812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 12, 1998 At the Somerset County Fair, Secretary of Agriculture Samuel E. Hayes Jr., center, talks with a visitor while Byron Glessinger, fair board president, watches. Somerset F GAY BROWNLEE Somerset Co. Correspondent MEYERSDALE (Somerset Co i "When I am in Somerset Countv I feel like I m at home " Samuel E Haves Jr, the state secretary of agriculture told the crowd during an intermission of the Crystal Mane show The secretary was in town to be the grand marshal of the annual Farmers and Merchants Parade at the Somerset County Fair and to help dedicate two new buildings, the pavilion and the exhibit hall, invested in by the fair board of directors The skies overhead dumped more moisture than the planned activities could absorb on Monday evening The parade was scratched, but the benefits of the new, bleacher-filled pavil ion, were shown to tremendous advantage. Crystal Marie’s show could go on as usual and Hayes who was accompanied by Kenneth Mowry, regional director stood inside, just beyond the dripping eaves, and enjoyed the 12-year old singer as did everybody else “I always say a county fair that is standing still is not standing still,” Hayes added when on the platform, “it is falling behind,” he emphasized to the audience “This is as good a fair as you will find in Pennsylvania or any where else,” the well-traveled Hayes observed It’s obvious that Crystal Mane knows how to woo new fans with an amazing stage presence for one so youg She often was moving through the crowd, shaking hands while con tinuing to sing No seasoned politician run ning for office could have out shone the beguiling young lady in her nifty red white and blue spangled costume, made by her grandmother Linda, who hand makes all the costumes, and acts as her agent Crystal’s folks at all times are with Crystal Mane during the family-oriented shows Fran, Crystal Marie’s mother, helps her daughter with chore ography and writes songs Dave, her dad, and Denny, her grand father, manage the sound sys tem David, her brother, manages the computer side and Adam, age 4, keeps everybody happy and down to earth “He is my cheerer upper,” Crystal says. “He runs up on stage and hugs me.” Performer Crystal Marie, 12, poses with Somerset County commissioner David Mankamyer and sheriff Carl Brown at the Somerset County Fair. At age 7 she entered Crazy Fest, a talent show for amateurs held in Altoona Two years ago she entered the county fair cir cuit starting in Lycoming County. “It was really neat.” she recalled. “I had never signed so many autographs ” The funniest part was the things that were presented for her signature horse brushes, swimsuits, hats, books In 1977, because she show cased at the Hershey Convention Center where the Julie Sechler Is Somerset Fair Queen GAY BROWNLEE Somerset Co. Correspondent MEYERSDALE (Somerset Co.) After her coronation fol lowing the Sunday night Vesper Service, 18-year-old Julie Sechler became highly visible to Somerset County Fair Queen Julie Sechler passes col oring books to children who are awaiting the start of chil dren’s pedal power competition on the midway. county fair associations book tal ents for their various fairs, a whirlwind schedule was soon in the works for 1998. From June through October Crystal will appear on numerous stages across the state. She hopes country-western singing is becoming a career where ballet, jazz and tap danc ing she learned earlier will be a bonus In fact, her on-stage poise and obvious ease with peo ple already testifies that it is. visitors coming to the Somerset County Fair, which was blessed with lots ot great weather. After all, she was the new fair queen, so to exhibit friendli ness to everyone she met was a (Turn to Page B 14) SEE YOUR NEAREST S 3 NEWHOLLAW DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA >wn. P ibbol Messick Equipment RD 1, Box 255 A 717-259-6617 nvi BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RD 1, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carli; le. PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 lizabethtown. P Messick Farm Equipment, Inc Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit 717-367-1319 lalifax. P Sweigard Bros R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 S.G.Lewis & Son, Inc. 352 N Jennersville Rd 610-869-2214 1-800-869-9029 MARYLAND Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc Rt 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 Hagerstown. MD Antietam Ford Tractor, Inc 2027 Leitersburg Pike 800-553-6731 301-791-1200 Rising Sun. MD Ag Industrial Equipment Route 1,50 N. Greenmont Rd. 401-658-5568 NEW JERSEY Bridgeton. NJ Washington. NJ Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractor & Inc. Equip., Inc. Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave. Landing Rd 908-689-7900 609-451-2727 609-935-5145 KWHOIiAN)