Of all the busy 4-Hers and organizers circling the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, few have schedules as full as the fair queen and her four-member court.
Queen Maddie Steinwedel and her court — Taylor Smith, Emma Wischmeier, Sarah Hayes and Maddie Engelau — were crowned at a June 24 pageant. During the nine-day county fair, they represent and support 4-Hers at shows, competitions and other events around the fairgrounds.
On Wednesday, for example, their activities included cat and small critter judging, Kids Day on the midway, sheep shows, a pedal tractor pull, and a musical performance by 2016 fair queen Bailey Meyer.
If the schedule allows, all court members may be at a particular event. But with multiple activities happening at the same time, they sometimes have to split up to have someone at each major activity.
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“I like that we have five girls this year,” said first runner-up Smith, who was also on the court last summer. “Last year it was hard for us to make it to everything.”
With 2017 fair queen Alisha Adams also picked as Miss Congeniality, that left four young women to handle court duties last year instead of five in most years.
The court’s long Wednesday at the fairgrounds started with the cat and small critter show, which began at 9 a.m. Steinwedel said she did not leave the fairgrounds until 10:30 p.m. — more than 13 hours later.
Because the court must attend every show, it is not uncommon for them to spend an average of 10 hours a day at the fair.
Their first appearance at the fair was on opening day at the poultry show, where the court members presented ribbons and posed for photographs with winners.
Since then, they have attended each livestock show at the fair, in addition to smaller events such as the watermelon seed-spitting contest.
New view
As court members, 4-H veterans have a chance to see the fair from a new vantage point.
“It’s a totally different fair, being a 4-Her vs. being on the court,” Wischmeier said.
Hayes showed white mice when she was a 4-Her, and thinks the small-animal project attracts more exhibitors who live in the city, which does not allow farm animals in neighborhoods.
Perceptions that 4-H is only for farm families are wrong, said Hayes, spending her second year on the queen’s court.
“I had a really life-changing experience in 4-H. You’re really able to grow with the things that you’re doing, whether it’s projects or animals,” Hayes said. “I want to get them (city residents) involved so they can have a life-changing experience, too.”
Because Steinwedel shows sheep in 4-H, she spent part of the day Wednesday away from her court, preparing for her own competition.
In her absence, fair princess Chloe Krueger accompanied the court.
Krueger said that attending the fair with the queen’s court has given her a chance to explore new shows and events.
“It’s been a nice, new experience,” Krueger said. “I just show chickens, so I enjoy seeing parts of the fair I haven’t seen before.”
Daily duties
Attending shows is the most important part of the court’s duties, since they are meant to support all the 4-Hers, Steinwedel said.
That support is especially important to young 4-Hers who look up to the fair queen.
“There was this one little girl I met in the rabbit show. And I’ve seen her every single day since then, and she always hugs me and greets me,” Steinwedel said.
For many children at the fair, seeing the court walk by wearing their sashes and tiaras is awe-inspiring.
After noticing the young women walking through the craft tables, first year 4-Her Ezra Harrison pulled Engelau aside to show her his champion poster.
Engelau said that being friendly to the visitors and other 4-hers she meets at the fair comes naturally.
“We — and me in particular, being Miss Congeniality — are always smiling and greeting people,” Engelau said.
Wischmeier was a 10-year member of 4-H, and being on the court has given her a chance to talk to the 4-Hers whose hard work and dedication she has firsthand experience with.
“I developed most of my communication skills in 4-H, especially in livestock judging where you have to eloquently dissect your reasoning,” she said. “The court has given me the opportunity to utilize the skills I have developed.”
Between events, the young women take a break for snacks in a camper contributed to the court by Steinwedel’s boyfriend, Wyatt Fleming.
The trailer is also a convenient place to freshen up throughout the day, fixing makeup and hair, particularly after events such as Grandstand drag races where dirt is thrown around.
Fair apparel
During the day, the queen and her court typically wear jeans, boots and 4-H shirts with their crowns. But in the evening or for major events, they change into dresses.
“We try to dress appropriately for each show,” Steinwedel said. “For the larger livestock animals, we wear jeans and boots. But for some of the smaller animals like the poultry and rabbits, we wore sundresses and boots.”
Erin Engelau said it surprised her how dirty the sashes and ribbons get. She has had to repeatedly spot clean daughter Maddy’s sash.
Parents such as Engelau play a large role in the court’s daily activities. Mothers, for example, took turns throughout the week bringing food, and Engelau’s and Steinwedel’s fathers looked after their livestock while they were on court duty.
Wednesday was Erin Engelau’s day to provide nourishment, and the girls snacked on pizza before the sheep show.
Although organizer Annie Romine supervises the court, much of her time is taken up by other commitments at the fair.
Consequently, the court members — and queen Steinwedel in particular — must take the initiative to be on time and ready to go.
With so much to manage, the additional support from parents is appreciated.
“The parents have been beyond supportive and helpful,” Engelau said. “They are always checking on us, asking us if we need anything, helping with hair and makeup, bringing us food whenever we ask. We honestly wouldn’t make it through the week without them.”
Apart from relaxing in the trailer, the court also spends free time walking around the livestock barn to talk to 4-Hers about their projects or visiting the Midway.
On Wednesday’s Kids Day in particular, the court members were excited to see all the children enjoying the rides and games.
Smith said it was the day of this year’s fair that she was most looking forward to.
After the fair wraps up on Saturday, the court members will have more time to reflect on their experiences. But already, they have formed a bond with each other — in addition to hundreds of young 4-H exhibitors and thousands of fair guests.
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TODAY
9 to 11 a.m.: Open Class Flowers due in Family Arts Building
9 a.m.: 4-H Rocket Demonstration, Grandstand
11 a.m.: 4-H Barbeque Contest, David Boll Theatre
5 to 10 p.m.: Lil’ Hands on the Farm, 4-H Community Building, Family Arts, and Commercial Buildings open
5 p.m.: Midway opens, regular-priced tickets until 10 p.m.
5 p.m.: 4-H Parade of Champions, Livestock Pavilion
6:30 p.m.: Lil’ Wrangler Horse & Pony Show, Horse Arena
6:30 p.m.: 4-H Supreme Showmanship & Livestock Awards –– Division 1: Rabbit and Poultry, Pavilion
7 p.m.: 4-H Supreme Showmanship and Livestock Awards – Division 2: Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep and Goats, Pavilion
7 p.m.: Night Owl Country Band, David Boll Theatre
7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration, Heritage Building
7 p.m.: ATV/UTV Mud Bog, Grandstand
10 p.m.: Midnight Madness, $12 wristbands until 1 a.m.
SATURDAY
7:30 a.m.: Livestock Auction Buyers Breakfast, Pavilion
8:15 a.m.: 4-H Livestock Sale, Pavilion
5–9 p.m.: 4-H Community Building, Family Arts, and Commercial Buildings open
5 p.m.: Midway Opens, $23 wristbands until close
7 p.m.: Demolition Derby, Grandstand
7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration, Heritage Building
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2018 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen: Madelyn Steinwedel, 18, IUPUC freshman
First runner-up: Taylor Smith, 19, University of Indianapolis sophomore
Second runner-up: Emma Wischmeier, 19, Purdue University sophomore
Third runner-up: Sarah Hayes, junior at Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis through Vincennes University
Miss Congeniality: Madison Engelau, Columbus East High School senior
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