In wake of Westmoreland Fair cancellation, youth left with no place to show livestock

By the time Gage Hegedus turned 1, he had spent much of his life on a farm and helped show cows at the Westmoreland Fair, said his mom, Jessica Takitch.

“He’s going on 3 years old and he enjoys the life,” said Takitch, 27, of Scottdale. “He gets to play in the dirt and play with his animals.”

So when Takitch found out the Westmoreland Fair was canceled this year because of coronavirus restrictions, she was devastated, seeing it as an end to a tradition she began when she started showing animals at the age of 6.

“We are very sad, upset and heartbroken that we couldn’t bring our animals up this year,” Takitch said. “He looks forward to it every year. … It’s a learning experience for him.”

Fair officials made the decision to cancel the event for the first time in 65 years late Monday, according to fair President Craig Lash, who cited restrictions ranging from limiting the number of guests to 250 people, social-distancing measures and financial risks.

Other factors, including the carnival ride company pulling out of the event because of covid-19 restrictions, also added to the decision, Lash said, noting that it became “impossible” to host the event at the fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township.

“There’s just no way,” Lash said. “Even though we’re in the green already, there’s still a lot of restrictions. They say ‘one gate in, one gate out.’ How are we going to stand there at the gate and count the people, take their temperatures? How are we going to do that?”

Several state and local fairs have made the decision to cancel in the midst of the pandemic. According to the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, 48 of 108 fairs across the state have canceled, including the Big Butler Fair.

The decision has left many young farmers in the area trying to find buyers for their livestock that would typically be auctioned at the end of the event. Several use the funds for college.

Kelly Gillis, 18, of Salem typically brings home between $800 and $1,000 from the Westmoreland Fair after selling two hogs and a pen of chickens.

Gillis, who would be in her final year of showing at the event, said she started showing animals at the Derry Township Agricultural Fair when she was 5, and three years later signed up for her local 4-H club.

“It was a long time coming,” she said of the decision to cancel. “I feel like I kind of knew it was going to happen. … It’s a bummer, but it’s what’s right for the health of Pennsylvania.”

Still, Gillis was disappointed she would not be able to compete before she sets off for California University of Pennsylvania to study marketing. She planned on driving from school to the fair, with the first week of classes set for the same time as the competition.

“It’s just hard to hear because you grow up with this program, so it’s kind of sad for everyone,” Gillis said.

Gillis plans to add her livestock in with production hogs on her dad’s farm. Randy Gillis’ family has owned the Salem Township farm since the 1930s, producing crops and raising cows.

Other youths unable to sell their livestock at fairs this year will be forced to search for private buyers, said Rick Ebert, who owns a dairy farm in Derry Township and is president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The economic downturn and closure of non-life-sustaining businesses for several months throughout the pandemic has made “business finances a lot tighter than they have been before,” Ebert said.

That leaves sellers searching for private buyers “looking to fill their freezers,” said Roy Campbell, agriculture teacher at Derry Area High School and a Future Farmers of America adviser.

“They’d have to try to find buyers, and they’re probably not going to find the same price,” Campbell said, noting people and businesses pay more at a show to help support young farmers.

A virtual livestock show could encourage members of the public to purchase products from participants, according to Lyndsey Androstic, educator for 4H youth development at Penn State Extension. A date for such an event is not yet set.

“We’re not going to do a traditional show in the way that people are used to, but they are going to have an opportunity to showcase their animals,” Androstic said. “Because of the food supply challenges presented by covid-19, this is an opportunity to market their animals directly to the community.”

Randy Gillis is hopeful that a renewed interest in learning where food comes from will make it easier to find buyers.

“The only silver lining behind this is people are very much wanting to know where their products are coming from now. … You can get a very fair price for your project and market it yourself,” Gillis said. “I think the kids are going to fare well on it.”

Campbell and Takitch are working to host small, in-person events where students can show their animals in an effort to give them some sense of normalcy.

“If everyone could come together in this horrible time, and we could possibly do a show for the kids. … It doesn’t have to be giant; it doesn’t have to be fancy,” Takitch said.

Fair officials are looking toward next year’s event, set for Aug. 20-28. But the loss of tradition weighs heavily on Takitch.

“The thing that really breaks my heart is these kids will not have a chance to go out into the arena, which is so sad because for so many kids this is going to be their last year showing (animals),” she said. “I think it’s just sad that a whole tradition has to be let go, that children cannot enjoy themselves like they should.”