In the Grange Building at the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair in Centre Hall, Pa., a selection of agricultural exhibits lined up to battle it out last Wednesday.
But when it came down to competition between four exhibits presented by National Grange chapters, the new kids in town reigned supreme.
Penn State Grange, a new student organization officially established this past spring, defeated three other -- and older -- Grange chapters to take first place for their exhibit, which featured a showcase of community service and rural improvement with a backdrop of Penn State blue and white.
The organization beat out Marion Grange, Penns Valley Grange and Bald Eagle Grange to take the $200 prize.
The National Grange is an agricultural organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America, and Penn State's group is the first Grange organization based on a college campus, said Scott Barbara, the club's adviser.
Group president Jennifer Nauss (junior-communication sciences and disorders) said winning was great, but the competition wasn't particularly fierce.
"The Grange is not focused on competition but on cooperation," she said. "We have a lot of support from the other Granges in this area."
The students put together an exhibit based around the theme "Grange and Family," said Nancy Gentzel-Burris, who works with the exhibits at the fair.
She said the exhibits are judged on a points system based on attention to the theme, attractiveness and strength of the message.
"This was their first year, so they didn't really know what to expect. It's very impressive," she said.
Barbara said the student exhibit had a focus on education and leadership. The students were very excited to defeat three veteran groups to take first prize, he said, adding that the victory was sweeter after waiting two years for their group to be approved.
"We had to make sure that the existing bylaws of the organization meshed with those of the university," Nauss said. "That was part of what made it hard to get our group started."
While he had not predicted total victory, Barbara said he was glad to get his students a spot at Grange Fair.
"In the beginning of August, we learned that we had the opportunity to do this," he said. "And we gladly said yes."
