WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pennsylvania will participate in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration after U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman assembled a coalition of business and agricultural groups to fund the Commonwealth’s presence without taxpayer dollars.
The bipartisan effort came after state leaders realized Pennsylvania had not yet secured participation in the event, despite the Commonwealth’s central role in American history and the participation of most other states.
McCormick and Fetterman said the Pennsylvania exhibit will be financed entirely through private partnerships. The initiative is being supported by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, PennAg Industries Association, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Business, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, and The Manufacturer & Business Association.
“As the birthplace of American independence, home to the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, and the engine for the arsenal of democracy, Pennsylvania has a special responsibility to preserve, celebrate, and share that enduring legacy,” McCormick said.
Fetterman said the state’s exhibit will highlight Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector, businesses, and historical significance.
The Great American State Fair is part of the broader America250 celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Business and agricultural groups backing the effort said the event presents an opportunity to promote Pennsylvania’s economic strengths and historical contributions before a national audience visiting Washington for the semiquincentennial celebration.
Luke Bernstein, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said Pennsylvania’s absence from the event would have left out a state that continues to shape the country’s economy and history.
Agricultural organizations also emphasized the importance of showcasing the Commonwealth’s farming industry, one of Pennsylvania’s largest economic sectors, during the anniversary events.
The senators said the exhibit will celebrate Pennsylvania’s history while highlighting the people, industries, businesses, and farms that continue to drive the state’s economy.
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