Pennsylvania’s booth at the Great American State Fair, which ended Friday in Washington, was awarded one of 10 “Best in Show” awards, officials said Saturday.
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In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) said the booth highlighted “the Commonwealth’s central role in America’s story — from the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the sacrifices at Valley Forge to Gettysburg, the Arsenal of Democracy, and the Commonwealth’s continued leadership in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, innovation, and small business.”
The Great American State Fair, brainchild of President Donald Trump, was held on the National Mall for 16 days, starting on June 25. During the closing ceremony, Freedom250, the organization behind the fair, recognized several outstanding state pavilions from across the country.
McCormick and Fetterman assumed responsibility for the booth after Gov. Josh Shapiro said Pennsylvania would be skipping the fair because state officials could not find a Pennsylvania business to sponsor the booth. Shapiro was one of several Democratic governors who chose to forgo Trump’s event.
The two senators said they were able to secure private funding for the display from a coalition of 55 organizations, including the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, PennAg Industries Association, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. No taxpayer funding was used, according to officials.
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The Pennsylvania pavilion featured an assortment of potato chips donated from various snack-food companies around the state, a replica Liberty Bell, and even a Pennsylvania-grown Christmas tree.
“What makes Pennsylvania truly awesome are the men, women, and children who call it home. Our farmers, steelworkers, small business owners, and so many more,” Fetterman said in the statement. “Those who visited the pavilion got to see a glimpse of some of the very best of us and our history, and I’m grateful to Senator McCormick, Secretary Rollins [Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins], and all who made this a massive success.”
McCormick said the booth was a tribute to Pennsylvania’s history.
“From Independence Hall and Valley Forge to our farms, factories, and innovators, the Commonwealth has shaped our nation for 250 years,” he said in the statement. “I’m grateful to Senator Fetterman, Secretary Rollins, and our outstanding Pennsylvania partners for ensuring Pennsylvania had a presence worthy of our history.”