Thirteen-year-old Thea Sten, a resident of Schuylkill Haven, is making waves in the local community as she secures a spot as a finalist in the "O Say Can You Sing" National Anthem contest at the upcoming PA State Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Selected by a panel of judges, Thea stands out as the sole finalist hailing from Schuylkill County in this statewide competition. Now, her fate lies in the hands of social media users as the contest shifts to a voting phase based on Facebook reactions such as likes, loves, and wows, with each reaction counting as one vote.
To cast a vote for Thea, supporters can visit the PA Farm Show Facebook page, locate Thea Sten's video, and engage with it by leaving a reaction. (Post is also embedded at the bottom of this story)
While each person can only vote once, organizers encourage participants to share the page to garner additional support from friends and family.
The top 12 contestants with the highest vote count will earn the opportunity to perform the National Anthem on one of the days during the Farm Show. The contestant with the overall highest number of votes will be granted the honor of singing at the Opening Ceremonies of the Farm Show.
In the past two years, Schuylkill County has demonstrated its vocal prowess, producing the top vote-getter. In the 2023 Farm Show, six-year-old Mia Bixler from Schuylkill Haven stole the spotlight by winning the contest with the most votes, becoming the youngest singer in the event's history to receive this honor. The previous year saw Kalli Smith from Gordon claiming the top votes for the 2022 Farm Show.
The voting period is set to conclude on Monday, November 27th.
The top 12 contestants with the highest vote count will earn the opportunity to perform the National Anthem on one of the days during the Farm Show. The contestant with the overall highest number of votes will be granted the honor of singing at the Opening Ceremonies of the Farm Show.
In the past two years, Schuylkill County has demonstrated its vocal prowess, producing the top vote-getter. In the 2023 Farm Show, six-year-old Mia Bixler from Schuylkill Haven stole the spotlight by winning the contest with the most votes, becoming the youngest singer in the event's history to receive this honor. The previous year saw Kalli Smith from Gordon claiming the top votes for the 2022 Farm Show.
The voting period is set to conclude on Monday, November 27th.
You can also listen to her sing her rendition of the National Anthem Below