HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lebanon Area Fair Queen Elizabeth Voight of Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, was crowned the 2018 Pennsylvania Fair Queen on Jan. 20 at the annual joint convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmen’s Association.
Elizabeth is the daughter of Del and Lori Voight. A senior honors student at Northern Lebanon High School, Liz has helped to lead her basketball team to the PIAA state tournament. Liz is a pianist and vocalist, both in school and in her church. Before she was old enough to participate in 4-H, Liz cared for a flock of chickens and sold brown eggs to her neighbors. A past Pennsylvania Angus Queen, she raises and exhibits Angus beef cattle at the Lebanon Area Fair and beyond. She credits her supportive and encouraging family, as well as her involvement with the fair and other agricultural activities, for her success.
“There are many ways to tell the story of Pennsylvania agriculture, but none so effective as through its people, and our county and community agricultural fairs are among the best venues to share those stories,” said state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Our fair queens are great ambassadors for agriculture locally and statewide, and I look forward to working with Elizabeth in her new role this coming year to promote fairs and our agriculture industry.”
Voight will receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs at the conclusion of her reign in January 2019. She was crowned by outgoing Pennsylvania Fair Queen Madeline McEachin of West Sunbury, Butler County.
Each of the 58 contestants prepared a brief speech highlighting the activities at her county or community fair. They also wrote an essay about the fair’s significance in their life and local community. Each queen also gave a stage introduction during the fair convention annual banquet and was interviewed by three judges.
Contestants are evaluated on their public speaking skills and knowledge of the agriculture industry, as well as on their poise and personal presentation in an evening gown competition.
Five finalists were chosen and gave impromptu answers on their greatest strength and how that would help them in their reign as Pennsylvania fair queen.
“I am personable — I love to talk to people of all kinds,” Voight said. “I just love promoting our fairs and the agriculture industry to the public.”
York Fair Queen Haley Sweitzer, 18, of Wellsville, York County, was selected as Alternate 2018 Pennsylvania Fair Queen. A senior at Dover Area High School, Haley is president of her FFA chapter, captain of the varsity cross country and track teams and a member of the National Honors Society. She also participates in the county’s 4-H beef, shooting sports, and senior exchange clubs. A third generation on the family’s Angus beef farm, Haley plans to attend Penn State pursuing a degree in animal science.
Other top five finalists were Miss Perry County Fair Brooke Rumberger of Millerstown, Perry County; Manheim Community Farm Show Queen Emily Witmer of Manheim, Lancaster County; and Washington County Fair Queen Ashlin Hawkinberry of Hickory, Washington County. Unionville Community Fair Queen Varshika Mandalapu of West Chester, Chester County, was named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.
Pennsylvania is home to 109 county and community fairs. Voight, the 32nd state queen, will travel the state this year representing Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage and serving as an ambassador for the fair association.
Judges were Mary Amoss with the Miss Maryland Agriculture program, Fallston, Md.; Jen Puente, director of marketing and partnerships for the Wisconsin State Fair, Milwaukee; and Tiffany Painter Newland, director of the Shenandoah County (Virginia) Fair scholarship pageant, Edinburg, Va.
— Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture