is decreasing the wait time. The entire hamburger booth has been refitted with new equipment and a modified layout all designed with an eye toward increasing efficiency inside the booth and decreasing line time outside the booth.
We can't talk about your comments on food without addressing the TEA SANDWICHES. When our long time tea sandwich provider retired last year we thought it was a great opportunity to shake up the tea sandwiches a bit...boy were we wrong, BIG mistake. We get it, do not mess with the tea sandwiches! We are very happy to report that we have found a new supplier who is making the tea sandwiches just the way they're supposed to be! We promise, we will never change them again!
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Tickets Still Available for Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake
If you missed your chance to purchase tickets for the Grand Prix of Devon, you can still get your seats for the Saturday, June 2, US Show Jumping Team Observation Event. The Open Jumper Stake is the second Observation Event at Devon, part of the qualifying process for the 2012 Olympics. The class will take place late Saturday afternoon and features a water jump, something not often seen at Devon. Get your tickets now, this event is sure to be a sellout.
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