Donna Wech Awarded ‘2025 Friend of the Fair’ at the Clinton County Fair
By Christopher Miller
MACKEYVILLE – The 2025 Friend of the Fair Award was awarded to Donna Wech during the opening ceremonies of the 52nd annual Clinton County Fair Saturday afternoon.
“It is really a pleasure to be standing here today to get to join in presenting the Friend of the Fair Award on behalf of Russell Redding, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,” Sarah Hammond said, representing Secretary Redding.
“Thank you to everyone on the stage for all of the work you have done for your community to make sure that fairs like this are impacting your local community and are pulling people together. Every year the PA Department of Agriculture conveys these awards to outstanding fair volunteers, community members, and businesses that provide support to the community’s fair. Fairs are like small cities, however we know fair boards are busy planning next year’s fair the minute after they turn off the lights and shut the gates on the last day.”
“Pennsylvania’s agricultural fairs are run by countless volunteers who volunteer their time and talents to make the fairs as successful as they are. The individual receiving this award this year is an individual who is very beloved to the community here in and out of the fair. She is willing to drop everything and help anyone at a moment’s notice to make sure her community and family here are taken care of. She is a stickler on safety. Up every morning early at the fairgrounds making sure every person and vendor on the grounds have everything taken care of. I am honored to present this award to Donna Wech.”
Donna, very surprised, spoke about how she was tricked into thinking the award was being given to somebody else.
“This is really a surprise as we have already chosen someone else for this. I’d like to thank everybody who volunteers at the fair. We do a lot of work here and I liked to make sure to be up early to make sure everything is up and running, and get to Clint’s Diner to make sure everybody gets breakfast. It wouldn’t be a fair without everybody here working hard. I’d like to thank everybody in the community for coming out and supporting the fair. Tell your friends and neighbors to come out and enjoy their evenings here.”
Donna also received honors and commendations from PA State Senator Cris Dush’s office, State Representative Stephanie Borowicz and recognition from the State House of Representatives, United States Senator John Fetterman’s office, and Angela Harding, representing the Clinton County Commissioners, and Congressman Glenn “G. T.” Thompson’s office.
