Washington County Agricultural Fair 225 Anniversary by SWPA Special Publications

225 years years of celebrating the Agricultural Industry of the Agricultural Industry

EQT is a proud sponsor of the Washington County Fair and the annual summer traditions that tie our community together.

LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION KEEPS A 225-YEAR TRADITION ALIVE AND THRIVING

34 WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR STEEPED IN RICH HISTORY

14 FROM 4-H EXHIBITS TO CONCERTS, FAIR PROMISES FUN FOR ALL

AGRITOURISM ENERGIZES WASHINGTON COUNTY’S ECONOMY THROUGH FARMS, FESTIVALS AND MORE

FAMILY FARMS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY’S ECONOMY AND HERITAGE

From left, Jerry Klotz, Bill Blough and Jim Long, members of the Roof Garden Tractor Buddies, participate in the Tractor Square Dance events Sunday, August 14, 2005, at the 2005 Washington Country Agricultural Fair, Washington County Fairgrounds. Published August 14, 2005

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Leadership and collaboration keeps a 225-year tradition alive and thriving

By Van Mitchell

The Washington County Agricultural Fair will celebrate its 225th anniversary August 12-19. The Washington County Agricultural Fair aims to promote and advance the interests of agriculture, horticulture, homemaking subjects, arts, sciences and all kindred arts. The mission also encourages 4-H club work, FFA activities and other educational work. The fair also serves to create closer coordination between agriculture, business and industry in the area and to develop industrial and commercial participation in conjunction with the exhibits.

Putting together such an event takes a strong leadership team, including the Fair Board, Washington County commissioners, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency.

“Washington County is the property owner of the fairgrounds,” said Washington County Commissioner Chair Diana Irey Vaughan.

“We have had a great partnership with the Fair Board for decades. They provide the day-to-day management of the property.”

Irey Vaughan said Washington County has stepped in to fund capital projects at the fair and other types of assistance as needed through their planning department.

“We’ve had great success,” she said. “When we instituted the tourism tax, the first thing we did was dedicate a portion of the revenues to go to building the structure that houses the food vendors, with the canopy. We worked with them to have a lease by Range Resources that has provided additional gas revenue, monies that have gone into capital projects at the fair. We’ve worked jointly with them, creating master plans for improvements for the property for years to come.”

Irey Vaughan said the Fair Board has provided valuable leadership in making the fair a continued success.

“The volunteers of the fair board provide an extremely valuable asset and experience to the citizens of Washington County and those in our region,” she said.

Fair Board Secretary Wayne Hunnell said the board is comprised of 11 volunteers.

“It’s an all-volunteer board,” Hunnell said. “It has its president, Todd Richards. Dave Cowden, who’s been on the board for over 34 years, is vice president of the board. Pat O’Brien is the treasurer, and I’m the secretary. In addition to the four of us being board members, we’re the four officers of the fair board.”

Hunnell said the balance of the board is made up of individuals who directly contribute and volunteer in some fashion.

Board member Mindy Ivcic’s in-laws and family own a petting zoo nearby and are very involved with the fair. Audra Brigich comes to the board from a farming family.

The newest addition to the fair board is Kelly Korpus. “She is also the one who started the Junior Fair Board and oversees those meetings,” Hunnell said.

Bill McGowan is a 30-year member of the board, Hunnell said, and added that Gino Bioni is one of the younger members on the Fair board and has his own construction company.

Fairgoers ride high in swings against the darkening sky Monday at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter, January 9, 2013

Gino has all the equipment that allows us to move things around and get them ready for each of those events,” Hunnell said. “He’s a huge contributor to the board.”

Jeff Gardner comes to the board by way of his familial connections. He’s been in a farming family for years. His mother, Nadine Gardner, was a board member and was fair board secretary. She, much like Hunnell himself now as secretary, oversaw a lot of the day-today happenings at the fairgrounds.

“Then Doug Redd is one of the local farmers who has come on the board and helped bring more of the direct agriculture back to the Fair Board as well,” Hunnell said.

Most of the Fair Board members have some farming backgrounds or come from families with longtime ties to farming.

“Most of us have some input into the farming side of things,” he said. “Some are more involved day-today with the actual farming. For example, going back, Jeff Bull from Bull International had the tractor parts place. He was on the board for years. Harry Hank, for years, was the one who oversaw, and in fact, the are-

na has his name on it as ‘Harry Hank Arena’ here at the show arena. He did a lot for the board and then, over time, contributed a fair amount of his funds to make sure that the fair was able to continue. Bill Iams from Log Cabin Fence has been a huge contributor. They still bring a lot of equipment and other things to the fair to help out every year.”

