The search is on for the 2016 Great Allentown Fair Queen, a $1,000 educational scholarship opportunity for a young woman selected to represent the fair’s mission during the event’s Labor Day week run, at the State Fair Queen Contest in January and in the community throughout the year.

The Lehigh County Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that has been operating the fair for 164 years, is looking for contestants from Lehigh, Northampton and Berks counties who possess an ability to communicate enthusiasm for the Allentown Fair, local farming and the agricultural industry.

Young women ages 16 to 20 years of age are encouraged to enter the competition that awards a $1,000 scholarship presented by Lehigh-Northampton Pomona Grange No. 68 to the winner who will reign over various activities at the upcoming Allentown Fair, Aug. 30-Sept. 5. Deadline for registration is June 30.

The queen’s duties extend to promoting the fair’s purpose all year at events and speaking engagements throughout the community. She will also go on to vie for the title of Pennsylvania State Fair Queen in Hershey in January, a position that involves visiting fairs throughout the Commonwealth during the summer months of 2017.

The new Allentown Fair Queen will be selected Aug. 14 and be introduced at the fair’s annual opening ceremonies Aug. 30. Last year’s queen, Aliza Nyce, of Germansville will return to crown her successor.

Contestants must comply with the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Program rules and be able to compete in the State Fair Queen Contest in Hershey in January 2017.

As a scholarship program, contestants are judged on a written essay, a personal interview with the judging panel and an on-stage introduction and speech presentation on the topic “Why you should come to The Great Allentown Fair.”

For information and entry forms: allentownfairpa.org and click on “Contests” or contact Contest Chairperson Cheryl Urmy, fairqueencoord@allentownfair.com, 610-248-6678