The Great Allentown
Fair Foundation

 The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is pleased to announce its scholarship awards to students for their 2026-2027 academic year. The Foundation will distribute $8,000 in total to applicants based upon their indication to pursue agricultural education at a collegiate level:

The Leon Peters Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($2,500) was awarded to Phoebe Stutzman, a graduate of Kutztown Area High School (Berks County) who will attend Lake Land College (Mattoon, Illinois).

The Greenawald Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) was awarded to Karina Davidheiser, a graduate of Daniel Boone High School (Berks County) who will attend  Rowan University (Glassboro, New Jersey).

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship ($1,500) has been awarded to Zari Whyld-Thomas, a graduate of  Moravian Academy  (Northampton County) who will attend  McGill University (Ontario, Canada).

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarships ($1,000 each) have been awarded to:

Levi Benjamin Lazarus, a graduate of  Lehigh Christian Academy (Lehigh County) who will attend Muhlenberg College (Allentown, Pennsylvania);

Kennason Taylor Ware, a graduate of Octorara Area High School (Chester County) who will attend Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, Texas).

“We are so proud to be supporting these five bright and talented young students in their academic pursuits in the field of agriculture,” says Ibolya Balog, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair. “Investments in students like these pay dividends to our region – and to our world,” she continues.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. Through scholarships, educational programs, incentives and events, the Foundation supports The Great Allentown Fair and programs of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). For additional information about the Great Allentown Fair Foundation, Inc., please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

In recognition of the  Great Allentown Fair’s celebration of two milestone events this year and next, the Great Allentown Fair Foundation has established a  Special Fairs Fund to support related activities. In 2026, the Fair will be honoring our Nation’s Semiquincentennial (aka USA 250). In 2027, the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS) will be hosting its 175 ^th Fair.

Plans are currently underway for a number of special events, attractions, and entertainment designed to take the Fair’s traditional offerings—celebrating agricultural education and heritage, as well as community—to a new level of fun and excitement for the whole family.

Tax-Deductible contributions to our Special Fairs Fund are needed to support these activities to make the 2026-2027 Fairs ones to remember.

Click here to learn more about the 2026-2027 milestone events and to donate to the Special Fairs Fund.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation, Inc. is now accepting applications for high school seniors interested in pursuing college-level education in the upcoming 2026-2027 term. Students are encouraged to apply for our scholarships and submit their completed applications before 5:00pm on Friday, June 10, 2026. Additional information, including the application and submittal process are posted at:  AllentownFairFoundation.org/education

“This is a wonderful opportunity to reward students that would like to pursue agriculture,” says Ibolya Balog, Great Allentown Fair Foundation Director and Scholarship Committee Chair.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation readily accepts donations to support initiatives like these, and donation information is also available at:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

Agriculture has long been, and continues to be, a major driver of Pennsylvania’s economy – and its largest industry – providing over $84 billion in direct economic output and supporting over 280,000 jobs. The field of agriculture is diverse and has opportunities everywhere: from growing crops to rearing animals; from organics, sustainability, and farm-to-table, to canning, wine making and wool production.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered in 2019, as a charitable organization founded by supporters of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. The mission of  The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. For additional information about The Great Allentown Fair Foundation please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is pleased to announce its scholarship awards to students for their 2025-2026 academic year. The Foundation will distribute $7,500 in total to applicants based upon their indication to pursue agricultural education at a collegiate level:

The Leon Peters Memorial Scholarship ($5,000 over two years) continues to Alaina Heffner, a graduate of  Muhlenberg High School who is in her second year at the  University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware) pursuing Pre-Veterinary Studies.

The Greenawald Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) was awarded to John Emanuel, a graduate of  Parkland High School (Lehigh County) who will attend  Penn State University (University Park, Pennsylvania) to study Mechanical Engineering.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship ($1,500) has been awarded to Isabela Ulicne, a graduate of  Fleetwood Area High School (Berks County) who will attend  Kutztown University (Kutztown, Pennsylvania) to study Pre-Veterinary Science or Biochemistry.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarships ($500 each) have been awarded to:

Skyler Horack, a graduate of  Northern Lehigh High School (Lehigh County) who will attend  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) to study Equine Science and Breeding;

Zoie Jones, a graduate of  Kutztown Area High School (Berks County) who will attend  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) to study Wildlife Biology and Environmental Science; and

Lyndsey Smith, a graduate of  Kutztown Area High School (Berks County) who will attend  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) to study Agriculture Education and Dairy Science.

