Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania\u2019s booth at the Great American State Fair,<\/a> which ended Friday in Washington, was awarded one of 10 \u201cBest in Show\u201d awards, officials said Saturday.<\/p>\n In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. John Fetterman<\/a> (D., Pa.) and Dave McCormick<\/a> (R., Pa.) said the booth highlighted \u201cthe Commonwealth\u2019s central role in America\u2019s story \u2014 from the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the sacrifices at Valley Forge to Gettysburg, the Arsenal of Democracy, and the Commonwealth\u2019s continued leadership in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, innovation, and small business.”<\/p>\n The Great American State Fair, brainchild of President Donald Trump<\/a>, was held on the National Mall for 16 days, starting on June 25. During the closing ceremony, Freedom250, the organization behind the fair, recognized several outstanding state pavilions from across the country.<\/p>\n McCormick and Fetterman assumed responsibility for the booth after Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a> said Pennsylvania would be skipping the fair because state officials could not find a Pennsylvania business to sponsor the booth<\/a>. Shapiro was one of several Democratic governors who chose to forgo Trump\u2019s event. <\/p>\n The two senators said they were able to secure private funding for the display from a coalition of 55 organizations, including the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, PennAg Industries Association, Pennsylvania Manufacturers\u2019 Association, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. No taxpayer funding was used, according to officials.<\/p>\n