Every year, a Carbon County Fair Queen and a Junior Miss Fair Queen are selected. The age range for the Fair Queen is 16-20, while the Junior Miss Queen age range is 13-15 years old.

This year, judging for the new queen was held at the historic Hofford Mill in Weissport. Three residents of Carbon County applied to be the Fair Queen this year: Morgan Myers, Eva Eroh and Lexi Seiple.

Maria Burtis, the current Carbon County Fair Queen coordinator and 2018 Fair Queen, said the program is great for young women to be involved with.

“The Fair Queen program empowers and enriches these young women to be involved in the community and local agriculture and the 4-H, giving them a positive self-image and sense of purpose,” Burtis said.

The program provides Fair Queens and young women a golden opportunity to engage in networking, public speaking and community engagement.

Burtis said that through the program, young women often create memories that can last a lifetime.

The 2024 Fair Queen, Jocelyn Motola, and the 2024 Junior Miss, Daphne Gowin, echoed the sentiment of Burtis.

“It’s truly been a great experience for me,” Motola said. “I learned so much through my journey this past year, and I am excited to see a new queen take the crown this year.”

Three judges began the process of crowning a new Fair Queen.

The judges were Ashley Mosier, who has been involved with 4-H for many years; Kathryn McEvilly, owner of the Hofford Mill; and Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, executive vice president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The new Carbon County Fair Queen will be awarded a trophy, sash, tiara and a monetary scholarship toward her future endeavors. Every winter, there is the state competition in Hershey, and a queen from each Pennsylvania county gets to compete for the title of State Fair Queen.

The Fair Queen program proves that the fair is not just about rides and food; it’s about community and agriculture.

As a part of the opening ceremonies for the 2025 Carbon County Fair, the new Fair Queen will be crowned at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4. The fair takes place Aug. 4-9 on Little Gap Road in Palmerton.