story and photos By Dante Campana / FUll360 Multimedia Reporter
My name is Dante Campana, a junior and media major at Delaware Valley University.
As a transfer student, this was my first opportunity to experience the highly anticipated A-Day celebration that happens every year on campus. Even weeks prior to the event, students would mention it excitedly and ask each other if they were going to attend. When the question finally came around to me, I knew I could not miss the chance to go.
As soon as I arrived on campus, the first thing I wanted to take in was all the sights and smells of the event. I meandered around the walkways, observing the lineup of vendor tents that stood ready with their wares. All sorts of products were on display, from fragrant make-your-own flower bouquets, delicious homemade fudge stands, and charming crocheted animals. Every loop around, I would notice something else that I hadn’t before, so browsing the tents many times proved rewarding.
Next, I followed my ears, which led me to the loud clangs of metal on metal at the blacksmithing tent. They demonstrated the intricacies of the craft while also emphasizing blacksmithing safety for younger children. It’s not every day one gets to observe glowing metal being shaped into a variety of products; As such, it served as an engaging experience to see this blazing-hot handiwork up close and to be able to capture images and video for this project.
The roar of the flames couldn’t drown out the cheers of the crowds that gathered for the pig and goat races. It’s hard to resist the joy in seeing baby pigs and goats race around the track and cheer for your favorites. Featuring baby goats such as Lebron and Messi (named after other real-world GOATs) and piglets such as Hamma Montana and Ham Solo, the racing events offered some lighthearted competition.
The baby animals weren’t the only ones in the spotlight during the weekend; the 4-H livestock show spanning Saturday and Sunday featured pigs and sheep as well as dairy and beef cows. The practice the livestock handlers had undergone was on full display: they guided their pigs along, showed off the form of their sheep by holding them in place, and comforted the cows as they stood still for judging. Hard work and preparation paid off as the winners received their ribbons with a smile.
Tractors were also on display and rumbled to life one-by-one for a parade that weaved along the main paths of campus for all to see. Onlookers at food trucks paused to watch the long line of vehicles roll by, and the families atop the towering tractors waved to the crowds below. Watching the tractors go past the main buildings of campus inspired a sense of pride in me, seeing firsthand how DelVal continues to honor its roots as the National Farm School and maintains that legacy to this day.
Overall, I’m glad to have experienced the various aspects of what makes A-Day special to DelVal, and I hope to return for it next year. All the hard work that goes into bringing the event to life culminates into a memorable time that students, staff, and alumni look forward to year after year. Every sight, every smell, every moment stands testament to the importance of community and the power in tradition.