Celebrating Our Agricultural Life
Alivia Koontz and Lucy Jaye and their baby goat. Credit: Pleasant Valley Photography
The Ag Expo & Fair is the community’s annual opportunity to come together and celebrate the agricultural life
By Rebecca Chaney
Kayleigh Shank gets ready to sell her first-place crossbred market steer the evening of the 2024 Washington County Ag Expo & Fair 4-H and FFA Market Animal Sale. Credit: Shank Family
Competition, tradition, great food, and fun are just a few of the things that come to mind when you think of the county fair. July marks the annual Washington County Ag Expo & Fair when thousands of people flock to the county’s premier agricultural event of the year.
Residents of all ages spend months focused on the fair. Whether it’s young 4-H and FFA members working to raise champion livestock, community members trying to bake the best pie, or others just dreaming about deep fried Oreo cookies, cotton candy, and hand-dipped ice cream—the fair certainly attracts all to its special activities and offerings.
The Ag Expo & Fair brings the community together. While many activities have remained the same, the fair has introduced new attractions and events over the years as it continues to grow.
“We’re always trying to implement new activities and bring in different crowds,” says Joe Frey, fair president. In addition to 4-H and FFA shows and contests, the Washington County Ag Expo & Fair has a popular list of other attractions to delight kids and adults. Some of the highlights include the tractor pull, machinery and equipment displays, live bands, business displays, the Western Maryland Pullers Figure 8 Demo Derby, bull riding, and the “Kids’ Tent.”
For the children of farmers, showing their livestock for judging is one of the highlights of the Ag Expo & Fair. Credit: Turner Photography
Levi Young shows off one of his prize birds. Credit: Turner Photography
The Shank family is deeply ingrained in Washington County agriculture. Ryan Shank represents the third generation exhibiting at the county fair and his daughter Kayleigh is the fourth generation. Although his grandparents, Ralph and Patsy Shank, exhibited their prized Ayrshire cattle at the fair, Ryan, his wife, Amanda, and their children now show beef cattle.
“This will be Kayleigh’s third year showing in 4-H,” Ryan Shank says. “And this year will be the first fair for our son, James. One of my greatest memories is showing with friends. Now, we are watching our children, the next generation, show together.”
Kayleigh exhibits beef cattle, baked items, and does fashion review. “I like to help educate the public about the breeds of livestock, and I encourage them to learn more about agriculture,” she says. “At the Ag Expo I exhibited the grand champion beef heifer in 2023 and the grand champion turkey in 2024. I’m working hard with my animals and hope I have another great year at the fair.”
See You at the Fair
The annual Washington County Ag Expo & Fair is set for Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, July 19. Parking is free and special gate and events passes, as well as a detailed schedule, are available at www.agexpoandfair.org.
A large part of the Ag Expo & Fair is tending, caring for, and showing livestock (above). For visitors, it’s a chance to interact with farm animals (right). Credit: Turner Photography
In addition to the fellowship and “friendly competitive spirit” of showing with friends, Ryan Shank believes one of the most important aspects of the fair is agricultural education.
“We need to close the disconnect from farm to public,” he says. “It used to be that everyone had a parent, grandparent, or great grandparent involved in agriculture, but today it’s more like five or six generations out.”
Alivia Koontz, a recent graduate of both 4-H and FFA, highlights that “agriculture is something not many people understand, yet it impacts their daily lives.” Although she no longer shows her projects, her passion for education remains strong.
“The most valuable lesson the fair taught me is how to be both a leader and an educator,” she says.
Today, she mentors younger 4-H members both inside and outside the show ring, serving as an advocate for agriculture and dedicated to “teaching the public about the reasons behind what we do.”
Frey says he enjoys seeing the younger kids volunteer and especially how they love talking about agriculture and their animals.
“The Ag Expo is a way for 4-H and FFA kids to be able to display their animals and projects and to help educate the public,” he says. This commitment to hard work and education is especially evident on Thursday night, when the fair hosts the 4-H and FFA Livestock Market Sale, which attracts the largest crowd to the show arena. The sale marks the culmination of a year’s worth of dedication to raising market animals.
Family Fun Night at the Ag Expo & Fair includes a tractor pedal pull for kids and a hay bale throwing contest for older
children. Credit: Pleasant Valley Photography
Piper Debaugh gets ready to show her hog. Credit: Pleasant Valley Photography
The Market Sale is an emotional night for the kids. “Working with your market animals all year and then selling them at the fair can be very difficult,” says Koontz. “You put all your love and work into them, and then it’s time to say goodbye.”
Koontz sold meat pen rabbits, market dairy goats, and market lambs during her time in 4-H. While many tears are shed, the kids understand they are contributing to their community.
“Not only does the Market Sale support the 4-Her with future projects and endeavors, but the buyer also knows where their meat is coming from and how it was raised,” Koontz explains. Despite the difficulty, the kids take pride in knowing their hard work benefits both themselves and the people they serve.
Kicking off the fair on Sunday is “Family Fun Night.” Kids and adults are encouraged to participate in a variety of games. Some of the fun competitions include celebrity goat milking, kids’ tractor pedal pull, and tug of war. “It’s a great way to start off a busy week of competitions,” Frey says.
Audrey Rohrer talks about her lamb. Credit: Pleasant Valley Photography
For the fourth year, the Ag Expo will host “Kids’ Fest.” This three-hour event will begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday of fair week and will focus on educating young children. Nearly 30 local businesses and organizations will showcase interactive, educational, and fun activities geared toward helping children understand the importance of agriculture in their lives.
Deeply rooted in history, the Washington County Ag Expo & Fair will highlight the county’s agricultural past while featuring the strong cultural and economic impact agriculture continues to have on the community.
Whether it’s simply catching up with old friends, competing for a grand champion award, or enjoying the carnival, there are endless events to experience. See you at the fair!