Signore named state fair queen finalist

Franklin County Fair Queen Sarah Signore got a sweet reward during her trip last week to the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center for the 2010 Pennsylvania Fair Queen Coronation.

The 21-year-old of Greencastle was named a Top Five finalist in the pageant that included 60 contestants from fairs across Pennsylvania.

“I’m really honored to be selected to the top five out of 60 amazing women,” related Signore, who was crowned the Franklin County Fair Queen last August.

“It was very rewarding to be able to represent Franklin County and its top industry of agriculture.”

The 60 contestants were judged on a written essay, personal interview, evening gown/introduction and a speech presentation. During Saturday night’s coronation the field was narrowed to the Top Five. In addition to Signore, the finalists were Gretchen Perschke of the Big Butler Fair, Tate Slaven of the McKean County Fair, Emily Maurer of the Somerset County Fair and Casey Hall of the Troy Fair.

The finalists were asked an impromptu question concerning how they would encourage people to attend fairs despite the current recession.

“People need to come to county fairs even during this economic crisis to support the farmers,” Signore answered to the crowd of nearly 1,000 people at the coronation. “They are the reason that Pennsylvania’s number one industry is agriculture.

“Without the farmers we would not have everything that we need to survive. We need to support the farmers who are also having trouble during this hard time by coming to the fairs.”

The 2009 PA Fair Queen Nicole Clemson presented her farewell speech and then crowned Hall. Slaven was named the first runner-up.

The contest was a three-day event that ran in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs annual convention. In addition to family and friends, Signore was accompanied at the coronation by Franklin County Fair Board President Robert Eckstine and his wife, Rhodena, and Rachel Bryson, fair queen chair for the county fair.

During her speech to the judges Signore related how the Franklin County Fair is a “great mix of education and fun” and speculated about the future of the fair.

“Without mine and other PA county fairs the ag industry is not easily promoted. Agriculture and farmland preservation would fade from importance and this generation would simply lose sight of its roots,” she related.

Signore is a junior studying Public Relations at Millersville University where she is also a pitcher on the softball team. The daughter of Dan and Darlene Signore, is a member and officer in the Public Relations Student Society of America at MU.

Signore said, “This experience really got me excited to get into my field of public relations.

“And I am excited to be able to continue my reign in the county to promote an industry that I love.”