Hunnell said Dick Horstmow ran food booths until a couple of years ago and was also a director and president of the board for several years.

The Fair Board works hard to ensure the fair’s success.

“It’s a very exciting time for all of us involved here that we continue the tradition of this fair and continue to promote agriculture, which is still a key economic engine for the state. We are excited to maintain the fair for future generations to enjoy,” Hunnell said.

Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency, says the organization has a vested interest in ensuring that the Washington County Agricultural Fair is promoted, and that’s for several reasons.

“The first being it is a major tourist attraction for Washington County,” he said. “We get thousands of people that come in over the week-long festivities of the fair just to visit with all the fair attractions, the animal exhibits and things of that nature. We want to encourage that because it does bring in people, which of course, helps the economic development of Washington County.”

“When this fair was started, John Adams was the President of the United States,” he said. “And I think it’s a world testament to the fair organizers and then the volunteers for keeping this tradition going for so long. We’re actually building on what has been successful all these years.”

Kotula said the three leadership facets have worked hard to ensure the fair is still vibrant now and in the future.

“In addition to the traditional venues that people come out to see, we’re working on a lot of improvements at the fairgrounds as well,” he said. “We’re opening up a new plaza right in the middle of the fair to serve as both, to honor the 225th anniversary as well as to serve as directional signs on how to get around and enjoy the fair. Many of the buildings are being improved. Diane Adams, our local artist, has painted a mural on one of our buildings as well. We just don’t rest on our laurels at the Washington County Fair. So many local companies are donating and volunteering to improve and ensure we enjoy the fair for another 225 years.”

Horned Dorset sheep raised by MacKenzie Simpson of Burgettstown will be shown during the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter, August 16, 2021

Annual Worship Service at the 225th Washington County Fair

All are invited to worship at 10 a.m. Sunday, August 13, at the Nadine Gardner Show Tent

Local pastors will lead the service, which will include special music, singing and a message.

The o ering will beneﬁt Washington County Food Helpers.

The service is sponsored by area churches including:

Cross Creek Presbyterian Church

Fourth Presbyterian Church

Langeloth Presbyterian Church

Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church

North Bu alo U.P. Church

Taylorstown Presbyterian Church

Upper Bu alo Presbyterian Church

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From 4-H exhibits to concerts, fair promises fun for all

The Washington County Agricultural Fair is an eight-day event attracting more than 65,500 spectators annually. The 225th anniversary fair runs August 12-19.

“While we are celebrating the 225th Washington County Agricultural Fair, the foundation of this event is timeless. It has always been a way to honor our county’s rich farming heritage and, more importantly, the generations of families that have raised the crops and livestock that we depend on every day. It is a way for us to appreciate what those families and farms mean to our county and country,” said Jeff Kotula, chairman of the Washington County Agricultural Fair 225th anniversary planning committee. The committee announced its plans to celebrate this milestone with the community.

Memorial plaza and personalizedcommemorative pavers

“We will build and dedicate the 225th memorial plaza, which will feature fair history, commemorative images and commemorative personalized pavers,” said Wayne Hun- nell, fair board secretary and member of the anniversary planning committee. “These pavers are an excellent opportunity for you to leave your mark on the fairgrounds and be a part of this historic moment.”

The commemorative personalized pavers are either 4 by 8 inches or 8 by 8 inches. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Wash- ington County Agricultural Fair, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Purchasers could engrave a family name, business or organization or even honor a loved one’s memory.

A colorful ferris wheel spins green Monday at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Jim McNutt/ Observer-Reporter, January 9, 2013

A young boy slips down a slide at the 2005 Washington County Agricultural Fair Thursday August 14, 2005 Washington County fairgrounds.

Anniversary mural

“We have commissioned a local artist to create a mural that will showcase the history and evolution of the Washington County Agricultural Fair,” Hunnell said. “This mural will be on the exterior of a building next to the anniversary plaza. It will be a permanent display and will make for a great photo opportunity for visitors.”

Opening parade

The opening parade will be a highlight of the 225th edition of the fair. The parade will be held Aug. 13, starting at 2 p.m.

“We have invited past and present fair exhibitors to participate in the parade, showcasing the traditions and history of the fair,” Hunnell said.

