This year, 15 young women are vying for the title of Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen.
Each woman will participate in a 4-minute interview at the fair queen pageant Sunday before they compete in front of an audience at 7 p.m. at the Columbus North High School auditorium.
Only two of the girls are returning candidates, said pageant committee chair Annie Romine, which means this year’s group of young women is fairly new with many diverse interests.
Romine said contestants will participate in three rounds of competition on Sunday night. The evening begins with theme wear. The contest theme is "Heroes in the Heartland," adopted from this year’s Indiana State Fair theme.
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Each woman will dress in apparel of someone they consider to be a hero and explain that person’s impact to the audience.
Following their introductions is the professional wear portion of the competition. Special to this year’s theme, local heroes will be asked to come to the stage where they’ll be introduced to the audience by each contestant.
The girls will then change into their evening gowns for the final competition of the evening. The pageant concludes with the winning contestant being crowned fair queen. Three runner-ups and a Miss Congeniality will also be named.
The queen and her court will spend the week at the July 5-13 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair. The queen will also represent Bartholomew County at the state fair queen pageant in January.
The fair queen will receive a scholarship and various honors from local businesses as part of her winnings.
In each information sheet from the contestants, they are asked to give a statement as to why they want to be queen. The statement is listed
This year’s contestants include:
Ashlyn Booth
Age: 16
Parents: Matthew and Rikka Booth
Sponsors: Jenkins Farm Market
Community activities: Columbus East High School cheerleading, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, FCCLA community service officer, First Christian Church meal site volunteer
4-H activities: Member for five years, has participated in poultry club, rabbits
Honors/awards: National Honor Society, National Arts Honor Society
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I would love the opportunity to represent Bartholomew County because I believe I could be an inspiration to girls who feel like they have to be perfect to be beautiful."
Halie Brumley
Age: 18
Parents: Katrina and Brian Brumley
Sponsors: Feathered Friends 4-H Club
Community activities: 4-H, FFA, White Creek Lutheran Church, Indiana Service Dog Association
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, foods, gardening, microwave
Honors/awards: Indiana Miss Amazing 2016 and 2018, Miss Agriculture Indiana Teen 2017, Multiple Grand Champion awards through 4-H career
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I want to be a role model for young girls, by leadership and example."
Riley Coers
Age: 18
Parents: Brad and Carey Coers
Sponsors: Coers Family Eyecare, Excavation Plus
Community activities: Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, Health Occupations Students of America, Key Club, National Honor Society, iGrad peer tutoring
4-H activities: Member for two years, has participated in scrapbooking and baking
Honors/awards: Benjamin M. King Human Rights Essay Contest winner, Key Club Member of the Year, C4 Outstanding Student
Education: Columbus East High School, 2019 graduate
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "It is a great way to inspire young people to become role models for their community."
Sierra Drysdale
Age: 18
Parents: Jessica and Travis Wakefield
Sponsors: Business and Industrial Federal Credit Union
Community activities: 11 years in competitive cheerleading, Carnival for the Cure, Night of 1,000 Jacks, 4-H, volunteer at Humane Society of Bartholomew County, four-year cheerleader at Columbus North
4-H activities: Member for one year, participated in goats, farm scene, baby personality, mini tractor pull, greased pig, watermelon run
Honors/awards: Academic honors, Core-40, Reserved grand champion (goats), Sports/honor roll award
Education: Columbus North High School
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I am a good role model and mentor. I have had experience in coaching and in teaching has helped me develop a passion in inspiring children."
Kennedy Engelau
Age: 17
Parents: Jenny and Troy Engelau
Sponsors: Miller’s Heating and Air
Community activities: 4-H, FFA, Student Athletic Trainer, C4 Student Ambassador, C4 Leadership Team, Unified Track and Field, Bulldog News Network
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in photography and goats
Honors/awards: C4 Outstanding Student, Ball State Journalism Day honorable mention
Education: Columbus North High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I want to be a role model for young girls."
Madison Engelau
Age: 18
Parents: Ed and Erin Engelau
Sponsors: New Design Homemakers Club
Community activities: Key Club, show choir, St. Paul Lutheran Church youth group, FFA, Champions Together, Fellow Christian Students, High School Hero, drama club, Borchers Day Camp
4-H activities: Member for 10 years, has participated in swine, corn, soybeans, sewing, foods, 2018 Miss Congeniality, 2014 princess runner-up
Honors/awards: Key Club Presidential Award, Columbus East Senior Project Hall of Fame 2019, 2018 Columbus East High School homecoming queen
Education: Columbus East High School, 2019 graduate
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "Being the fair queen means a year of meeting new people and being a role model for people of all ages."
