PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON COUNTY FAIR In back are the Central Mountain Middle School eighth grade students who took top honors in the annual Clinton County Fair Poster Contest. Hanna Johnston, center, took first-place and her poster will appear on the cover of the Fair’s premium program book. At right is second-place winner Rebecca Bechdel, and at left is third-place winner Stella Herrmann. In front, from left, are CMMS principal Laura Fragassi, Art teacher Jamie McCann, Fair Board president Philip Courter, and Middle School assistant principal Ryan Carty.

MACKEYVILLE — The 53rd Clinton County Fair is just a few months away — Aug. 1-8 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Mackeyville — and the Fair Association recently selected the student-drawn poster that will serve as the front cover for the 2026 Fair premium program booklet.

As has become tradition, local eighth-graders participate in the annual poster contest, designed to showcase the creativity of area students, and their love of agriculture. This year, 160 eighth-graders from Keystone Central School District and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School submitted entries.

Hanna Johnston, of Mill Hall, an eighth-grader at Central Mountain Middle School, drew the winning poster. Her artwork will appear on the cover of the fair booklet.

“My experiences at the Fair are what inspired my poster — the food, animals and overall experience,” says Johnston, who enjoys art and is already making plans to attend this year’s Fair.

Second-place was awarded to Rebecca Bechdel, and third place to Stella Herrmann, also students at Central Mountain Middle School.

The students worked under the direction of CMMS Art teacher Jamie McCann, and Joan Walizer at the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School.

“I was really happy with the participation this year,” said McCann. “The students stepped up and did a nice job with the posters. The group is really artistic and creative.”

Clinton County Fair Board President Philip Courter presented the three students with a certificate of appreciation from the fair association. In addition, the first-place winner receives a $100 award; second-place, $50; and third-place, $25.

All of the students who participated in the poster contest will have their artwork on display at this year’s fair, and each participant receives a day-pass to the fair.

For more information on the 2026 Clinton County Fair, visit www.clintoncountyfairpa.com.