225th anniversary theme and traveling antique truck and tractor exhibit

“We will have an antique truck and tractor traveling exhibit, which will showcase the evolution of agriculture and farming practices in Washington County,” Hun- nell said. “This exhibit will be the 225th anniversary themed, and we encourage everyone to come out, take a picture and learn about the rich history of agriculture in our community.”

With the Ferris wheel in in the background, Peters Township High School sophomore band member Bryan Powell plays his trombone during the band exhibition at the 2005 Washington County Agricultural Fair, Washington County Fairgrounds.

Richard Rastetter competes in the quad pull Sunday night August 13, 2006 at the Washington County Agricultural Fair, Washington County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, Arden. Amber Miller/ Observer-Reporter,

Major concert

Country artist Russell Dickerson will headline the music stage with a concert on Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m.

Commemorative magazine

“We will be producing a special com memorative magazine that will fea ture the history of the Washington County Agricultural Fair and the spe cial events and activities planned for the 225th anniversary celebration,” Hunnell said.

Commemorative TICKET

“We will be producing a special com memorative ticket that will be hand ed out at the gate as part of Opening Day celebrations,” Hunnell said.

Hunnell said the planning committee is continuing to finalize all the fair details.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to this thing right now,” he said. “But I think, in general, the pieces are all falling in line. Join us for this special occasion as we celebrate 225 years of agriculture, tradition and community at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. We look forward to seeing you there.”

The Washington County Agricultural Fair and the fairgrounds are key economic drivers for Washington County and surrounding communities. The fairgrounds include five exhibit halls, ten barns, a grandstand, the show arena, show tent and picnic pavilion. The fairgrounds are active on a year-round basis attracting various shows and exhibits. Most of these events are rentals where organizations lease the facility. Most events occur over multiple days and weekends, and the total fair and expo center attendance exceeds 135,000 annually.

For more information, visit the fair website at washingtonfair.org or call the fair office at 724225-7718. Daily admission is $10, including carnival rides, and parking is always free.

Emma Gent, 10, silhouetted against a darkening sky does a flip on the bungy rattraction Monday at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Emma was at the fair with her mother, Kayla Kerman of Chartiers Twp. Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter, January 9, 2013

Lena Bioni shows her grand champion lamb during the Washington County Agricultural Fair livestock sale Saturday. Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter, August 20, 2016

Chasten McConn, 9, of West Middletown, gives a bath to Babycakes the goat at the Washington County Fairgrounds Saturday. Chasten was there for the kickoff of the Washington County Agricultural Fair, which continues through Saturday, Aug. 16. Brad Hundt /Observer-Reporter, August 10, 2014

Hooves of several horses pound the track during a race Sunday, August 14, 2005, at the 2005 Washington County Agricultural Fair, Washington County Fairgrounds. Published August 14, 2005

A young Nubian goat owned by Montgomery Farm investigates anything that approaches during the Washington County Fair. Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter, August 11, 2018

Icicle lights and covers over otherwise bare bulbs add an appropriate festive atmosphere to a horse barn Tuesday August 14, 2007 at the Washington County Fair. Stan Diamond/Observer-Reporter, August 16, 2007

A driver in the demolition derby at the Washington County Agricultural Fair climbs out of his car Saturday, August 21, 2010, after he is declared the winner of the first heat. Dawn Goodman/Observer-Reporter, August 22, 2010.

Strong Roots Smart Technology Secure

Family farms play vital role in Washington County’s economy and heritage

By Van Mitchell

Agriculture plays an integral part in the economy of Washington County, as it does for several generational family farms carrying out that mission.

Highlighting the importance of agriculture is the Washington County Agricultural Fair, a non-profit that is also Pennsylvania’s oldest fair, dating back to October 1798. It will celebrate its 225th anniversary August 12-19.

Bev Minor, owner of the Springhouse market and restaurant, said her family has a long history with the fair and agriculture.

“My father was the president of the Washington County Fair Board for probably 37 years,” she said. “We went to the fair. It was our vacation. When you’re on a farm, you don’t take vacations. We looked forward to the fair. It was a vacation. We got new jeans. It was really fun.”

Minor said her family had Jersey cows at the fair.

“We were always in the Jersey barn. To this day, these next generations are still in the Jersey barn.”

Minor and her husband Sam started Springhouse in 1975. She moved away and returned to the area to give her children a similar upbringing to her.

“We had moved away, but we wanted to raise our family of five children the same way that we were raised,” she said.

