Prepare for enjoyable: Washington County Agricultural Fair begins

The first full day of the 227th Washington County Agricultural Fair was a sun-soaked Saturday, the place everyone appeared to really feel the identical: They have been having enjoyable.

“It’s always a good time,” mentioned Heather Condeluci of Kennedy Township, who was on the honest together with her husband Dante and sons Connor, 8, and Cammy, 6. “We come every year.”

The state’s oldest honest – which started in 1798 and now attracts an estimated 64,000 guests – options one thing for everybody. The choices embrace livestock reveals, 4-H reveals, carnival rides and conventional honest meals.

Musical performances are additionally featured all through the honest’s weeklong run, with acts just like the Morgan Gruber Acoustic Trio and the Skyliners set to seem.

One of the highlights of the primary day of the honest is the naming of the honest queen. That honor went to Charlotte Magon, 19, of Washington.

Magon is a pupil at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a junior member of the honest’s board of administrators.

Shelby Powers of Burgettstown was named the honest princess.

Another function of the honest’s first full day are the meals contests which embrace junior baking, crock pot, home made chocolate cake, angel meals cake and apple pie.

Amanda Yohman of Charleroi took first place within the home made chocolate cake contest together with her delectable peanut butter chocolate cheesecake. This is the third 12 months she entered, however the first time she captured the highest spot.

Second place went to Alex Jardine of Washington with the Ultimate Gluten Free Cake.

“I’ve been gluten free for about six years,” he mentioned. “Last year, I entered for the first time, and I didn’t place because I didn’t tell them it was gluten free. This year I made sure I told them, and I doctored it up a bit, and I think that made the difference.”

Maria Hoefler, head of the baking and cooking contests, mentioned they develop in recognition annually.

“A lot more kids are getting involved. It’s turned into a family event,” mentioned Hoefler, who has been concerned with the contests for 23 years.

There are additionally a lot of classes to enter.

“We’ve had sweets. We’ve had eggplant. We’ve had enchiladas. We’ve had every flavor. We’ve got a lot of different entries this year from sweet to savory, from Mexican to Italian,” she mentioned.

Livestock is a large a part of the honest. Brynn Strnisha, 13, of Bentleyville, had her bunny, Lola, prepared for present. There have already been affords to purchase Lola, Strnisha mentioned.

“I really care about the bunnies going to families who love them and care for them,” she mentioned.

Miranda Schury of Washington had her Nigerian dwarf goats, Dolly, Dottie and Dahlia on the honest.

“I come to the fair just to show them off and give little kids a chance to pet them,” she mentioned.

The pedal energy tractor pull is one other massive function on the primary day of the honest. It was positively one thing that Barrett Campbell, 7, and his brother Bentley, 5, of Houston have been anxiously awaiting.

“We’re really excited to see what that is like,” mentioned Jenna Campbell, their mom.

The honest runs by Aug. 16 with a packed schedule of occasions every day.

As for the honest’s first day, Jenna Campbell might have summed it up.

“You couldn’t ask for a better day,” she mentioned.