Emily Harker
Age: 16
Parents: Andrew and Ellen Harker
Sponsors: Clover Kids 4-H Club
Community activities: FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Students Against Destructive Decisions, RYC, youth group, Columbus Parks and Recreation and Future Jets soccer referee,FMSC, Biddy Ball coach, Clifford Fish Fry volunteer
4-H activities: Member for seven years, has participated in beef, sheep, welding, food, Junior Fair Board
Honors/awards: Indiana delegate to Global Youth Food Prize Institute, Bartholomew County delegate to Heifer International, Student Council class president, Hope FFA, varsity track and soccer Mental Attitude recipient
Education: Hauser Jr./Sr. High School
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I would like to become the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen because the fair has always been a significant event throughout my life. I would love to become the bright and shining force to represent the fair."
Charlize Meek
Age: 17
Parents: Glenn Jr. and Wendy Meek
Sponsors: 4-H Flames
Community activities: 4-H, Ogilville Methodist Church member
4-H activities: Member for three years, has participated in swine, Cloverbuds
Honors/awards: EBL Award in sixth grade, grand champion market litter (swine)
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I have always enjoyed going to our fair and showing at our fair. I feel I also am a good representative for our fair."
Chloe Sims
Age: 17
Parents: Chad and Debbie Sims
Sponsors: Columbus FFA Chapter
Community activities: 4-H, FFA, St. Paul Lutheran Church member, Jr. Leaders
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in sheep and poultry
Honors/awards: Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, numerous Grand Champion awards throughout 4-H career
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "4-H has made and continue to make a huge impact in my life, and I would love to represent Bartholomew County."
Claudia Sims
Age: 19
Parents: Chad and Debbie Sims
Sponsors: QuickSigns
Community activities: St. Paul Lutheran Church member, Purdue Nutrition Society, Purdue Collegiate 4-H, intramural softball, intramural basketball
4-H activities: Member for 10 years, has participated in Jr. Leaders, chicken, sheep, several projets
Honors/awards: Numerous Grand Champion awards throughout 4-H career, 2018 Outstanding Livestock exhibitor, Health and Human Sciences Dean’s list at Purdue, 2013 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair princess
Education: Purdue University, sophomore
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "After getting to experience the fair as the fair princess and being with the queen and her court, it has made me strive to be a part of that experience again."
Hannah Smiley
Age: 19
Parents: Tim and Kris Smiley
Sponsors: Smiley Construction, Hilliard Lyons
Community activities: Humane Society of Bartholomew County volunteer, 8-year cheerleader, Hilliard Lyons summer position, Fireman Cheer Fund volunteer, United Way volunteer, Red Cross volunteer, Dig for a Cure volunteer
4-H activities: Member for 10 years, has participated in livestock, beef, Cloverbuds, Jr. Leaders
Honors/awards: Cheerleading Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2016, 4-H awards
Education: Columbus North High School, 2018 graduate; IUPUC/Ivy Tech Columbus
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "Last year, I finished up my 10 years. This year, I want to still be a part by being on court or queen."
Mackenzie Smith
Age: 18
Parents: Tod and Jeni Smith
Sponsors: Bonnell Farms Show Cattle, Halderman Real Estate
Community activities: Dance Marathon committee, LEAD Mentors, St. Peters Lutheran Church member, Columbus East unified track and field, Student Assembly
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in goats, arts and crafts, photography, gift wrapping, cake decorating
Honors/awards: National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, numerous Grand Champion awards throughout 4-H career
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "4-H has been a huge part of my life, and I would love to have the opportunity to give back and be a positive role model for all of the other 4-Hers."
Aubrey Sullivan
Age: 17
Parents: Brian and Bridget Sullivan
Sponsors: IN3B Boer Goats, Briana Bonnell
Community activities: Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, Humane Society of Bartholomew County volunteer
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in goats, dog obedience, rabbits
Honors/awards: National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, honor roll
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I have always enjoyed fair week and I want to be more involved in all aspects of the fair."
Natalie Taylor
Age: 20
Parents: Scott and Christy Taylor
Sponsors: Northside Pediatrics
Community activities: Young Life Greater Lafayette Ministries
Honors/awards: Hauser Tennis Mental Attitude award, American FFA degree
Education: Hauser Jr./Sr. High School graduate, Purdue University
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "The 4-H Fair has always been a fond part of my childhood memories, but more recently I have been able to see the connection, hard work and growth that happens between students and their projects. Getting to be a part of awarding and celebrating the students and the families’ dedication would be an honor."
Alexa Whipker
Age: 17
Parents: Shawna and Troy Whipker
Sponsors: Columbus, Indiana ENT
Community activities: 4-H, Columbus East varsity cheer, children’s ministry at O.C.C.
4-H activities: Member for nine years, has participated in goats, photography and scrapbooking
Honors/awards: Scholastic Silver Award for photography, Champion Rookie Showmanship, Reserve Junior Showmanship, Champion Senior Showmanship, Reserve Champion Doe
Education: Columbus East High School
Why do you want to be 4-H fair queen?: "I want to be Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen to impact my community positively and to be a role model to all the younger girls in and out of 4-H."
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What: Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Queen competition
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Columbus North High School auditorium
How much: $3 admission, at the door
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