The Minor family, complete with five children 12 and under, started milking cows, processing and bottling the hormone-free milk and running the country store that is the original part of today’s SpringHouse Country Store, Creamery and Eatery.

Today, three generations of the Minor family continue to milk the herd of Holsteins and Jerseys on the farm.

“We farm, and we milk cows and process the milk. We have a market on the farm that is called the Springhouse Country Market. There’s a restaurant involved, serving country foods. We do a lot of cooking and a lot of baking. We also smoke meat. Just a little bit of everything. We built the whole thing on getting people to come to buy our milk initially because we were out in the middle of nowhere, really, when we first came. People said we were crazy to do that. I’m so thankful we did it. Because the people still come.”

Minor said they opened their farm and made it very available to every family that comes there.

“We appeal to families that want to get their kids out and away from the devices and just run and play,” she said. “We have calves out there for the kids to get in the pen with the calves. We just try and give them a taste of what it’s like. We do a lot of events. We do a chicken barbecue for Mother’s Day and probably get eight to 900 people. We do a Father’s Day steak and chicken fry, and smoked brisket. There’s something for every month. We do a sweetheart dinner for Valentine’s Day. We have an anniversary celebration in January, which was when we started.” Bill Iams with Iams Farm said his family has been farming since the 1850s.

“We now have 475 acres, black Angus cattle, and we raise corn and hay. “We actually farm about 390 of those 475 acres. The rest is wooded land. We’ve got about a hundred head of cattle, so it takes a lot of land for pasture, takes a lot of land for hay to feed them, so we generate enough hay on our own farm to feed our cattle, plus we generate enough to sell.”

Iams said it continues to be an economic challenge to farm.

“The thing that has really helped the family farms here in the last 10 to 15 years has been the oil and gas. It has actually helped a lot of the farmers be able to afford the farm,” he said. “But there would be more farms not in existence today.”

Iams said the biggest farming challenge is higher property taxes.

“Our biggest challenge right now is actually the property taxes,” Iams said. “Prior to the reassessment of the county here about six years ago, our taxes on our farm were about $7,500 a year, and now they’re about $27,000. And that is just unsustainable. Our gross income on this farm is about $75,000 to $80,000 a year. So, on that gross income, we have to pay our machinery expenses, fuel, our fertilizer expense and all other income that comes out of that. But the property taxes are just something that’s really unsustainable.”

“We appeal to families that want to get their kids out and away from the devices and just run and play. We have calves out there for the kids to get in the pen with the calves. We just try and give them a taste of what it’s like.”

– Bev Minor

Iams said despite those challenges, farming must continue.

“It’s our heritage, and there are fewer and fewer farms around here,” Iams said. “It’s almost our mission to educate people about farming and our farm legacy ... But many people don’t realize the food actually comes from the farm and think it comes from the Giant Eagle.”

The family will continue that heritage this year at the fair, when 12-year-old grandson Jaxon shows a lamb and steer.

Chuck Wonsettler is a fifth-generation farmer with Wonsettler Farm.

“I am the fifth generation here, and it was settled by my ancestors who settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania,” he said. “My father, Joseph Samuel Wonsettler, farmed from the time he was 13 years old because his dad passed away. My dad took over the farm with his sisters and mom at that time. My sons Cliff, Charlie and C.J. and I are owners of the property now.” Wonsettler said part of their farming operation is selling beef cattle.

“We have beef cattle, and we sell beef. We have sheep, and we sell lamb,” he said. Wonsettler said farming has always been a part of his life.

“I felt like I’ve enjoyed farming all my life,” he said. “I mean, actually, when I was milking cows and running the dairy, I enjoyed that. Always teaching. My dad said I was crazy for wanting to continue to milk cows while I was teaching. And he said, ‘you’re busy enough. You don’t need to be doing that.’ But I enjoyed it, and I wanted my kids to experience the same kinds of things that I did growing up. I just felt I had a wonderful childhood growing up on the farm, and it was important for me to carry on the legacy, not just because of the family heritage, but because I enjoyed it. Hopefully, that’ll be passed down to some of my kids and grandkids. They’re hopeful that it could always be farmed in some way.”

Mike and Jody Hoover have generations of farming on both sides of their families. They have raised Registered Suffolk, Oxford and Merino sheep since 1984.

“We actually own both of our family farms, so we live on Mike’s family farm, but we still own my family farm in Prosperity,” Jody Hoover said. “I’m an agricultural science teacher at Fort Cherry High School. I teach nine months out of the year and basically teach what we do here on our farm.”

