As West Lampeter Community Fair turns 100, former fair queens look back

In the past 100 years, not much has changed — at the West Lampeter Community Fair, that is. It's about as traditional as a Lancaster County fair gets.

It eschews a carnival-like midway, amusement park-style rides or large concerts in favor of more homegrown fun, like baby parades, community hymn singing, tractor games and petting zoos.

A description from a 1925 Intelligencer Journal still fits: "The object of the (Fair) is to promote the interest of Agriculture in schools, to stimulate better farm practices and better home life in the community."

Sure, the fair is not exactly the same as it was 100 years ago.

They have an Instagram account now. And Lampeter-Strasburg High School students won't be competing in leap frog races, and there are no longer screenings of silent movies like "Sir Lacteus, the Good Milk Knight."

But there is still a calf-roping contest and a tug of war event, and community members can showcase their own special skills in a "Lampeter's Got Talent" contest.

The fair, which has its roots in agricultural education for what was then known as the West Lampeter Vocational School, retains an educational atmosphere.

Youth-based agricultural organizations like the FFA and 4-H are encouraged to showcase their livestock and display agriculture-based exhibits and projects.

READ: This jam-maker is a third-generation competitor in the West Lampeter Community Fair contests

There's never been a charge for admission, and community involvement remains at the forefront — or, as that 1925 says, "the success of this Fair depends on your co-operation and exhibits."

Community members are invited to enter dozens of exhibitions and contests showcasing livestock, fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, arts and crafts. Hundreds of volunteers make the event possible.

Don Welk has been the president of the West Lampeter Community Fair for the past 30 years. He estimates 5,000 people attend the three-day fair annually, though without ticketing, it's hard to be certain.

"It's great that we can all get together and go to an event and just share wholesomeness," Welk said over the phone as he took a break from harvesting tobacco on his Strasburg farm. "It's good family fun."

In celebration of the centennial, the fair schedule is expanding from its typical three days to six, with special evening events tonight to Tuesday and three full days of events Wednesday to Friday.

A royal tradition

One of the longest-running traditions, and a major connection to Lampeter-Strasburg High School students, is the Fair Queen Contest.

The winner of the contest, which began in 1958, was originally crowned the livestock queen. In 1964, according to fair queen committee member Anita Martin, the event was rebranded as the Fair Queen Contest to expand the fair's reach and appeal.

The contest is open to Lampeter-Strasburg High School sophomores, juniors and seniors. The candidates, nominated by their fellow students to represent different high school clubs such as the FFA, varsity club, snowboard club or band, submit an application and an essay about what the fair means to the community. The candidates then undergo a private interview process and, during the fair, candidates take the stage and provide a brief introduction and answer an impromptu question about the fair. A fair queen is crowned and an alternate is declared.

The queen represents the West Lampeter Community Fair at the larger Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Competition and, during their yearlong reign, they meet and engage with community members and attend events such as the Strasburg Halloween and Memorial Day parades.

READ: Your complete guide to Lancaster County's 2024 fairs, including what's new, things to do

Beginning in 1997, a scholarship was added to the program and now the fair queen receives $500 toward continuing education; the alternate receives $250. All the candidates receive a real-life opportunity to build valuable public speaking skills.

"One of the reasons I keep working with the contest is I like to see how the contestants grow through the experience," said Martin, a 1988 fair queen candidate, and one of the current fair directors. "They learn the skills of going for an interview and how to stand up in front of a crowd and speak, which is an important skill to learn. And also they learn something about themselves through the experience."

'Mud, manure and milkshakes'

Martin said she expects nearly 40 former fair queens to attend the event, which takes place at 7 tonight, when this year's queen is crowned.

Linda Good (then Witmer), who won the livestock queen crown in 1960, will be one of them.

"I remember my crown was just, like, cardboard with tin foil over it. And we got flowers, and that was kind of it," Good said over the phone from her home in Pine Island, Florida. "But it was just exciting that night to ride around the ring in the hay wagon. I was 15, so for me, it was very exciting. I was thrilled."

The question portion of the event was much different than it is today.

"I remember my discussion question was, 'how do you milk a cow by hand?' And I had milked a cow by hand, so I knew what I was talking about," Good said. "Now, another girl, she had to describe how to shear a sheep. I was never around sheep, so I would have a hard time with that."

These days, the questions tend to focus more on ways to promote the fair.

Drew An Brubaker-Kirner, the 2011 fair queen who went on to be crowned the 2012 Pennsylvania state fair queen , recalled she was asked what her slogan for the fair would be.

"I always came back to 'Mud, Manure and Milkshakes,' " said Brubaker-Kirner, 30, who lives in Montgomery County and works as a consultant for True North Culture Advisors. "Those three elements. The sweat equity, hard work, passion and care that it takes to make the fair happen is enormous. So that's the mud. The manure is obviously like the importance of the agricultural industry, especially the family-owned farms in Lancaster. And milkshakes, because I love them, but also because there's such joy and celebration to the fair."

Debra Butterworth (then Hess) was the 1972 fair queen and said the skills she gained during her experience helped pave the way to a successful career.

"I learned how to be poised in public and speak in front of people," said Butterworth, of Lancaster. "And it's funny how I used that my whole life when I worked as a director at Johnson & Johnson."

Sarah Blount, an 18-year-old Howard University freshman who is majoring in political science and minoring in jazz music studies, is also the reigning West Lampeter Community Fair queen. She spoke about using social media and music to help promote the fair to a younger audience during the contest.

"The fair is rooted in agriculture. We still have the same traditions that we had years and years ago, back in the early 1900s when this fair began," Blount said. "So, I do think they want a knowledge of agriculture and to keep the same kind of sense of agriculture and community that we've had. But I think they're also looking for new ideas and something fresh that we can bring to the fair because they're always looking for new ways to kind of bring people in."