By Blake Jackson
Erica Teagarden, a resident of Washington County, has been crowned the 38th Pennsylvania Fair Queen during the Pennsylvania Fairs and Showmen Convention. Teagarden, representing the Washington County Agricultural Fair, competed against 58 contestants in a scholarship competition that included essay submissions, interviews, and speeches.
Teagarden's victory is particularly significant as she is the first state fair queen from her county since Denise Leigh in 1990. Leigh, who was also Teagarden's county coordinator, shared the stage during the crowning ceremony.
The newly crowned fair queen expressed her gratitude, noting the special moment when she could hug Denise Leigh, one of the first people she embraced after being crowned. The competition judges included Tenette Carlson from Iowa, along with Jenilee Hallman and Jaclyn Ryan from Virginia.
Elise Honeycutt from Albion Area Fair secured the first runner-up position, with other top contenders including Kendyl Steighner of Butler Fair, Kera Bentz of Juniata County Fair, and Keeley Kreider of Solanco Fair. Torrence Brown of Cumberland Ag Expo received the Miss Congeniality title, chosen by fellow contestants.
In addition to individual recognition, the contest introduced a new category, the People's Choice Scrapbook Award. Lynsay Trostle from Sullivan County Fair claimed first place in this category.
As the newly crowned Pennsylvania Fair Queen, Teagarden, a sophomore at Penn State with aspirations to become an agriculture teacher, will travel the state during the summer to promote Pennsylvania's 107 fairs and advocate for agriculture. Teagarden hails from a farming family in Claysville, where she was actively involved in 4-H and FFA, showcasing animals at the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Her dedication to agriculture extends to her involvement in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Committee.
Reflecting on her fair memories, Teagarden highlighted the busy yet rewarding experience of her last year showing at the fair, emphasizing the support of her fair family. She looks forward to creating more fair memories in 2024 and promoting Pennsylvania fairs while advocating for the agricultural industry throughout her reign.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-pixdeluxe
Categories: Pennsylvania, General