MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Friday marks the opening day of the Westmoreland Fair and the 72nd year of the event.
They put the finishing touches on exhibits before the gates opened at 4 p.m., but vendors got ready at noon.
The fair is a tradition for so many families, so they set up early and fed each other all day, as they got the exhibits ready for show.
There has been a buzz of excitement all day for folks, as this is one of their favorite weeks of the year.
Organizers say they expect around 65,000 people each year and have over 144 livestock exhibitors and 1,00 inside exhibits.
They say 98% of the people who work at the fair are volunteers.
Craig Lash is the president of the Westmorland Fair. He says his family has been showing animals at the grounds since the fair started 72 years ago. He feels the rides, food and shows may get people there, but the fair’s true purpose is to bring families together and showcase a life in agriculture.
“A lot of kids you ask nowadays, ‘Where’s your food from?’ They’ll say the grocery store. But if they come here, they can find out where their eggs come from. Find out where their bacon comes from, where their beef comes from, so our job is to get the people here and then try to educate them on agriculture. You can do a lot of things, but you can’t do without eating,” Lash said.
The fair closes down each night at 11 p.m. Make sure to check out their website for a list of scheduled events before you come.
Click here to access the Westmoreland Fair website.
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