Rural communities across Pennsylvania are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as local fairs, often social epicenters during the summer, are canceled in accordance with state regulations.

So far, 16 of the 108 fairs across the state have been called off, said Sally Nolt, president of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. Among those are the Sewickley Township Community Fair and the Derry Township Agricultural Fair.

Gov. Tom Wolf this week said county fairs and other events could be held in places in the yellow phase, which includes southwestern Pennsylvania. Gatherings in that phase are limited to 25 or fewer people, but there are ways fairs could reconfigure events to follow covid-19 restrictions, Wolf said.

An official with the Westmoreland Fair said a decision will be made after June 1. The Big Butler Fair, which draws families from New York, Ohio and West Virginia, is officially off, according to the fair website. The event would have been the 165th year. It’s the first time the fair was canceled since the Civil War.

Fair officials said they are starting plans for next year’s event.

“Most people are just kind of sad,” said Dave Hager, president of the Sewickley fair. “They understand though. It’s unfortunate, but only time will bear out if it was right or wrong.”

This will be the first time the fair has missed a year since it started in 1935, Hager said. Fair officials were set to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the event that features tractor exhibits, tractor pulling, hay hauling, craft shows, a karaoke contest and more.

“There was a strong consideration of maintaining the traditions of our fair and persevering but, with the uncertainty of making enough money to keep the fair going another year, the decision was made to sit it out this year so that the (Sewickley Township Community Fair) can stay in a strong financial position to continue holding the fair every year after this,” a post on the fair’s Facebook page reads.

Hager noted that money for the fair is not spent until the actual event. Money raised for this year’s fair will be allotted for next year’s event.

It’s a different story for the Derry fair, said president Brandon Komar. The event, which was scheduled for July 12-18, was canceled after vendors started pulling out and small businesses were unable to provide sponsorships after being closed for two months.

According to Komar, about 20% of fair income comes from sponsorships. Uncertainty over reimbursement grants from the state Department of Agriculture also factored into the decision, he said, noting that the fair typically receives $13,000 from the state.

Money from the state is offered in five ways — agricultural fair operating and premium reimbursement, county 4-H funds reimbursement, county Future Farmers of America funds reimbursement, state agricultural organization funds reimbursement and capital improvement matching grants. Money from the fund is supplied from horse racing, Nolt said.

“It was a hard decision,” Komar said. “A lot of it comes down to like running a small business: Not having the funds with sponsorship, not having the help of the state. There was a lot of what-ifs and unknowns that nobody could give us an answer on.”

Both Nolt and Wayne Campbell, president of the Pennsylvania State Grange, expressed concerns that fair funding could be pulled to cover pandemic expenses.

“If we take away that fair funding, it’s going to bankrupt some of these fairs. And what is there in a community that brings the community together more than a fair? It’s that time when people see people that they’ve only seen once a year,” Campbell said. “It brings people from out of the area in to see the livestock, to see the displays and visit with other people.”

The state Department of Agriculture did not return calls for comment.

Other fairs that are canceled include the Clinton County Fair, the Cochranton Community Fair, the Delaware Valley A-Day Fair, the Franklin County Fair, the Lycoming County Fair, the Mercer County Grange Fair, the Middletown Grange Fair, the Montour Delong Community Fair, the Mountain Area Fair, the Northumberland County Fair, the Schnecksville Community Fair and the Wolf’s Corner Fair. The Pennsylvania Maple Festival in March also was canceled.

Officials with the Fayette County Fair in April said they hope to hold their events as normal, pending communications from health and government officials.

Lasting impacts

For several agricultural communities, fairs and Granges are gathering places for people to enjoy shows, competitions, food and entertainment.

But participation has fallen since Grange halls acted as the center of civic life for some rural communities years ago. The Pennsylvania State Grange counted 96,000 members during its peak in 1922. It now has roughly 7,200.

For participants, especially children and young adults in 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America, the cancellation of fairs and competitions will have a lasting impact.

“These kids work all year long to raise those animals and train them and gain that experience of becoming a showman and learning leadership ability,” Campbell said. “So many people have no idea what it takes to get an animal from birth to the show ring and that is a lot of work and dedication.”

He noted that some kids sell their animals at the end of a show, giving many the start of a college fund. Campbell is hoping to host a similar event later in the year where 4-H and Future Farmers kids can compete.

Surrounding communities also will be affected by canceled events, he said. Often, organizations within local communities are the beneficiaries of donations and service projects hosted by fair organizers and Grange members.

“Organizations are losing the opportunity to raise money that they would have used to do charitable contributions in their local community for the next year,” Campbell said.

He added that other effects from cancellations will begin to show in the coming months.

“The ripple effect of this is going to be amazing,” he said.

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