Directors from the Harford Fair and the Harford Fair Queen and her parents recently joined over 1,600 other fair personnel from across the state for the Pennsylvania State Fair Association Convention (PASCF) in Hershey.  Communications Competition in the areas of premium books, billboards, placemats, brochures, creative fair ideas, and overall fair displays were judged as a part of the convention. Harford Fair received a special award during the breakfast on Friday morning which included a third place on their placemat entry. 

The 2013 Harford Fair Queen, Taylor Watkins a senior at Elk Lake High School, proudly represented the Harford Fair throughout the convention.  Her parents, Sharon and Donald Watkins of Dimock, attended the convention and shared in a variety of events.  Taylor competed with 57 other girls representing their fairs from across the state.  After interviews, speeches, and special activities, Taylor participated in the Coronation Banquet on Saturday evening.  The Elizabethtown Fair Queen, Lia Schmittel, was crowned the 2014 PA State Fair Queen at the banquet which was the culminating event of the convention.  Bedford Fair Queen, Kelley Jay, was crowned First Alternate and Corrine Evans representing Tioga County Fair was named Miss Congeniality. 

The convention affords fair personnel from the 108 fairs the opportunity to attend round table discussions as well as educational seminars presented by national speakers.  The information will be utilized in planning and making improvements for the 2014 Harford Fair, August 18-23.  In addition to informational sharing, there was a vast trade show with over 155 vendors which offered ideas and samples of food, ribbons, entertainment, amusements, and other specialties associated with fairs. 

Pictured (l-r) are Harford Fair directors Gene Hubbard, secretary, Dr. Mike Kowalewski, board president, Cindy Reynolds, second vice-president; and Dave Tyler, executive committee, pausing for a picture with the 2013 Harford Fair Queen, Taylor Watkins, following the Coronation Banquet at the PA State Fair Convention in Hershey.  Other directors in attendance during the convention included Kurt Kulick, Jason Miller, Heidi Stephens-Pavelski, Mark Pease, and Ron Stiles.

Harford Fair directors in attendance at various times throughout the convention included: Dr. Michael Kowalewski, president; Gene Hubbard, secretary; Mark Pease, treasurer; Jason Miller, first vice-president and entertainment chairman; Cindy Reynolds, second vice-president; Kurt Kulick, arena superintendent; Ron Stiles, antique museum superintendent; David Tyler, executive committee; Heidi Stephens-Pavelski, beef cattle superintendent.  Other Susquehanna County members associated with the fair in attendance included: Katie Ezdebski, Fine Arts Department Superintendent; Renee Tyler, First Aid Station manager; Michelle Kowalewski, Dairy and Ag Enterprise Educator, Susquehanna County Cooperative Extension; Sue Pease, Advertising Committee member; Lynn Stiles, antique museum; Karen Marshall, Harford Fair office staff. 

PA Preferred Products , a state-wide agricultural marketing program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will again sponsor the state-wide apple pie baking contest, the angel food cake contest, the chocolate cake, and the cookie, brownie, or bar baking contest.   The first place winners of these contests at the local fairs have the opportunity to compete at the Farm Show in Harrisburg in January, 2015.  Also announced was the theme for the 2014 fairs “Treasure the Memories.”  Fairs have the option of utilizing this state-wide theme for their premium books, advertising, and commercial and vendor space competitions.

Everyone returned to Susquehanna County with some fresh, new ideas to utilize in the year-around meetings and planning for the Harford Fair in August.       

On December 23, 2013 Cheryl and Daniel Rupakus (pictured), Worthy Matron  and Worthy Sunshine Chapter #258 Order of the Eastern Star in Thompson, presented 3 boxes of food and a check for $51.00 to Joan Hanrahan (pictured) of Trehab Food Bank.

For our next feature on Susquehanna County 4-H, I would like to tell you all about our Animal Science Program. I know many of you think that 4-H is only about cows and sows, but there is so much more to our animal science program. Not only do we offer the traditional projects such as dairy, livestock, and horses, we have projects available for youth with dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, poultry, and just about any other animal.