Mike Hoover worked for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau for 34 years and retired in November 2022. “Basically, for us, it’s been our love of the sheep, and we raise breeding livestock, and we show,” he said. “Our kids are very active in 4-H and FFA. They’re very active in showing locally and across the country.

Jody Hoover said the rural farm life suits her family.

“I can’t imagine raising our family anywhere else than in a rural area,” she said. “We live near our families. When they say it takes a village to raise your kids, it truly does. So, it’s nice to have the family all close by, and we all help on the farm.”

Jody Hoover said both of their families have shown livestock at the county fair.

“My family didn’t show a lot in the beginning, but as I got older, 15, 16 years old, I started showing at the county fair, but we always visited,” she said. “I’ve never missed a fair, but I talk to people that have never been to the fair. That just amazes me, like my coworkers and stuff, because that was our summer vacation, that’s where we went on vacation. My dad would take a week’s vacation for the Washington County Fair.”

Mike Hoover added his family has been showing at the fair since the late 1960s.

“I took a dairy heifer in 1970, which was probably the first thing that I showed at the fair, but then my wife and I both showed steers, market steers, and I showed beef breeding livestock. Then, in 1984, we got into the sheep, and then we’ve shown the sheep ever since then.”

There are a wide variety of family farms in southwestern Pennsylvania, especially since agriculture is the largest industry in Washington County. There are plenty of generational family farms supporting that robust industry, and these are just a selection.

Washington County Agricultural Fair steeped in rich history

By Van Mitchell

The Washington County Agricultural Fair is Pennsylvania’s oldest fair, dating back to October 1798.

It will celebrate its 225th anniversary Aug. 12-19.

The Washington County Agricultural Fair aims to promote and advance the interests of agriculture, horticulture, homemaking subjects, arts, sciences and all kindred arts. The mission also encourages 4-H club work, FFA activities and other educational work. The fair also serves to create closer coordination between agriculture, business and industry in the area and to develop industrial and commercial participation in conjunction with the exhibits.

Washington Couty Agriculture Fair Board Secretary Wayne Hunnell says Washington County has a sizable agriculture industry.

The most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture 2017 Census of Agriculture ranked Washington County’s agricultural industry as one of the largest in the state.

The USDA ranked Washington County fourth overall in Pennsylvania with 1,760 farms and the largest by far in Western Pennsylvania, trailing only Lancaster, York and Berks County among the state’s 67 counties.

“From the state’s standpoint, agricultural is the largest economic business from the state of Pennsylvania,” Hunnell said. “Around 68 percent of the state economy is related to agriculture in some fashion. Agriculture is the largest economic driver in Washington County. The purpose of the fair is the promotion of agriculture being done in a variety of ways with the 4-H clubs, and working with local farms to bring them all together in the agriculture arena.”

The Washington County Agricultural Fair began in October 1798.

Originally named the Morganza Fair, it served as an exhibition to sell sheep and cattle.

December 1821

The first long-standing efforts to organize an agricultural society in Washington County occurred. Two committees were formed – one to draft by-laws and the other to solicit subscribers. By October 1824, they had the names of 214 subscribers.

A crowd gathers on a hot, sunny Saturday morning in 1940 for a pig auction sponsored by the morning Observer and afternoon Reporter newspapers.

March 1822

The Washington County Society for the Promotion of Agricultural and Domestic Manufacture was organized. This group was one of the first 19 groups of its kind to form in the United States up to 1826. In 1822, the fair was held in a lot owned by James Ruth on East Maiden Street, and in 1823, it was changed to the John Sample Farm, located east on the National Pike. The top winner of the exhibition was James Gilmore, and he was awarded $16 for “the best Merino Ram and two best Merino Ewes and Best Brood Sow.” Over the next few years, the fair was held on a lot on the south side of West Chestnut St. on a lot owned by Samuel MacFarland.

September 1847

The Washington County Society for the Promotion of Agricultural and Domestic Manufacture was reorganized, and they hosted their first fair on Oct. 15, 1847. They had 273 members – each paying $1 for their membership to the society. The fair was scheduled for October for the next two years. The next time the fair would move would be in 1852.

May 1855

The society became incorporated and obtained a charter. At this time, the property known as the fairgrounds had been purchased, located near Trinity Hall on Park Avenue and South Main Street. The fair remained and was held here for 30 years.

A trick rider and his horse pose for a photographer on the track at the grandstand in 1947.

A youngster rakes straw in an animal barn in 1997.

