The Elizabethtown Fair Queen Program is accepting applicants for the 2025 fair season, and the job comes with more than just a crown.

"Running for fair queen opens up the opportunity to explore the fair in a whole new way," said Lia Swartz, fair queen program coordinator. "Many of the events that the queen and court will participate in during the week are new for the girls even if they have been attending or exhibiting for years. Our entire court - every girl who runs for queen is considered part of the court - will get to work closely with the fair board and community members who make the fair happen."

Once the fair week is over, the job continues.

"There is opportunity to continue promoting the fair at community events, parades and the state fair queen competition," Swartz explained. "The fair queen competition is a scholarship for not only the queen but as well for the alternate, helping to encourage and support continued education."

Fair queen contestants must live in Lancaster, Lebanon or Dauphin county; be at least 16 and not over the age of 20 by June 1; have a parent or guardian's consent; be single and never married and have had no children and must not marry or get pregnant during her reign; not be a former local fair queen winner or state contestant; and not hold any other state title for any other commodity groups or pageant during her reign.

"The fair queen should be able to speak to a crowd as well as interacting in small groups. She should be able to carry herself with professionalism as she attends events," Swartz said. "The fair queen will be asked to jump in and help during events and is expected to do so with enthusiasm. The best fair queens are those who love their fair and the community and wish to represent them both. Applicants do not need to be from an agriculture background but should be excited about promoting all aspects of the fair."

She emphasized that organizers make a conscious effort to offer flexibility, so even the busiest applicant can succeed as fair queen.

"Many girls who run for fair queen are also involved in many other activities such as showing at the fair, sports practices/games, college classes and, new for this year, the junior fair board," she said. "We as a committee never want someone to feel like they have to choose between running for fair queen and their other activities."

The only time that cannot be adjusted is the on-stage portion of the competition, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, at the fairgrounds.

Along with the on-stage event, the competition includes a written essay of 300 words or fewer on the topic of "What My Fair Means to My Community," as well as a personal interview and a three- to five-minute speech on the topic of "Why You Should Come to My Fair." Contestants are also asked to answer an impromptu question at the live portion of the competition.

The fair queen and alternate will be awarded scholarships for higher education, $1,000 and $500 respectively, and the queen will reign for one year. During that time, she will participate in the Pennsylvania state fair queen competition to be held in Hershey in January of 2026. The fair queen will also participate in fair activities throughout the fair week and represent the fair at various functions during her reign.

"The fair queen program is so much more than a 'pageant.' The contest is full of professional development opportunities, including public speaking and interviews," Swartz shared. "Over the years, I have seen girls who have run multiple years grow in their professionalism and confidence. It is so much more than just winning the crown. The entire court is given opportunities during the fair week to participate."

For more information, including application and contest details, visit https://etownfair.com/ and click on the "Contests" tab, follow the "Elizabethtown Fair Queen Program" Facebook page or email etownfairqueen@gmail.com.

The application deadline is Thursday, July 10. The 2025 Elizabethtown Fair will run from Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 23.