“We are so proud to be supporting these six bright and talented young students in their academic pursuits in the field of agriculture,” says Ibolya Balog, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair. “Investments in students like these pay dividends to our region – and to our world,” she continues.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. Through scholarships, educational programs, incentives and events, the Foundation supports The Great Allentown Fair and programs of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). For additional information about the Great Allentown Fair Foundation, Inc., please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is pleased to announce its scholarship awards to students for their 2024-2025 academic year. The Foundation will distribute $7,500 in total to applicants based upon their indication to pursue agricultural education at a collegiate level:

The Leon Peters Memorial Scholarship ($5,000 over two years) was awarded to Alaina Heffner, a graduate of  Muhlenberg High School who will attend the  University of Delaware to pursue Pre-Veterinary Studies.

The Greenawald Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) was awarded to Kamryn Fink, a graduate of  Northwestern Lehigh High School who will attend  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) to study Livestock Management and Animal Science.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarships ($1,500 each) have been awarded to Skyler Hagner, a graduate of  Oley Valley High School who will attend  Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) to pursue Pre-Veterinary studies; and,
Kayla Steinmetz, a graduate of  Oley Valley High School who will attend  Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) to study Veterinary Nursing.

“We are so proud to be supporting these four bright and talented young women in their academic pursuits in the field of agriculture,” says Ibolya Balog, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair. “Investments in students like these pay dividends to our region – and to our world,” she continues.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered in 2019, as a charitable organization founded by supporters of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. The mission of  The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. For additional information about The Great Allentown Fair Foundation please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is excited to announce a partnership with  Rodale Institute of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The Foundation will provide assistance to certain applicants within Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties taking courses through  Rodale Institute’s Virtual Campus, including  Transition to Certified Organic Agriculture;  Transition to Organic Livestock Production;  Getting Your Organic Certification and  Hobby Beekeeping.

“We are thrilled to partner with Rodale Institute – it’s amazing how they consistently share their decades of expertise and knowledge. Now, with classes online, it makes agricultural education available to anyone and everyone. We wanted to incentivize interest from within our Lehigh Valley community to enable more access to Rodale’s wealth of resources because agriculture is not just important to our community, but also to our overall well-being,” says Bill Steele, Chairperson of the Community Outreach Committee of The Great Allentown Fair Foundation, Inc.

“Rodale Institute has been on the forefront of innovations in regenerative organic agriculture for decades. Thankfully, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is removing a potential barrier to education by connecting those interested in agriculture with the Institute’s prestigious educational opportunities. There are great synergies between our organizations, and our entire community will benefit as a result,” says Jeff Tkach, CEO of  Rodale Institute.

Applicants do not need to apply for the scholarships, as they will be chosen directly from Rodale Institute upon successful completion of one or more eligible courses. Information about the eligible classes can be found at Rodale Institute’s Virtual Campus:  courses.rodaleinstitute.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation chartered in 2019, as a separate subsidiary of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). The mission of the Great Allentown Fair Foundation is to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. For additional information about The Great Allentown Fair Foundation, please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic agriculture movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and education. The Institute’s groundbreaking science and direct farmer-support programs serve as a catalyst for change in farming and food production worldwide. Over its 75-year history, Rodale Institute has proven that organic farming is not only viable but essential to humanity’s survival. For additional information about Rodale Institute, please visit:  RodaleInstitute.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is pleased to announce its scholarship awards to students for their 2023-2024 academic year. The Foundation will distribute $7,500 in total to applicants based upon their pursuits of college-level education:

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarships ($1,500 each) have been awarded to
Lillian Hetrick, a graduate of  Oley Valley High School who will attend  Penn State University (University Park, PA) to study Food Science & Technology; and,
Joseph Romano, a graduate of  Boyertown Area Senior High School who will attend  The University of Delaware to study plant sciences and agricultural biotechnology.