October 1866

A shocking 1,422 entries were made for the fair this year, an all-time high. The grandstand and horse track were also added at this time.

December 1885

The Washington County Society for the Promotion of Agricultural and Domestic Manufacture was dissolved, and the lands were sold to Washington and Jefferson College; however, in the following May, the Western Pennsylvania Agricultural Society was formed. Some organizers included Julius LeMoyne, Robert Carrons, A.G. Happer, R.D. Wylie and W.W. Hunter. They raised $20,000 (from 400 subscribers, each paying $50) and obtained grounds in Tylerdale.

September 1898

Admission prices to the fair were 25 cents per person or vehicle. The fair stayed in Tylerdale until the fall of 1901.

1901-1911

No fair took place in Washington County. However, in June 1911, the Washington Fair Association, with the sole purpose of bringing the fair back to its hometown, collected $40,000 from 800 shareholders. The association was able to purchase 100 acres of land in Arden.

September 1913

Now with a permanent home for the fair, the Fair Association concentrated its efforts on offering various educational and entertaining activities, exhibits and contests. The stock judging contest was introduced and quite progressive at the time, allowing boys and girls to participate. In total, 39 boys and one girl participated in the competition and were awarded free admission to the grounds. The stock judging contest winner was awarded a 13-week course at the Pennsylvania State University, which the Fair Association donated.

July 1914

The fair was held over the Fourth of July and included horse and mule racing, a four-day horseshoe pitching competition, a lime crushing contest and the stock judging contest became an annual event. There was also a contest for loaves of bread baked by girls not over 16 to encourage them to showcase their homemaking skills. Coin-operated turnstiles were initiated to reduce line wait time at the gates.

1917

DeLoyd Thompson, a professional aviator from Washington, gave the first exhibition of trick flying in an airplane ever witnessed in the county.

1926

A dog show was added to the fair schedule. Pigeons were added to the poultry judging. Auto and motorcycle racing was held at the grandstand, and a fireworks display was offered.

1953

The junior exhibit building was erected, allowing more and new types of items and animals to be exhibited.

1964

The first market sale was held and was known as “The First Baby Beef Show and Sale.” By 1965, the sale had extended to include sheep, offering fairgoers “The Second Annual Baby Beef and Fat Lamb Show and Sale.”

1974-1997

The fairgrounds have undergone a lot of physical changes throughout these years. These include rebuilding the pony barn and erecting the 4-H horse barn, allowing all

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s open-air car prepares to take people Saturday to the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Scott Beveridge/Observer-Reporter, August 23, 2015

The 2007 Washington County Agricultural Fair held at the Washington County Expo Center and Fairgrounds at Arden.

4-H horses to be located in a single barn. The bleachers in the grandstand were demolished and replaced with aluminum ones. The floral hall was built, and exhibit hall 1 and exhibit hall 2 were remodeled to allow more room. The pig barn was built, and the fair office was replaced. The main stage has been replaced.

August 2022

Over 2,000 animals were shown at the 224th Washington County Agricultural Fair, with 2,600 agricultural exhibits and 6,600 youth and craft exhibits.

Some fair facts

The Washington County Agricultural Fair is an eight-day fair attracting more than 65,500 spectators annually. Total fair and expo center attendance exceeds 135,000 annually.

The event hosts 2,000 animals: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, swine, goats, lamas, poultry, rabbits and more. There are also 2,600 agricultural exhibits, such as hay, grain, vegetables, fruits, nuts and the like, as well as over 6,600 youth and craft exhibits, like 4-H projects, vocational displays, homemade products, needlepoint, floral exhibits, arts, crafts and photos.

Entertainment includes high school band night, school bus demolition, demolition derby, street stock trucks, mud bog, pro stock tractors, antique tractors, concerts and more.

The carnival is a central family entertainment element of the fair.

The annual economic impact of the fair is $5,203,000 as of 2019.

Some expo center facts

The fairgrounds include five exhibit halls, 10 barns, a grandstand and the show arena.

The fairgrounds are active on a year-round basis attracting various shows and exhibits. Almost all these events are rentals where organizations lease the facility. The largest of these events is the two-week Pennsylvania Arts and Craft Christmas Festival, which draws nearly 15,000 visitors annually. The subsequent most significant events include the All-Clad Sale, RV Show, ARH Gun Show and Sale, the Duncan Miller Glass Show and Sale and the Family Festival and County Home Show. Most events occur over multiple days and weekends. The expo center hosts more than 345 events annually, attracting nearly 70,000 visitors.

