LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Fair celebrated its 78th year, drawing thousands of visitors to the Leonardtown fairgrounds for four days of agriculture, entertainment and community traditions.
Families, volunteers and exhibitors came together to showcase the county’s rural heritage through livestock shows, 4-H auctions, horse pulls, Clydesdale demonstrations and crop displays. The fair also featured a parade, carnival rides, food vendors and contests that highlighted both long-standing traditions and new attractions.
The fair was organized by the St. Mary’s County Fair Association and remains one of Southern Maryland’s signature gatherings, bringing generations together to celebrate farming, family and community pride.
Queen Of Tolerance Coronation
The St. Mary’s County Fair opened Thursday with the Queen of Tolerance Coronation, a scholarship competition that has been part of the fair’s traditions for generations. The event recognized local high school students for character, service and community involvement.
Peyton Barber, a student at Leonardtown High School, was crowned the 2025 Queen of Tolerance. She said the experience was less about competition and more about growth.
“The objective wasn’t to win, it was really for the experience,” Barber said. “It’s not my glory, it’s the glory of God that brought me here. It’s all for him, all for him.”
Barber praised the other contestants for their dedication and values.
“They have great personalities, great character, great morals and values. They strive day and night with school, clubs, sports and extracurricular activities,” Barber said.
Looking ahead, Barber said she plans to attend Liberty University to study business and finance, while pursuing a path through Air Force ROTC with the goal of becoming an intelligence officer.
Clydesdale Demonstrations And Horse Pulls
The Clydesdales from Suttler Post Farm in Mechanicsville returned as one of the fair’s most popular attractions. Their award-winning six-horse hitch entered the show ring each evening, drawing crowds as the team thundered past the grandstands.
During the demonstration, the six-horse hitch paused in the center of the ring while children raised an American flag from the back. The crowd stood in silence as the national anthem played, honoring the flag before the horses exited.
The Suttler Post Clydesdales have earned championships at the Maryland State Fair and are known for traditions that extend beyond the county, including delivering Christmas trees to the White House for the past eight years. Their performances at the St. Mary’s County Fair continue to highlight the connection between agriculture, heritage and equine traditions in Southern Maryland.
The horse pulls at the St. Mary’s County Fair drew large crowds, continuing a tradition that connects the county’s agricultural roots with competition and entertainment. Teams of horses competed in mini, lightweight and heavyweight classes, pulling thousands of pounds across the show ring.
For many in the community, the horse pulls represent a legacy of farming and teamwork that has been passed down through generations.
“I think they have become a tradition for many families in the area,” said Noelle Mast, the horse pull announcer. “I think people come from quite a way away to support the horse pulls, and I feel like they have become synonymous with the fair itself.”
Mast, a third-generation equestrian from St. Mary’s County, said her favorite part of announcing is watching the crowd respond.
“My favorite part is seeing the crowd get excited,” Mast said. “Personally, I also love having a bird’s-eye view of watching the contest.”
Horse pulling derived from the timber industry, where draft horses were used to pull felled trees from forests. The work of pulling developed into a competition. Mast added that the horse pull means a lot to the St. Mary’s County Fair Association and to the people in the competition.
Horse Pull Results
Thursday – Mini Horse Pull
34-inch class
- 1st place: Corey Wagner of Dry Run, Pa. — 2 feet 6 inches at 4,250 pounds
- 2nd place: Ott and Wagner of Clearville, Pa. — Full pull of 10 feet at 4,000 pounds
- 3rd place: Dan Alpaugh Sr. of Torbutville, Pa. — 1 foot 8 inches at 4,000 pounds
38-inch class
- 1st place: Shay and Wagner of Dry Run, Pa. — Full pull at 4,250 pounds
- 2nd place: Anderson Children (J.R. Anderson) of Bel Alton, Md. — 7 feet 7 inches at 4,250 pounds
- 3rd place: Paisley Gates, driven by Corey Wagner of Dry Run, Pa. — 5 feet 5 inches at 4,250 pounds
Friday – Lightweight Horse Pull
Winning load: 10,500 pounds
- 1st place: Jay Farrell of Mechanicsville, Md.
- 2nd place: Brandon Porter of West Sunbury, Pa.
- 3rd place: Thompson Corner Connection of Charlotte Hall, Md.
Saturday – Heavyweight Horse Pull
Winning load: 10,500 pounds
- 1st place: Haskell and Catterton of Dunkirk, Md., and Palermo, Maine
- 2nd place: Barnes Brothers of Clements, Md.
- 3rd place: Haskell and Catterton of Dunkirk, Md., and Palermo, Maine
Giant Pumpkins, Mule Jumping And Tractor Pulls Remain Unique Attractions
The St. Mary’s County Fair featured one of the more talked-about exhibits of the weekend. Sean Gardner of Mechanicsville grew a pumpkin that weighed 1,050 pounds, earning first place among many entries in the annual contest and beating his personal best of 684 pounds. The giant pumpkin took center stage and received a lot of social media attention prior to the fair.
