National Anthem Contest

Contest Update

The schedule has been released for the 2025 PA Farm Show National Anthem Contest! Check out the date and times for individuals performing and tune in via Facebook Live!

  • Friday, January 3 @ 5:30 PM – PA Preferred Reception: Hannah Weaver
  • Saturday, January 4 @ 8 AM: Cadence Kline - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Saturday, January 4 @ 10 AM - Opening Ceremonies: Alona Buzey - Maclay Street Entrance
  • Sunday, January 5 @ 8 AM: Shellenberger Siblings - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Monday, January 6 @ 8 AM: East Stroudsburg High School North - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Tuesday, January 7 @ 8 AM: Select Chorus from Biglerville High School - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Tuesday, January 7 @ 10:00 AM – Junior Livestock Sale: Alexandra "Ally" Bet - Small Arena
  • Wednesday, January 8 @ 8 AM: Alyssa Horton - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Thursday, January 9 @ 8 AM: Crystalyn Gureckis - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Thursday, January 9 @ 1 PM- Army vs. Navy Cookoff: Brayden Cressman - PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Stage
  • Friday, January 10 @ 8 AM: Camp Hill High School: RoaR - Giant Expo Hall 
  • Saturday, January 11 @ 8 AM: Penelope Shaw - Giant Expo Hall 

Are you interested in singing the National Anthem as part of the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) will select a different individual or group to perform the National Anthem at the beginning of each day of the show.                                                                                                                                                                                             

Get creative, PA! Do you spend your morning singing to cattle? Pass the time on the tractor serenading your crops? We want to see it! Show us your surroundings and your skill. Originality will score big points in this competition! We don’t need flashy editing or special effects – just your beautiful voices and interesting surroundings!

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for selection, you must:

  • Video requirements: your video entry must be originally recorded for the purpose of entering the 2025 Oh Say, Can You Sing? PA Farm Show National Anthem Contest. Videos recorded for any other purpose will not be accepted. The entering individual or group must sing the National Anthem from start-to-finish, without instrumental accompaniment, as there will not be instrumental accompaniment when singing at the 2025 Farm Show. All videos must be family friendly and respectful. Entries that do not comply may be disqualified in the sole discretion of PDA.
  • be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
  • be available at least one day of the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show (which runs from January 4 through January 11, 2025) to be on-site at the Farm Show Complex by 7:45 a.m. to sing the National Anthem at 8:00 a.m. (PDA will work with winners to coordinate timing);
  • if less than 18 years of age, obtain and provide the written consent of a parent or guardian if you are selected to perform.
  • be someone other than an employee, family member or person living in the same household as an employee of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; and 
  • give the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania permission to use your video
  • submit a qualifying entry.

 

To Apply

When the contest is open, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Facebook will publish a post. Contestants should email their submission, with the subject “National Anthem Contest”, to agcontests@pa.gov

Email entry should include: 

  • Name, age, county of residence in Pennsylvania, email address, and phone number
  • A YouTube link to your video entry. The video entry should be a single video of yourself or your group singing the National Anthem from start-to-finish, without instrumental accompaniment. Links to videos housed on any platform other than YouTube will not be considered.

Submissions for the 2025 PA Farm Show are now closed as of November 17, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

The video becomes the property of PDA once submitted. Once received and reviewed., applicants will be notified that their submission has been successfully received via email.

 

Video Requirements

Your video entry must be originally recorded for the purpose of entering the 2025 Oh Say, Can You Sing? PA Farm Show National Anthem Contest. Videos recorded for any other purpose will not be accepted. The entering individual or group must sing the National Anthem from start-to-finish, without instrumental accompaniment, as there will not be instrumental accompaniment when singing at the 2025 Farm Show. All videos must be family friendly and respectful. Entries that do not comply may be disqualified in the sole discretion of PDA.

 

Voting

Fan voting will take place on Facebook from November 19, 2024 at 12 PM until November 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM. The top 12 (twelve) videos based on total reactions (likes, loves, wows, etc) on Facebook will serve as our finalists to sing during the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show. The top video, based on total reactions and availability, may be chosen as the singer(s) for Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, January 4, 2025. PDA retains sole discretion to select and schedule these singers.

 

Winner Notification

Winners will be notified via e-mail and required to confirm their availability on a specific date and time during the PA Farm Show. Winners have until 10 AM on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 to reply and confirm their availability.

 

Winner Announcement

When all winners are confirmed, winners will be publicly announced on PA Farm Show social media.

 

If You Are Selected to Sing

You will be provided a complimentary, one-day parking pass to the show and must be at the Farm Show Complex by 7:45 a.m. on the date you are to sing and – prior to singing – complete a waiver form authorizing PDA and its partners to use your picture, likeness and any photo/video/audio recording of you (including your singing performance) as it sees fit, without payment or compensation to you. If you are less than 18 years of age a parent or guardian must sign this waiver for you. A winner will sing live at 8:00 AM each day of the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show, from January 4-11.

 

Anything Else to Know?

Yes! PDA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this contest.