Fairground improvements and master plan

The Washington County Fair Board and Washington County have developed a master plan for facility improvements that will upgrade the fairgrounds’ overall look, feel and operations.

Some of the recent improvements include a fairgrounds trolley bridge and platform, a new donated steer barn, paving and updated wayfinding signage.

Last year, attendees enjoyed a general update of the CNX show arena and the main street video board sign project that EQT funded.

This year’s fairgoers will enjoy a complete renovation to hall number 3, road paving, new sidewalks, fencing, painting and the completion of the perimeter fence and fairground entrances. The draft horse barn restoration, the 4-H horse barn, memorial plaza and commemorative mural, too, will be new for patrons this year.

Following the 2023 fair, work will begin on the following projects:

• Hall No. 1

• Guernsey, Jersey, and Poultry Barn

• Historic barn/pavilion

Hunnell said volunteers have helped steer the continued success of the fair.

“It really comes back to the people in what they saw the need to promote agriculture,” he said. “There are activities here every week. There’s hardly a weekend that goes by that there isn’t something going on.”

Hands up approaching a hill seems to be the traditional way to ride a roller coaster, even a smaller one like the Express ride at Washington County Fair. These youngsters display their enjoyment on the ride Tuesday August 14, 2007. The annual fair ends tonight. Stan Diamond / Observer-Reporter,

Agritourism energizes Washington County’s economy through farms, festivals and more

By Van Mitchell

The Washington County Agricultural Fair is more than just a county fair.

It provides an opportunity for business owners to showcase their wares through agritourism.

The U.S. Census of Agriculture shows an increasing trend in agritourism and related recreational services as well as direct sales of agricultural products. In Pennsylvania, agritourism is growing, especially the number of businesses in Washington County.

“We just finished updating our agritourism operators’ inventory for Washington County,” said Dr. Susan Ryan, assistant chairperson of the department of business economics and communications and a professor of tourism, hospitality and event management at PennWest University. “We update these statewide about every five years and then on request. We had a request in December 2022 from the Washington County Planning Commission. We have 54 active agritourism operators in Washington County that meet the criteria of agritourism set by my original publication in 2002, ‘Agritourism in Pennsylvania: An Industry Assessment.’ These are subdivided into farm-retail, agri-education, agri-tainment and agri-lodging.”

The Census of Agriculture first used the term “agri-tourism” in 2007 with a question about “agri-tourism and recreational services such as farm or winery tours, hay rides, hunting, fishing, etc.”

Using this limited definition, agritourism income grew by 67 percent between 2007 and 2017 and more than doubled when including direct sales of agricultural products, which is considered an essential part of agritourism by many definitions.

According to the 2017 Pennsylvania Census of Agriculture, the number of farms in Washington County was 1,760, down eight percent from 2012.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Rick Ebert said in an American Farm Publications press release the agricultural economy is changing, and farms need to innovate to stay viable.

“Here in Pennsylvania, many are doing just that by offering agritourism experiences to a public that is growing more and more interested in local food,” he said. Shannon Powers, press secretary with the state Department of Agriculture, said in its most recent sector-by-sector economic analysis, Pennsylvania’s agriculture and food industry contributes $132.5 billion to the economy and supports more than 593,000 jobs.

Agritourism experiences run the gamut, including the all-inclusive types found at Trax Farms, the Springhouse and Simmons Farms. These popular destinations provide hands-on experience with working farms and additional economic benefits, such as direct-to-consumer shopping, locally-grown and made food items and more. Trax Farms in Finleyville has been operating since 1865 and began selling produce at the farm in 1956. The market was a success. Now, thousands visit the farm’s 86,000-plus square feet of retail space annually. Read more about the Springhouse and its offerings in our feature all about Washington County generational family farms. Simmons Farms features pick-your-own activities seasonally, along with other attractions and two markets in McMurray.

These attractions are the more traditional view of agritourism, but agritourism isn’t limited to these destinations. In fact, Southwestern Pennsylvania is also home to several agricultural festivals, including the Hickory Apple Festival each October benefitting the Mount Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Company. The Houston Pumpkin Festival celebrates its 40th year this fall.

