Items ranging from flowers to canned goods will be on display for people to observe — free of charge — at the Queen Grade School Building now through Saturday morning.

Sherry Hileman, 75, chairman of the home and dairy products, said the farm show is one of Claysburg’s biggest events since “everybody can become involved.”

Working parts

Overall, there are 12 departments included in the show.

Former Claysburg Farm Show president Violet Key places needlework on an entry table. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

“You need a lot of working parts to keep it all going,” Sherry said.

Throughout four classrooms and the hallway in the former grade school building, residents were seen bringing in containers filled with handmade blankets and boxes of homemade cakes on Tuesday afternoon.

The Claysburg Area Farm Show Association receives many entries from local residents each year, Sherry said, especially kid entries for the art department, which “seems to flood with stuff.”

It’s a good way for kids from ages 5 to 18 to get involved as well because they can “grow into wanting to be a part of the farm show” in the future, she said.

On Wednesday, seven judges will select the “best of show” items in each department, along with other specific categories. Over $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.

Since the show requires volunteer participation, Sherry said the show can become “difficult” without helping hands.

Antiques chairman Lori Snyder, 45, became involved 10 years ago after her two children, Alivia, 18, and Isaiah, 15, experienced the show for themselves.

“They came in so many times that they asked if I could help them,” she said.

At the 2024 show, Alivia received the “Most Points Earned Overall” award. This year, she is helping her mother as the assistant of the antiques department after nursing classes at Penn State Altoona.

According to Snyder, the farm show is important because younger children can show to the public “what they can do,” such as growing a garden or creating artwork.

“It’s old heritage that’s important to keep going,” she said.

The show also teaches observers about agriculture in Blair County, said former farm show secretary and president Violet Key, since they will get an idea of what farmers grow.

Rooted in history

Sherry said the farm show is an “old, old thing in Claysburg,” as it is celebrating its 94th anniversary this year.

Being a Queen native, Key, 89, has been participating in the event for 70 years.

Yet, she said she does not have a favorite part of the event because she doesn’t like one department over the other.

“We worry how things are going to go, and it seems everybody works together good,” she said. “And we’re so glad when it does that.”

She held the secretary position until her friend and former show president became sick, which was when she stepped in as president for “the last couple years,” according to Key.

She said she did “a little bit of everything” while being a part of the council, such as getting supplies and recruiting volunteers.

Another former president, Dahl Bowser, 76, submitted pots of homegrown shamrock plants and Joseph’s Coat plants. In total, he and his wife cooked two meals and submitted 24 items to the show.

After moving to Queen — his wife’s hometown — 13 years prior, the couple has been involved with the show because they “like to have a nice show in here,” he said.

Queen native Ronda Walter, 56, has been involved in the show since she was 9 years old. While she currently lives in East Freedom, she said she has been volunteering at the show for 15 years.

Typically, she enters sewing items, flowers and canned goods. The homegrown Coleus plant she entered Tuesday began as seeds last summer and now has grown multiple leaves.

As for sewing items, she entered eight blankets crafted and personalized for each of her grandchildren since “she let them pick out the materials they wanted.”

Key was also entering needlework, as well as flowers and nuts to the show.

“I am 89,” she said, “and it’s time for somebody younger to take over.”

New generation

In his first year as farm show president, Aaron Hileman has looked to shake up a lot of the ways things were done at the show.

For instance, Hileman, 48, said he plans to use social media pages such as Facebook to promote what they do and to show the younger crowd “what to look for when they bring in entries.”

He also had patriotic ribbons designed in celebration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday. Each ribbon this year will read “1775-2025” and next year, each ribbon will read “1776-2026,” according to Hileman. They will continue to issue these ribbons until they reach the end of the Revolutionary War, which will be “1783-2033.”

Key said she is “so pleased” with Hileman because he’s bringing new ideas to the show.

“They need somebody like that,” she said.

Growing up in Claysburg, Hileman said his grandmother used to bring canned goods, and his grandfather would take his tractor to the show. There, he grew an appreciation of old-school equipment, launching him into helping the antique department four years ago.

“I appreciate the older style of doing it,” he said. “And when I get to help with the farm show, it reminds me of my grandparents.”

In the future, Key believes Hileman’s presidency will encourage more people to enter items and volunteer.

Bowser also hoped the show continues because, he said, “a lot of them here are high 80s and low 90s, and we don’t know how much longer we’re going to be around.”

“We try to get the young ones involved here,” he added.

Although the show is celebrating its 94th anniversary, Hileman is confident they will celebrate its 95th.

“My goal is to get us to 100,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.