Gardner, who has been hauling giant pumpkins to the fair for the past four years, said the effort is about more than ribbons; it’s about youth engagement. His efforts got the attention of children and young adults in the 4-H clubs.
“I try to get other people involved, so we could have a bunch of them out there, not just one,” Gardner said.
Mule jumping returned to the St. Mary’s County Fair for its second year, drawing a crowd Friday evening before the lightweight horse pull. The event featured handlers leading their mules over raised bars in the horse show ring. Unlike traditional riding contests, the animals jump freely while guided on the ground. Each round, the bar was elevated, and the competition continued until the last mule didn’t want to jump.
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, valued for strength and endurance. Mule jumping is a competition rooted in the skills used to handle these animals on rough terrain, farmlands and in rural communities. Fair Association President Jay Farrell said the contest quickly became a fan favorite.
“They set some portable jumps up back there in the horse ring, and they just lead the mules up to it and jump over,” Farrell said. “The crowd loves it.”
The event was introduced after organizers saw its popularity at other fairs. Farrell said the contest drew positive feedback and could expand in future fairs.
The tractor pull was one of the loudest events of the weekend. Antique tractors competed on Sunday, with dozens of tractors lined up, including tractors from the Thurston H. Baxter Museum located on the fairgrounds.
In addition to the antiques, a separate pull featuring modern and modified tractors drew crowds eager to see the highly tuned machines. Farrell said the newer tractors were not part of the fair’s official events but take place annually at the fairgrounds. Both styles of tractor pulling highlight mechanical skill and connect farming equipment of the past with high-horsepower displays of today.
University Of Maryland Extension And 4-H Clubs Continue Ag Traditions And Education
The University of Maryland Extension played a visible role at the St. Mary’s County Fair, connecting the public with agricultural initiatives, research and youth development programs. The Extension maintains offices in every county in Maryland and the city of Baltimore, and provides expertise in agriculture, food systems, horticulture, family consumer sciences and 4-H youth development.
Ben Beale, an agricultural extension agent with the St. Mary’s County office, said the fair is a cornerstone event to showcase the University of Maryland Extension’s mission.
“The fair is the premier community event for St. Mary’s County,” Beale said. “It was developed to promote our rural heritage and a way to educate the rural community. We are very proud of the St. Mary’s County Fair.”
A central part of that mission is Maryland 4-H, which gives youth hands-on opportunities to learn responsibility, leadership and life skills through projects like livestock, robotics, photography, woodworking and more.
“4-H is all about developing the next generation to make positive impacts,” Beale said. “It’s not really about getting first place on your steer or your swine project. It’s the learning and the development skills that you learn along the way.”
Beale explained that 4-H is community-based and experientially driven, with more than 140 project areas available to young people. The program connects students with curriculum, mentors and peers who share their interests.
At the fair, the Extension coordinated judges for farm and garden competitions, hosted talks such as Sean Gardner’s pumpkin-growing seminar, and provided space for groups including Farm Bureau and the Maryland Department of Agriculture to meet with residents.
“Our goal is to help educate, to bring the university to the people,” Beale said. “We provide trusted research-based information to improve lives.”
Through its presence at the fair, the University of Maryland Extension reinforces the county fair’s role as an educational event as well as a celebration of community and tradition.
Community Pride And Fair Rides
The St. Mary’s County Fair parade brought hundreds of participants and spectators together on Saturday, beginning at Leonardtown High School and marching through the fairgrounds. The procession highlighted agriculture, youth programs and community involvement, while offering a display of civic pride.
The lineup featured fire and EMS units, farm equipment, race cars, ROTC and marching bands. Local political parties, community groups and businesses also took part, along with the St. Mary’s County Commissioners. Children rode in go-karts, while 4-H youth marched, guided horses and drove tractors to showcase their role in agriculture and community service.
The parade has been a highlight of the fair for generations, serving as a public demonstration of the county’s blend of rural traditions, community engagement and family celebration.
The fairgrounds also came alive each evening with the sounds and lights of the carnival. Families filled the rides like the Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, while children crowded the games for prizes. The carnival added color and energy that carried into the night.
Food was another centerpiece. Visitors lined up for stuffed ham sandwiches, hushpuppies, funnel cakes, barbecue, ice cream and other local favorites that have long defined the fair’s flavor.
The combination of rides, food and games gave the fair its festive atmosphere, complementing the agricultural shows and parade. For many in St. Mary’s County, the sights, sounds and tastes of the fair remain a tradition that marks the arrival of fall each year.
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