PHOTO PROVIDED The 2025 Centre County Grange Fair Queen Gracie Novosel, of Howard, will head to Hershey later this month to compete for the title of 2026 Pennsylvania State Fair Queen.

CENTRE HALL — The 2025 Centre County Grange Encampment & Fair Queen, Gracie Novosel, of Howard, will be competing for the title of 2026 Pennsylvania State Fair Queen at its annual competition, held at the 113th Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs convention. The competition will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, through Saturday, Jan. 24, in Hershey.

Novosel was crowned the 2025 Centre County Grange Fair Queen during the 151st Grange Fair in August. She has spent the past five months promoting the fair, agriculture and its impact on not only the Centre County community but also across the state at various events.

Grace is currently a senior at Bellefonte High School, where she is involved in FFA, cheerleading, and other activities. She plans on pursuing a degree in agriculture education with the hopes of one day becoming an agricultural teacher for high school students.

Sixty-six contestants, including Novosel, will be competing for the coveted title of the PA State Fair Queen.

Each contestant has submitted a written essay and will present a speech on “Why You Should Come to My Fair,” interview with a panel of out-of-state judges and present a personal introduction about their fair.

The Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Program allows young women to promote Pennsylvania’s number top industries: agriculture and tourism.

The program also provides many opportunities for the young women to learn about self-growth and skills that are necessary in the future.

The young lady chosen will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship and represent Pennsylvania agriculture for the duration of the 2026 year.

The Centre County Grange Encampment & Fair committee will be in attendance to support Novosel as she competes this year.