Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced the singers who will perform the "Star-Spangled Banner" daily and at special events during the 2024 Farm Show. Thirteen-year-old Thea Sten, of Schuylkill Haven in Schuylkill County, received the most social media votes in the 2024 PA Farm Show National Anthem contest, 'Oh, Say Can You Sing?'. She will sing live at the 108th Farm Show Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday January 6, 2024.
The Greater Harrisburg Sweet Adelines Chorus will sing live from the GIANT Expo Hall in the PA Farm Show Complex at 8 a.m. to kick off the day.
"The 2024 Farm Show theme, Connecting Our Communities, celebrates the best of our agriculture industry and what unites us," said Redding. "The Star-Spangled Banner unites our communities, regardless of our differences. Thea and a talented cast of singers from communities across Pennsylvania will set a tone of unity and pride in commonwealth and country as we start each day of the 2024 PA Farm Show."
A panel of judges selected 25 finalists from among 55 qualified entries from across Pennsylvania. Finalists' videos were posted on Facebook for fan voting to determine the winners who will sing each morning and at special events during the week.
A contest winner will sing in the GIANT Expo Hall at 8:00 AM each day of the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show, from January 6-13. Performances can be heard throughout the complex and will be featured live on PA Farm Show's Facebook page.
Winners, and the dates they will sing, are listed below.
Friday, Jan. 5
5:30 p.m. – PA Preferred® Reception – Savannah White, Carlisle, Cumberland Co.
Saturday, Jan. 6
8 a.m. – Greater Harrisburg Sweet Adelines – Harrisburg, Dauphin Co.
10 a.m. – Opening Ceremony – Thea Sten -- Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill Co.
Sunday, Jan. 7
8 a.m. – Gabriella Montero – Emmaus, Lehigh Co.
Monday, Jan. 8
8 a.m. – Eagle Singers of Eagle View Middle School – Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co.
Tuesday, Jan. 9
8 a.m. – Camp Hill High School RoaR! Acapella Ensemble, Camp Hill, Cumberland Co.
9:30 a.m. – Jr. Livestock Sale – Heather Norris, Camp Hill, Cumberland Co.
Wednesday, Jan. 10
8 a.m. – Sophie Strick – Reading, Berks Co.
Thursday, Jan. 11 – Military Veterans and Families Day
8 a.m. – Keith Weiser – Fleetwood, Berks Co.
1:00 p.m. – Army-Navy Cookoff – Apalonia Passetti – Forty Fort, Luzerne Co.
Friday, Jan. 12
8 a.m. –Landon Mak – York, York Co.
Saturday, Jan. 13
8 a.m. – Adley Burke – Etters, York Co.
The 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show will feature a return of fan-favorites like the 1,000-pound butter sculpture, Farm Show Food Court and Farm Market, sheep shearing, weaving, lumberjacking, and hundreds of other competitive agricultural events, cooking demonstrations at the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection, and one million-plus square feet of hands-on agriculture education opportunities and chances to engage with the people who power Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
To stay up to date on PA Farm Show news, visit farmshow.pa.gov or follow the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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