Centre County Grange Fair tent site dispute decision reversed by state court
Centre County’s Grange Fair has been a beloved tradition in our region for over a century and a half.
For certain families, securing a spot at the yearly fair’s tent site is of utmost importance. It holds such significance that it can escalate into a legal dispute. This was exemplified in a recent state court ruling that revolved around one such case.
The Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair, the nation’s last remaining tenting fair, recently marked a significant milestone by celebrating its 150th anniversary this past summer.
Nearly one thousand tents are set up on the Grange Fairgrounds, making up the encampment. It is worth noting that many of these tent spots have been passed down through generations, adding to the sense of tradition and community within the encampment.
In 2022, Nancy Yarnell, a longtime tenter, took legal action against the Grange Fair regarding the family tent site they had been leasing since 1963.
The lawsuit alleges that in 2018, the Grange Fair declined to renew their tent lease, providing no explanation for their decision.
The disagreement eventually led to a lawsuit in Centre County court. The lawsuit involved not only the specific allegations but also the “contractual obligations” that the Grange Fair had in renewing tent site leases, as well as other legal issues.
The Grange Fair received a favorable ruling from a county court in 2023, prompting Yarnell to file an appeal with the state commonwealth court.
In a recent development, the state has upheld the appeal, overturning the opinion of the Centre County court. Consequently, the case has been sent back to the county court for additional proceedings.
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