Ruby Perkins leads her steer during the EQT Junior Livestock Market competition at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter, August 24, 2020

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture commissioned an in-depth analysis of Pennsylvania agriculture’s economic impact. The report identified trends influencing agriculture’s direction, quantified the sector’s enormous total economic impact and provided a roadmap towards launching the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. This report serves as an update to the May 2018 report “Pennsylvania Agriculture: A Look at the Economic Impact and Future Trends,” which provided a baseline analysis of Pennsylvania’s agriculture through a data-driven approach and informed the development of the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. It provides updated numbers on Pennsylvania’s farming sector and offers further insights into why these changes may be occurring. It closely examines the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill, national trends in the agricultural industry and the impacts of broader events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and continued effects of climate change, to present a complete picture of

William Piktel of Daisytown won a ribbon for the largest Kohlarbi vegetable at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. People entered photos, foods, leatherworking, kintted items and many other items to compete at the fair.” Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter, August 14, 2016

Right: Breana Schinkovec, 13, daughter of Ben and Wendy Janusey of Eighty Four walks her sheep through the barns on Monday, August 11, 2008 at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Jim McNutt/ Observer-Reporter, Katelyn Blosser, 11, of Cross Creek clips her sheep Sunday, August 14, 2005, at the 2005 Washington County Agricultural Fair, Washington County Fairgrounds.

The direct impacts of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry do not tell the whole story of what agriculture means to the commonwealth’s economy. Spillover effects are generated through inter-industry linkages between the agricultural and other economic sectors. These impacts, combined with the direct impacts, provide a more comprehensive picture of how Pennsylvania’s agriculture contributes to and drives the state economy. For example, a cattle farm contributes directly to the local economy by selling farm products, employing individuals directly working on the farm, and paying those employees wages and salaries.

In addition to these impacts, the farmer buys feed from suppliers or other farmers, veterinary services, trucking services, professional services, and farm equipment maintenance and repair, among others. Some of these purchases are from other businesses within the agriculture sector and are, therefore already capitalized in the direct impacts of the industry. However, investments from companies outside the sector generate additional economic impacts. These impacts are captured in the indirect effects. The salaries paid to employees working on the farm and the farmers themselves generate additional economic impact as they spend their wages in the local economy. These are captured in the induced impacts.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2017, there were 711 Pennsylvania farms offering agritourism opportunities, such as farm tours, hayrides, hunting and fishing. These farms generated more than $27.2 million in revenue, or $38,262 per farm.

From 2012 to 2017, Pennsylvania farms with agritourism operations decreased by two percent. However, income from these operations increased by three percent after adjusting for inflation.

Nationwide, NASS reported that there were 28,575 farms with agritourism operations. The 2017 receipts from these operations totaled more than $949.3 million, or $33,222 per farm.

Agritourism also means economic impact from breweries, wineries, distilleries and fall festivals.

According to the Pennsylvania Wine Association, the state is now home to over 400 wineries and 14,000+ acres of vineyards producing more than two million gallons of wine annually.

As small and independent American craft brewers rebounded from the pandemic, so did their impact on state and local economies. Craft breweries contributed $76.3 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021, according to the Brewers Association.

The figure is derived from the total impact of beer brewed by craft brewers as it moves through the three-tier system (breweries, wholesalers and retailers), as well as all non-beer products like food and merchandise that brewpub restaurants and brewery taprooms sell.

Harley Haney 12, of Amity, spends a quiet moment with his market hog Saturday August 9, 2008 at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter

Pennsylvania ranked second nationally with a $5.4 billion economic impact, while California came first with $9 billion. The industry also provided more than 490,000 total jobs, with more than 170,000 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs.

“With a strong presence across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, even in a challenging year, craft breweries are a powerful economic force at the local, state, and national level. As consumers continue to demand a wide range of high quality, full-flavored beers, small and independent craft brewers are meeting this growing demand with innovative offerings, creating high levels of economic value in the process,” said Bart Watson, Brewers Association chief economist.

So what does this mean for Washington County? Since agriculture is Washington County’s leading economic impact driver, these agritourism offerings, from traditional working farm experiences and wineries to microbreweries and township festivals, are a small piece of this region’s vast, vital network of spending, earning, growing and marketing. This complicated web creates prosperity for each resident that enjoys the plentiful bounty of Washington County’s agritourism ventures.

Right: Josh Mino, 8, from Eighty Four washing his cow Charley before showing him on Thursday, August 18, 2005, at the 2005 Washington County Agricultural Fair, Washington County Fairgrounds.

Mike Wallace lifts bales of hay into a stall for storage at one of the stables at the Washington County Agricultural Fair and Expo Center in Chartiers Township Wednesday, March 3, 2010, with loads to go piled up outside the doorway. Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter