The Lycoming County Fair is back for 2024 — and we recommend everyone and anyone plans to visit.

The fair, as always, will offer fun and food for families. More importantly, it will offer people from across Lycoming County and the surrounding communities a glimpse into consequential lives.

Agriculture remains a critical part of our state’s economy and our region. As the state Department of Agriculture notes, the agricultural sector contributes about $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy annually and supports more than 590,000 jobs.

It can be a difficult career, the demands of which are more akin to a lifestyle than the 9-to-5 jobs with which many may be better acquainted. But it also is a vital career, responsible for feeding and clothing millions of Americans. And as we need farmers and other agricultural workers, we also need an appreciation for the sacrifices they make and a better frame of reference for how consumers, friends and neighbors of farmers can help them prosper so they can address those elemental needs.

The 4-H program, a stalwart of county fairs across Pennsylvania, teaches young people the importance of the calling of agriculture and the values and principles that allow our rural communities to thrive. The hard work of youngsters in 4-H will also teach fair-goers of all ages an appreciation for our state’s rich history of farming.

So, again, we ask and encourage everyone to visit the Lycoming County Fair and other fairs in our region — and to learn about the lives’ work that has made our region’s farms synonymous with Pennsylvania’s reputation for self-reliance, independence and industriousness.