Following four and a half decades away, Jeanette Brower made a triumphant return to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

The East Drumore Township resident sewed up a second-place finish out of 72 entries in the America 250 PA Apron Contest.

"I was very overwhelmed," Jeanette said. "I knew that it was a long shot, because you are competing against 72 first-place ribbon aprons (from local fairs). That's a lot. I felt like I had done a really good job, and I had a good product, but against 72 other first places, (coming in second) was a little overwhelming."

The contest was sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs (PSACF). Entries were due Jan. 7, and the judging occurred on Jan. 9. Jeanette attended the Farm Show on Jan. 11 to receive her ribbon and prize money.

"I grew up at the Farm Show. I was a farmer's daughter," Jeanette said. "We would go out every year, and I was also a Montgomery County Dairy Princess, so I have a huge history with the Farm Show."

She had a long absence from the annual event. "My husband (Rich) didn't enjoy the Farm Show as much as I did, so I hadn't been there for 45 years," Jeanette said. "My husband saw the (apron) competition in the Advertiser, and he told me about it. He said, 'You have to enter.' And I said, 'OK, I'll enter, but if I win, you're going to the Farm Show.' He agreed to that, thinking that it was such a long shot that it would never happen."

The Browers went with Jeanette's sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Karen and Dave Carter. "It was fun to be able to experience it together, but it has changed a lot," said Jeanette.

Jeanette stated that she is grateful for Farm Women Society 31, which sponsored the prize money at the Solanco Fair, and for the Pennsylvania State Grange, the suppliers of prize money at the Farm Show.

Apron contest participants were required to use the colors red, white, or blue or a combination and make the apron in 2025.

"When I do something of that nature, the first thing I do is pray and ask God to show me what it is He would like me to do," Jeanette said. "I got several designs in my head, and I just drew them up, and I just landed on the one I used."

She used her embroidery machine to inscribe "God" on the top of the apron, "country" on the second line, and "cooking" below that. "Our nation was founded on God," said Jeanette. "Our country is of very high importance. I was doing (a list of) the priorities: God, country, cooking. That was my inspiration behind it."

The apron took a total of 15 hours to make. "I have a machine that's called an overlock-coverlock," Jeanette said. "I had just gotten it, and I had some training on how to use it. One of the stitches that they taught me was what's called a flat felt stitch. You sew the two pieces of fabric together, and then you pull them apart, and you're left with a bunch of little lines. I took ribbon and wove it in between the lines, and I did that in between each of the pieces that I had done. I drew my lines where I wanted it cut apart and then cut it all apart. I did what I needed to do to each piece and then started putting it all back together again. It was like one big puzzle."

She noted that she enjoys each part of the process. "I like being able to be creative," said Jeanette, who has also taught sewing to local 4-H Club members. "I can take a pattern. I can make it whatever I want it to be, or sometimes I even make my own patterns."

Jeanette became enthralled with sewing at a young age. "My grandmom (Grace Kolb) taught me when I was in my early teens, and I've been sewing ever since," she said.