Susquehanna County 4-H always has and continues to have a very strong livestock, dairy, and horse program. Youth taking part in these projects have to be eight years old, and spend a big part of their summer working with their project animals. Completing an animal science project includes caring for your animal and maintaining a record book with information such as expenses, income, feed, and other information about your animal. In the livestock program, youth select and raise market hogs, lambs, steers, dairy beef feeder steers, and goats, as well as breeding animals of each of those species and dairy goats. Members that chose to raise market animals select their animals, raise them for the summer, and then are able to show and sell them at the Harford Fair. The Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Auction will be held August 23rd, 2014 beginning at 10:00am. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals and business owners to purchase locally raised quality meat for their freezers, and to support the Susquehanna County 4-H members!

The Dairy Program in Susquehanna County is also a very popular project. Members are able to select a dairy animal of any age and breed, and show her at county and district levels, as well as the Harford Fair. Also, animals that qualify are able to show at the PA State Junior Dairy Show in Harrisburg.

The Horse Program allows 4-Hers the chance to take a horse project, whether they own a horse or not. Members are able to show their horses at our county and district shows, and if they qualify can compete at the State Horse Show, also held in Harrisburg.

Pictured (l-r) are Susquehanna County 4-H members Megan Stenzhorn and Kelly Oliver very proudly presenting the colors at the 2013 Susquehanna County 4-H Horse and Pony Roundup.

Furthermore, members in these projects are able to take part in our county-wide Livestock Clinic, Horse Camp, and Dairy Camp, which are educational workshops held to help our members learn and improve on their project.

Susquehanna County 4-H also offers projects to youth with small animals such as poultry, rabbits, dogs, cats, and a pet care project for any other animal. Youth that are interested in these projects also complete a project book full of activities, and have opportunities to do many hands-on projects with their pets. The Clover Pups Dog Obedience Club is located in Montrose, and allows members an opportunity to train their dogs, and showcase their skills in a show over the summer! Members with poultry are able to show their birds at the Harford Fair, and members with rabbits exhibit their rabbits in the 4-H Roundup on Sunday of the Harford Fair.


4-H also encourages members to take part in the many educational workshops offered and competitions that take place throughout the state. Penn State Achievement Days is one example. It is held at Penn State University in the end of July and offers several 4-H competitions to youth including animal judging, quiz bowl competitions, and numerous competitions for small animal members.

If this sounds like a program you might be interested in, please contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office today. Our phone number is (570) 278-1158 or drop an e-mail to ano3@psu.edu. Also be sure to check out our website at extension.psu.edu/Susquehanna and find us on Facebook at Susquehanna County 4-H. I look forward to helping you join 4-H, and be sure to look for our next series article on what shooting sports projects Susquehanna County offers.

Aldona Kandrot O’Boyle was chosen as the Resident of the Month at Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center for February. Aldona was born September 23rd to Petronia and John Kandrot on their farm in Elkdale, Pa. Her father worked in the local coal mines and her mother stayed at home and cared for the family. Aldona was one of five children. She has two brothers, John and Joseph, and two sisters, Helen and Amelia.

Aldona Kandrot O’Boyle

Aldona attended Forest City School and then went to work in the local dress factories. Later she met a handsome man, named Thomas O’Boyle. He was a decorated WW-2 veteran who had earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while serving his country.  On May 29, 1948 they were wed in St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Forest City. They were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Janice, who was the apple of their eyes. Thomas was employed at Fairview Correctional Facility and Aldona stayed at home to care for her family and home in Vandling.

Aldona loved making clothes for her family and loved gardening. She grew lovely flowers and vegetables in her garden. Aldona also loved to go out dancing and loved to polka.

Today, Aldona loves all the musical entertainment at the nursing facility. She loves to play bingo and is very lucky on the wheel on Casino Night. Aldona has a warm smile and has many friends at the facility and loves telling a good joke.

Her daughter, Janice is married to Thomas Joyce and they have blessed Aldona with a grandson, Michael.

Aldona will be honored with a party at the nursing facility on February 18th at 2:00 p.m.