Some summer events are simply more enjoyable than others. It all depends on your taste. Picnics. Beaches. Pools. Road trips. We all have things that inspire us and make summer a thing to be relished. June 13, 2026, Hunterdon Polo Classic, had the makings of a summer memory to cherish but also remind us of what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Fieldview Farm in Pittstown, families, friends, neighbors, businesses, volunteers, nonprofit supporters, and first-time polo spectators gathered to celebrate the 26th Anniversary Hunterdon Polo Classic… a beloved Hunterdon County tradition that combines sport, philanthropy, and community spirit in a way that few events can.
As one of this year’s beneficiary organizations, Family Promise of Hunterdon County is honored to have been part of this remarkable day and deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.
A Tradition That Gives Back
For more than two decades, the Hunterdon Polo Classic has brought people together for a day of family-friendly entertainment while raising funds and awareness for local nonprofit organizations through the work of the Hunterdon Foundation.
The Foundation’s mission is simple but powerful: to support charitable organizations through the sport of polo and the generosity of community members who believe in giving back.
This year’s event benefited six organizations that are working every day to strengthen lives and communities:
- Family Promise of Hunterdon County
- Riding With HEART
- Team Velvet
- The Takaezu Studio Project
- HOME of Somerset County
- Daughters of the American Revolution
While each organization serves a different purpose, all share a commitment to strengthening lives, preserving opportunity, and improving the communities we call home. We were honored to stand alongside them.
A Picture-Perfect Day in Hunterdon County
Mother Nature certainly did her part. The blue skies stretched across the countryside. Gentle breezes rolled across the fields. The sun shone brightly over the lush green polo grounds as guests arrived throughout the afternoon. Fieldview Farm quickly came alive with activity. Families unfolded lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Tailgaters transformed their reserved spaces into festive gathering places filled with food, laughter, decorations, and friendly competition. Children explored the grounds with wide-eyed excitement. Friends reconnected. Neighbors met neighbors. And all around the field, a shared sense of anticipation grew as spectators prepared for one of Hunterdon County’s most unique sporting traditions.
For many guests, the Polo Classic is an annual tradition. For others, it was their first experience attending a polo match. Regardless of how long they had been attending, everyone quickly discovered what makes this event so special.
The Excitement of Polo
If you’ve never witnessed polo in person, it’s difficult to fully appreciate the speed, precision, athleticism, and teamwork involved. Often called “the sport of kings,” polo is anything but slow. The match featured talented players and remarkable equine athletes demonstrating extraordinary skill, strategy, and horsemanship throughout the afternoon.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the polo players, horse owners, trainers, grooms, veterinarians, and the many equestrian professionals whose dedication makes this sport possible.
The connection between rider and horse is something truly remarkable to witness. Every break across the field, every perfectly timed pass, and every scoring opportunity showcased years of training, discipline, and commitment. Their efforts created an unforgettable experience for spectators and helped make the day one to remember.
More Than Just a Match
Of course, the Hunterdon Polo Classic has always been about much more than polo. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed a wide variety of attractions and activities.
Classic car enthusiasts admired an impressive collection of beautifully maintained vehicles. Families enjoyed entertainment throughout the grounds. Guests eagerly participated in the ever-popular hat contest, displaying creativity, elegance, and a healthy sense of humor.
The beloved Tewksbury Foot Bassets once again delighted spectators of all ages. And one of the most cherished traditions of all returned during halftime: the divot stomp. For those unfamiliar with polo, halftime isn’t simply a break in the action. It’s an invitation!
Spectators are welcomed onto the field to help replace divots created during play while enjoying conversation, laughter, and the unique experience of standing where moments earlier horses were racing at full speed. It’s a small tradition, but one that perfectly captures the spirit of the event: participation, community, and connection.
Why Events Like This Matter
While the day was filled with entertainment, fellowship, and celebration, there was also a deeper purpose behind every ticket sold and every tailgate assembled.
For Family Promise of Hunterdon County, support from events like the Hunterdon Polo Classic helps advance our mission to prevent and end homelessness in Hunterdon County. Every day, we work with families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives… A sudden medical emergency… The loss of a job… An unexpected expense… A rent increase that pushes a family beyond what they can afford.
These challenges can quickly lead to housing instability and homelessness.
Through programs like:
The Promise Center
The Promise Center provides a safe, welcoming transitional housing environment where women and families with children can work toward long-term housing stability.
Residents receive individualized support from professional case managers who help them set goals, access resources, secure employment, strengthen financial stability, and move toward permanent housing.
Homelessness Prevention
Sometimes the best way to address homelessness is to prevent it before it starts. Through homelessness prevention assistance, eligible families facing eviction due to an unexpected financial crisis may receive support that helps them remain safely housed and avoid entering homelessness altogether.
Housing Navigation and Stabilization
For individuals and families currently experiencing homelessness, Family Promise helps identify housing opportunities, connect households with resources, and assist with move-in costs when funding is available. These services help families rebuild their lives and move forward with dignity.
Events like the Hunterdon Polo Classic help ensure these programs remain available to the families who need them most.
Gratitude for a Community That Shows Up
No event of this scale happens by accident. It takes vision and planning. It takes volunteers and sponsors. It takes nonprofit partners. And it takes attendees who choose to spend their day supporting causes that matter.
To everyone who purchased a ticket through Family Promise of Hunterdon County, thank you. To everyone who attended, thank you. To those who shared social media posts, invited friends, encouraged coworkers, forwarded emails, or helped spread the word, thank you.
To the board members, volunteers, donors, and supporters who championed this event, thank you. To the sponsors whose generosity helps make this event possible year after year, thank you. To the vendors, organizers, event staff, and countless behind-the-scenes contributors whose efforts often go unseen, thank you.
To our fellow beneficiary organizations and their supporters, thank you for joining us in celebrating the power of community. And most especially, thank you to the Hunterdon Foundation for continuing to create an event that not only entertains but also strengthens the nonprofit organizations serving our region.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the 2026 Hunterdon Polo Classic, we do so with tremendous gratitude. The day reminded us that community is one of our greatest assets. When neighbors support neighbors, when organizations work together, and when people gather around a shared purpose, extraordinary things happen.
At Family Promise of Hunterdon County, we see the results of that generosity every day through the families whose lives are changed because someone chose to help. We are honored to have been part of this year’s event and grateful for every person who made it a success. Thank you for helping create a stronger, more compassionate Hunterdon County.
We look forward to seeing you at the polo field for the 2027 Classic.
What Comes Next?
We keep going. Every dollar of this gift is already at work… keeping our transitional home running, providing resources for our guests, and investing in futures that are still being written.
And if you’re reading this and wondering, “How can I help?” – there are plenty of ways:
- Become a monthly supporter
- Share our mission with others
- Sign up for our newsletter: tinyurl.com/HunterdonNews
Together, we can help families overcome crisis and move forward with dignity, hope, and the support they deserve.