HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lehigh Valley residents are racking up ribbons at the PA Farm Show.
From photography, textiles and knitting to baked goods made with maple syrup, nuts and honey, Valley residents placed in various different classes, divisions and departments in the Family Living and Commodities competitions.
The 109th PA Farm Show is well underway, and continues through Saturday at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St.
This year’s theme is “Powering Pennsylvania,” a nod to the commonwealth’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
"The importance of the Pennsylvania Farm Show goes far beyond being the nation’s only mid-winter State Fair."PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
“The importance of the Pennsylvania Farm Show goes far beyond being the nation’s only mid-winter State Fair,” state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a recent news release. “It is an opportunity to celebrate the New Year with the people of Pennsylvania agriculture whose products enhance our quality of life every day and sustain our environment and our communities year-round.
“It is a chance to learn about the agricultural legacy that has made Pennsylvania a national leader, and the innovative people and cutting-edge technologies powering Pennsylvania’s future.”
In addition to the junior livestock competitions, which included more than a half-dozen Lehigh County 4-H’ers, Valley residents also competed in the Family Living and Commodities competitions over the weekend.
Family Living
The Family Living Department of the PA Farm Show has a 2-acre footprint at the complex and includes baking and canned goods competitions, as well as hobbies, crafts and more.
This year, more than 60 out of about 2,500 entries came from the Valley.
Below, find Lehigh Valley results from the family living competitions at the PA Farm Show:
Hannah Keberlein, 10, of Northampton, placed third for her simple dress and first for her potholder or mitt, both in the 4-H Textile Science Beginner division; third in the hand-knitted class of the Craft Youth Classes division; and first place in the poster use and purpose of sporting class in the 4-H Opportunities division.
Christine Stofko, 37, of Nazareth, placed second in the Size 3-6X class of the Clothing & Textiles division.
Julie Hamilton, 60, of Allentown, who had 37 entries in the Baked Products division, placed second in the yeast rolls - white class; second in yeast rolls - cinnamon; second in yeast rolls - other; second in cake - yellow/brown vegetable; third in cake - other; third in pound/bundt cake - chocolate; first in cookies - rolled; third in cookies - drop, sugar; third in cookies - molded; second in cookies - sliced/ice box; third in yeast bread - cinnamon; and third in yeast bread - other.
Carol Costenbader, 76, of Palmerton, placed third in the table runners - mixed techniques - machine class of the Crafts division.
Leesa Gehman, 45, of Allentown, placed second in the color - critter class of the Hobbies division.
Carmella Kriebel, 15, of Catasauqua, placed third in the two soft pretzels class of the 4-H Food & Nutrition division.
Commodities
About 50 out of more than 1,400 commodities entries came from the Valley across the Apiary, Nut, Fruit and Maple Syrup departments.
Here are local winners:
Julie Hamilton, 60, of Allentown, placed in three different classes of the Honey Products division of the Apiary Department, including: third in yeast breads; second in candy and fourth in sauces or dressing.
She placed fifth in the cake class of the Fruit Foods division of the Fruit Department. She also placed sixth in the Baked Goods - Other class in the Maple Syrup Division of the Maple Syrup Department.
Monica Bugbee, 36, of Northampton, placed in eight different classes in the Nut Foods division of the Nuts Department, including: second in baked goods - candy; second in baked goods - bread; second in baked goods - other; fourth in baked goods - nut flour - cookie; third in baked goods - nut flour - other; third in baked goods - nut flour - bread; first, and best in class, in baked goods - nut flour - crackers; and fourth in baked goods - nut flour - other.
She also placed third in the Adult Winter class of the Photography Division in the same department.
Louise Bugbee, 69, of Northampton, placed in five different classes in the Nut Foods division of the Nuts Department, including: fourth in baked goods - cake; second in baked goods - nut flour - cookie; first, and best in class, in baked goods - nut flour - other; second in baked goods - nut flour - crackers; and fifth in baked goods - nut flour - other.
She also placed fourth in the Adult Winter class of the Photography Division, as well as first, and best in class, in the Adult Summer class of the Photography Division in the same department.
For more information on the show, from food to parking, go to the Lehigh Valley Guide to the 2025 PA Farm Show.
