Sens. McCormick, Fetterman announce private effort to represent Pennsylvania at national fair

U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and John Fetterman, D-Pa., announced on Friday that a coalition of Pennsylvanian organizations that will fund and organize the state’s participation in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The announcement follows recent indications from Gov. Josh Shapiro that Pennsylvania would not participate in the event.

McCormick and Fetterman said the effort will be funded entirely through private partnerships and will not use taxpayer dollars. They said they worked with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and several statewide groups to organize the initiative.

The Great American State Fair has been a subject of controversy across the country, with 10 states opting out and several artists canceling their performances at the event, citing what they believe to be heavy politization.

Organizations involved include the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, PennAg Industries Association, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and The Manufacturer & Business Association.

In a joint effort that the pair described as bipartisan, the senators said the goal is to establish a Pennsylvanian pavilion to showcase the state’s history, agriculture and business sectors.

“Pennsylvania is where America’s story began, and there was no way we were going to let the Commonwealth go unrepresented during our Nation’s 250th birthday celebration,” McCormick said in a statement.

Fetterman said the state’s absence from the event prompted the effort.

“We discovered our Commonwealth wasn’t participating in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall and we should be,” Fetterman said. “We are now making sure Pennsylvania’s booth will highlight the Commonwealth’s agriculture dominance, our businesses, and what makes PA a truly awesome and historic place.”

Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said the group will help lead the state’s pavilion. Representatives from agriculture, manufacturing and small business groups said their sectors would also be featured.

The senators said the initiative is intended to ensure Pennsylvania is represented alongside other states participating in the national celebration. They did not provide details on the size, cost or timeline of the pavilion beyond noting that it will be privately funded.