Kate Merchlinski, who now oversees the New Holland Farmers Day Association floral exhibits, is in awe of her fellow members of the Country Gardeners Club of ELANCO who coordinated the flower exhibits in the Scout building on Roberts Avenue. "They did this for 34 years in the Scout building," Kate pointed out. "They had so many entries in this tiny place." Kate, who volunteered with the group for more than a decade before taking the coordinator's position, especially recalls the intricate lighting system that the members had to install yearly in the ceiling of the building. "Those ladies had to put ladders up to put lights up," she recalled. "They were crawling around in the rafters."

When Kate took the wheel of the floral exhibits in 2022, she was overjoyed by being able to organize the display in Warehouse 100 on Franklin Street. "It was an embarrassment of riches, I had so much room," Kate remembered. "It was an easy transition."

Helping Kate to organize flowers in the new location were Country Gardeners Club members, who continue to volunteer to help set up the exhibits, and Kate's husband, John, a craftsman who has built several structures to help enhance the space. "I have been getting him to make me things," confessed Kate. In 2022, John created a "fabulous arbor that people walked through to go in." "It makes an impact," shared Kate.

Since Kate started, the exhibit has moved again, this time to the CrossNet Youth Center, 110 W. Franklin St., New Holland. "This last year, I did a 'Tea Party in the Garden' (theme)," said Kate. "I had a topiary lady, chairs, a table, and a tea cart."

Kate delights in hunting for ideas and themes for the display, and she has a timely idea for the 2025 event. "This coming year, it will be focused on bees. I am excited about that," she stated, adding that she has asked John to build a small beehive for the display and that she is in touch with the Lancaster County Beekeepers Society. "They have a live hive, and I'm going to try to schedule a live hive (to be on-site) and someone to talk about it," she noted, adding that she plans to include a variety of the plants that the bees are most attracted to in the display.

Although Kate was familiar with the fair floral exhibits, she was impressed with what she learned about the entries once she took over the role of coordinator. "We had 688 entries last year, and 70 of them were (entered by) youths," stated Kate. "We want younger people involved, and I was happy to see that number increasing."

According to Kate, entries run the gamut from houseplants to succulents and grasses. "We have a little of everything," she pointed out, noting that tastes change. "Years ago, everyone had African violets," she said, adding that the purple plants are not as popular as they once were. "We get a lot of dahlias," she noted, pointing out that Master Gardener Tim Elkner, who serves as one of three judges of the fair exhibits, specializes in dahlias. "He told me we have excellent entries in dahlias," she said. "We have local people that are that passionate about flowers, and they are raising first-rate flowers to bring to our show. These people know what they're doing ... and we are getting excellent entries."

In addition to the bee theme, Kate is looking forward to seeing different types of entries at this year's fair. "We have containers, and that is fairly new, and this year, we will add miniature landscape design," she said, noting that two New Holland Fair committee members saw miniature landscape design featured at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and sent her a photo. "We will give it a shot," she said. "You have to keep adding things to see what clicks."

Kate admitted that the fair flowers - like any garden products - are always at the mercy of the weather. "Last year, when it was dry for so long, we had different plants (entered)," she recalled. "You never know (what the weather will be)." She also noted that a year that is too wet or has too many of a certain type of bug will affect the entries.

No matter the weather, Kate said that taking part in the fair - whether as an exhibitor or as a helper - is generally a pleasant endeavor. "People don't know how much fun it is to volunteer for the fair," she pointed out, adding that when the judges finish, the volunteers go to work arranging the displays. "(We) move things around to make it look pretty," she stated. "Say there's a lot of heavy color in one area, then you have to move it to another, and it's just fun."

This year, Kate will have help from her co-chair, Cathy Eby. "She has been volunteering and helping me, and we bounce ideas off each other," reported Kate. "Together we will brainstorm some more displays."

Kate noted there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in overseeing the exhibits. "We have a very good depth of talent," she stated. "After we get it all placed, I look around and think, 'This is very special.' It makes me very proud."

Readers who would like to donate to or volunteer for the fair may visit https://newhollandfair.org. Readers with specific questions may email info@newhollandfair.org or call 717-354-5880.