The Greenawald Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Has been awarded to Allison Emanuel, a graduate of  Parkland High School and the 2022  Great Allentown Fair Queen, who will attend  Penn State University (University Park, PA) to study agribusiness.

The Leon Peters and Barbara Bigelow Scholarship ($5,000 over two years)
Continues to Mountain Anderson, who attends  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) studying agribusiness or agriculture.

“We are so excited to be supporting two students from Berks County – a first in our Foundation’s four years of granting scholarships,” says Ibolya Balog, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair. “Investments in students pursuing agriculture pay dividends to our region – and to our world,” she continues.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered in 2019, as a charitable organization founded by supporters of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). The mission of  The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. For additional information about The Great Allentown Fair Foundation, please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is pleased to announce its scholarship awards to students for their 2022-2023 academic year. The Foundation will distribute $6,500 in total to applicants based upon their pursuits of college-level education:

The Greenawald Memorial Scholarship ($1,500)
Has been awarded to Ashley Haas, a graduate of  Northwestern Lehigh High School, and frequent livestock exhibitor at the  Great Allentown Fair, who will attend  Penn State University (University Park, PA) to study kinesiology.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship ($5,000 payable over two years)
Has been awarded to Mountain Anderson, a graduate of  Bethlehem Catholic High School, who will attend  Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) to study Agribusiness or Agriculture.

“Selecting recipients for our scholarships is always a difficult decision. However, this year, both Mountain and Ashley were the most deserving. We are excited to support their academic pursuits and look forward to great things in their futures” says Ibolya Balog, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair. “Making these investments in students will pay dividends to our region – and to our world,” she continues.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. Through scholarships, educational programs, incentives and events, the Foundation supports The Great Allentown Fair and programs of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). For additional information about the Great Allentown Fair Foundation, Inc., please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation has received a generous contribution from  The Neffs National Bank toward the “Light Up The Fair” capital campaign to illuminate the cupola atop the landmark grandstand of the Allentown Fairgrounds which was recently renamed the Leon S. Peters Cupola.

The campaign serves the Foundation’s mission to preserve the Allentown Fairgrounds, and compliments Allentown’s 19th Street improvement zone efforts.

The donation completes the capital campaign for the cupola lighting project that brings a functional and aesthetic revival to the benefit of the city, neighborhood residents, merchants, and patrons by creating a visual beacon reminiscent of Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.

“In memory of Leon Peters, The Neffs National Bank is honored to make this donation to the Great Allentown Fair Foundation for the completion of the cupola project. We appreciate the efforts of the Great Allentown Fair Foundation and value our ongoing relationship with the Foundation and the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. Their commitment to the community is well-noted and truly appreciated,” says Kevin Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Neffs National Bank.

The Great Allentown Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation chartered in 2019, as a charitable organization founded by supporters of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (LCAS). The mission of the Great Allentown Fair Foundation is to provide philanthropic opportunities through grants and charitable donations to preserve, enrich, and advance agriculture. For additional information about The Great Allentown Fair Foundation, please visit:  AllentownFairFoundation.org

Photo (left to right) : Doris Koenig, LCAS Secretary; Ellen Millard-Kern, Trustee, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation; Kevin Schmidt, President and CEO, Neffs National Bank; Robert Burns, LCAS Treasurer; Barbara Bigelow, Secretary, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation; Robert B. Heintzelman, Chairman of the Board, Neffs National Bank; Noel Peters, son of Leon Peters; Greta D. Mast, Vice President of Commercial Lending, Neffs National Bank; Jonathan Epstein, Chairman, The Great Allentown Fair Foundation; Daryl Urmy, LCAS President; Beverley Gruber, LCAS Chairman; Tammy Keane, LCAS Finance Coordinator. Photo Credit: Jessica Ciecwisz, Marketing & Entertainment Manager, Great Allentown Fair