Bryce Neary will be trading in his hard hat for a cowboy hat and a sash when he’s not on the job this year.
The 19-year-old Valens resident was selected as the 2025 Rockton World’s Fair Ambassador during competition at the Rockton Fairgrounds Saturday. He’s the second man to take on the role; Roy Loree was crowned ambassador of the 173-year-old fair in 2011.
Neary, who works for Alectra Utilities in Hamilton, was sponsored by the Rockton Women’s Institute for the event. He vied for the crown alongside Rae Boudreau, who was sponsored by the Troy Women’s Institute. Both competitors had previously been interviewed by the judges, and had prepared detailed displays of their accomplishments.
On Saturday, both were required to deliver a short speech on the same topic: How has the Rockton Agricultural society helped shape you into who you are today?
Boudreau, who graduated last year from the Dental Assistant program at Fanshawe College program, stressed the importance of community and the support she has received as a longtime volunteer at the fair.
“Rockton Agricultural Society has always been an important part of who I am and where I am,” she said. “I’ve been going to the fair with my family since I was born and have been volunteering since I was old enough to do so. It has given me opportunities to be a bigger part of not only the fair, but the community.”
Boudreau added that volunteering with the RAS has allowed her to enhance her people skills, learn new skills, resolve conflict and grow connections with people with different ages and different interests.
Neary, in his speech, emphasized the lessons of hard work and pride he has gained through volunteering with the RAS.
“It’s helped shape me as a person and it’s helped me continue grow into the person I want to be,” he told the judges.
“The RAS has given me tremendous value for hard work,” he added, noting that he spent about 70 hours as a grounds maintenance volunteer at the fair last fall. “The Rockton Fair has given me such a sense of hard work, it has translated to all areas of my life.”
These include numerous achievements in both academic and sports; Neary was an honour roll student and received the, OCAA all academic award, among other accolades.
Further, “The RAS taught responsibility to me, in so many ways – you have to take accountability and do what you say you’re going to do,” he said. “It’s showed me the importance of following through with your word, which is something really important in life.”
Following the speeches, judges Jennifer Glenney, Bruce Pearson and and Suzanne Kelley deliberated for about 30 minutes before announcing Neary as the winner.
Mckenna Stephens, the 2024 Fair Ambassador and next year’s co-chair of the committee with Natasha Loree, presented Neary with the ambassador cowboy hat and sash. In her farewell speech, she encouraged the winner and gave some advice for the year ahead.
“Embrace this journey with an open heart and a curious mind,” she said.
