First New Holland Fair Queen Makes Mark at State Level

When Kendell Moats, New Holland's first fair queen, was called as one of the top five finishers at the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs (PSACF) Queen Contest in Hershey on Jan. 21, her "nerves were jumping." However, when Kendell was asked a final question while the other top four contestants were off-stage in a soundproof room, she knew her answer.

The question was, "Hershey's slogan is 'The Sweetest Place on Earth.' If you were the next state fair queen, what slogan would you give the fair queen program?" "I said, 'Always Learning ... Always Advocating,' which is something I have lived the last four years," said Kendell. The Garden Spot High School (GSHS) senior then explained that she does not come from an agricultural background, but she has endeavored to learn all she can about local agriculture, becoming president of the high school's Grassland FFA chapter and hosting a podcast named "Growing With Kendell," which uses the same slogan.

Kendell's journey to a top-five finish began when she was crowned the first New Holland fair queen on Sept. 28, 2022. On Jan. 19, Kendell and her grandmother Missy Moats headed for the Hershey Lodge, where the PSACF queen competition was held as part of the organization's 110th convention. Each day, the contestants took part in an activity where they were judged against more than 50 other girls representing fairs from around Pennsylvania. On the first day, Kendell walked up on stage in front of about 900 people to introduce herself and her county and give a fun fact about her home. "I said, 'My name is Kendell Moats, and I am from New Holland. I am proud to be the first New Holland fair queen in the home of the Case New Holland tractor.'"

Each of the contestants also took part in a six-minute interview. Kendell showed the judges the location of Lancaster County on a map of Pennsylvania, and then she was asked questions about GSHS, her FFA experiences, and her podcast.

All contestants were also required to give a speech about why people should attend the fair they represent. Kendell said she had added to her speech by focusing on key foods sold only at the New Holland Fair, such as Lickity Split's cotton candy float and the hot ham and cheese sandwiches the New Holland Lions Club is known for. She also pointed out that members of Grassland FFA and 4-H come together to plan the livestock show, which attracts contestants from around the county.

Following her speech, Kendell prepared for the coronation banquet that evening, donning a "pink, sparkly" dress for the event. The reigning queen gave a closing speech before the top five contestants were named. When Kendell's name was called first, the contingency from New Holland began cheering, and, although she did not win, Kendell is pleased with her accomplishment. "To be top five for the first year of New Holland having a fair queen, I am proud of myself and everyone who has gotten me to this point," she said.

At GSHS, Kendell is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serves as the student representative to the ELANCO School Board, and has been an intern in the marketing department of Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. After graduation, she plans to attend college to major in communications and minor in public relations.

The New Holland Farmers Fair recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. More information about the organization may be found at http://newhollandfair.org. To view photos from the 2022 fair, visit http://www.townlively.com/in-the-community.