Dear Friends and Supporters –
We all experience those moments…. when the fight feels too big, too hard, too impossible.
Do we have the energy to keep fighting.
To keep rolling that rock up the mountain, hoping at some point we will reach that pinnacle when we finally succeed, and rejoice when the momentum takes over and the rock finally rolls down the other side.
Haymarket Day is a fantastic reminder to all of us — why we refuse to give up.
What is life without the connections of community? It is within the tough times that your neighbors, your friends, your allies are there to make you laugh, give you a hug when you need it, remind you about what matters, and help you feel just a little less alone.
The success of Haymarket Day would not have been possible without the leadership of Coalition to Protect PWC Board Director Karen Sheehan. She took care of all the logistics and so much more (like spending hours with her husband, Tom, creating the sign for the hay wagon, and coming up with all the ideas for the decorations!)
We want to say a special thanks to all who provided the animals that made the day so special. Every single animal in the parade AND the Petting Zoo at the Coalition booth are animals that can be found in the Rural Crescent or the newly adopted Arts Ag and Overlay District.
Patrick Harders provided the goats. They were a quite a hit, even entertained with a few successful escapes and re-captures!
Thank you to our other Board Directors, Rachel Ellis, Jessica Grove, and Elena Schlossberg, for all their help!
Kae’s Chickens were a delight, and yes, at one point albeit briefly, there was an escapee chicken who ran straight for the beer garden!
AND of course, the mini horse, mini donkey, and sheep would not have been possible without the generosity of the Haymarket Veterinary Clinic.
Thank you to Charlie Lawrence for bringing the amazing antique John Deere tractor.
And of course, thanks to Steve Collins who built the hay wagon from scratch and was so proud to see his hard work bring joy to so many!
And so, the parade began……
And who knew that so many people would have an opportunity to learn the difference between a horse…
and a donkey…!
That chicken that escaped to the beer garden, here she is, Speckles! It was a long day, who can blame her wanting a happy hour beverage!
The petting zoo is a huge attraction, and an opportunity for children, AND adults, to appreciate the animals that enrich our remaining unique rural landscape of Northern Virginia.
The Polish hens are huge hit, with their extravagant top hat of hair! Who can resist the divas: J Lo, Dolly, Lady Gaga, and Madonna!
And yes, that’s Gainesville Supervisor Weir’s Chief of Staff, Rebecca Bare, hanging out with the goats. If you are wondering which goat was the escape artist (and the friendliest!), it was Freddie, the goat right in front.
And the bunny Pearl’s soft fur was a treat for everyone!
LOOK at the glorious rooster, Fox. Isn’t he amazing? He let everyone know where the petting zoo was, nonstop, from the moment in the dark that we headed out and throughout the morning as we set up!
Each year, more and more people come to the Coalition booth to learn more and talk more about their concerns. This year was no different. There were TWO main points people wanted to express concerns about 1) rising utility bills, and 2) Merrifield Gardens selling to data centers.
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