For much of the general public, the Lebanon Area Fair is a chance to get a glimpse into the world of agriculture, catch some entertainment, and eat some sweet treats.
But the fair means a little more for farmers who attend year after year. For them, the fair represents community, an opportunity to educate, or even a legacy of showmanship and agricultural prowess.
For Emily Merkel, who works on a Lebanon area-based, 300-acre dairy farm with 120 milking Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle, the fair is about connecting farmers with the non-agriculture community.
“The fair is important to us because it kind of connects the consumer to what we do every day to produce agricultural products,” said Merkel, who lives off the family farm but works on it as a herds-woman. “At the end of the day, a farm is a business. It’s a passion, but it’s a business and the consumer’s thoughts and their ideas are really important to us because they’re buying our product, they’re helping us to sustain.”
Merkel added that the farmer/non-farmer connection is critical at an event like the Lebanon Area Fair. “For us to show them where their food comes from and how it is produced really helps us,” added Merkel.
Mike Firestine said educating the non-farm population about agriculture is a key reason the fair exists. He owns a farm near Womelsdorf, rents land near Myerstown and works in the agriculture division at Fulton Bank.
“It brings people who live in suburban and urban areas to the fair to see farm to table, learn the source of their food,” said Firestine. “They also learn that people in agriculture take good care and take pride in their livestock.”
Amy Crouse, whose family has a 30-acre farm near Myerstown housing 40,000 egg-laying chickens, said the fair demonstrates to attendees how hard farmers work every day of the year. Her daughter Marion, 10, is in her second year of showing hogs as a member of the Lebanon County 4-H Livestock Club.
“It shows what we’re producing for them and how farms are a necessity, you can’t have food without farming,” said Amy. “Having the fair, being able to showcase our animals, our products and our produce, and that it shows them that farming is important, it is a necessity to have us around them.”
Prior to LebTown speaking to Crouse, a non-farmer asked the family a number of questions about the ag industry. Questions Crouse has received from other individuals concerned how animals are raised, how animals are acquired and the care animals receive while being raised.
“He was asking about how his granddaughter could get into 4-H, how they could raise pigs themselves, what kind of feed do we feed our pigs, do you feed them a certain kind of feed, where do we get the feed or do we feed them table scraps,” said Amy.
Crouse added the fair provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the youths who enter the ring to show their animals at the judging competitions. At this year’s fair, Marion’s cross-bred Berkshire was named Reserve Champion.
“One thing I feel that’s important for the fair is that the kids are showcasing their animals,” said Amy. “The fair is about the kids and they are the future of farming and the next generation to come and this just shows them the importance of farming. They (the youths) work very hard, they work very hard.”
Marion, who also won a first-place blue ribbon for her hog, said she “really wants to be a farmer when she is older.” Friday, Marion will sell her prize-winning animal at the Youth Large Market Animal Sale, an event she said will “make her sad” to sell her animals but also “feel good” because it demonstrates that “you showed your pigs and that you took good care of them.”
Glenn Barhnart of Palmyra, like many local farmers, has been farming his whole life, and coming to the fair for at least 40 years. For the Barnharts, as with many who participate in the fair, it is a multigenerational affair. After showing animals in his own childhood, Glenn has passed the torch to his own kids.
“It teaches them a lot of discipline, respect for the animals, and responsibility,” explained Glenn, extolling the benefits he received from taking care of and showing animals as a kid.
The fair also gives the Barnharts a chance to talk to other farmers they may not see otherwise. With non-farmers who come to see the animals, Glenn sees an opportunity to educate.
“I think it’s a good thing for non-farming people to see this kind of show because they have huge misconceptions about farming,” he explained.
Moira McMullen of South Lebanon, age 16, is showing holsteins. McMullen is involved in 4-H livestock, which gives her a chance to improve her skills, connect with other youth involved in agriculture, and access knowledgable mentors.
“It’s been an amazing experince — I’ve learned a lot of responsibility taking care of them and it gives me a lot of community,” she explained.
She says she plans to continue being involved in the fair even as she grows into adulthood and ages out of 4-H.
Olivia Boltz’ experience of the fair is a bit different than that of many farmers, who start showing at a young age. Boltz has been showing for four years, since she started working at a farm in Myerstown.
Boltz explained that while she had a lot to learn at first, the farming community was more than happy to show her the ropes and help out however they could.
She is showing steers, some of the heaviest animals at the fair. While it’s a long, hard week, she said, the experience is more than worth it.
“The memories will last forever and the friendships are something we can always look back on,” she said. “It also gets to show the public what goes on beyond the barn walls.”
2024 Lebanon Area Fair Queen Brooke Beamesderfer, 18, stated during the fair queen competition that the fair has the ability to unify the community. LebTown asked her for this article how that’s accomplished.
Read More: 2024 Lebanon Area Fair Queen and the fair’s first Princess crowned
“I think it’s because agriculture is such a staple in Lebanon County and it’s an industry that really thrives,” said Beamesderfer. “I think this annual event has really, honestly, become a tradition. For farmers to come here to celebrate that and all that they do for the community and for the community to attend the fair and realize all of the work, the blood, sweat and tears that goes into putting food on our table and clothes on our bodies.”
Beamesderfer said she believes there are only four employed workers at the fair. The fair only happens, she said, thanks to an army of selfless volunteers.
“It’s not just exhibitors showing animals,” said Beamesderfer. “There’s something for all people of all ages; there’s a special day for children, we have a special day for our seniors…a special feature at our demo derby by the military to show our appreciation.
“Between the food, the attractions, the animals, it’s really a great way to have that underlying theme of agriculture but also have all of these other interests included and so many people involved in the fair.”
The 68th edition of the week-long Lebanon Area Fair runs today through Saturday at the Lebanon Valley Exposition and Fairgrounds, 80 Rocherty Road in North Cornwall Township.
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