Fifteen young women will compete for the coveted title of Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen and a chance to represent the county in statewide competition.
The queen competition always is fun, but it also helps participants as they prepare for the future, said Ellen Harker, a fair queen committee member.
“The interview is a great learning tool for scholarship interviews, job interviews and things like that,” Harker said.
A capacity crowd is expected to fill Columbus North High School’s Judson Erne Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sunday, which is one of the first events for this year’s fair. The 60th annual Bartholomew County 4-H Fair is planned July 7 through 15.
A panel of judges from outside Bartholomew County will select the 2017 fair queen, determining the winner based on the girls’ professional wear and evening gown competitions, in addition to a three-minute interview.
The winner also will receive a $500 scholarship from MainSource Bank.
“The judges will be getting to know the girls, their personality, the types of things they’re interested in,” Harker said.
Allison Roberts, last year’s Miss Congeniality, is the only member of the 2016 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Queen’s court returning for this year’s competition. Claudia Sims, who will be a senior at Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech, is also making a return to the fair queen competition for the second year in a row.
Sims and others attended an informational meeting this week at the fair office of the Bartholomew 4-H County Fairgrounds, where participants received tips about what to expect from Becca Lax, who was crowned 2017 Indiana State Fair Queen in January.
Lax, a Purdue University sophomore, was previously named Miss Vanderburgh County and plans to visit 47 different county fairs this summer as part of her responsibilities as state fair queen.
Sims said although she was nervous last year during the judges’ interview, she feels more prepared this year.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a queen someday, and I set that goal for myself way back when,” Sims said. “Overall, I’ve learned from my mistakes and feel like I’m coming back with more knowledge.”
Cheyanne Hodson, who will be a senior at Columbus North, said she was encouraged by a former competitor, Abby Jones, to enter the competition. Hodson said she is using the experience as a way to gain more confidence and to make new friends.
“I’ve definitely talked to people I’ve never seen or talked to before,” Hodson said. “I thought about all the good things that would come out of it and just do it.”
Hodson said she is a bit nervous about being in the spotlight but said she just wants to have a good time regardless of the final outcome.
“It will be a fun day,” Hodson said.
Contestants are learning and practicing a group dance number planned during the competition with the song “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast.”
The contest theme, “The Wonderful World of Food,” follows a similar theme for this year’s Indiana State Fair. Organizers also are planning to recognize past fair queens during the competition, Harker said.
The judges also will ask questions tied to the food theme during the competition, including each contestant’s favorite food or what they like to cook. The on-stage questions help judges determine each contestant’s on-stage presence and overall ability to speak in public, she said.
The pageant winner and her court appear at events throughout the fair, including the demolition derby, a children’s baking contest and livestock shows. “The fair is their job that week. It’s a long week, but it’s a lot of fun,” Harker said.
Harker, who was first runner-up during the 1995 competition, said fair queen committee members all enjoy the overall experience of the pageant.
“We just enjoy working with these young ladies and sharing our passion for the fair,” Harker said.
Click here to purchase photos from this galleryAlisha Adams
Age: 18City: Columbus
Education: Purdue University freshman in agriculture communications
Sponsor: Esquire Hair Design
Parents: Susan Grossman and Danny Adams
Future ambitions: Public relations for an agriculture company
Activities/organizations: Four years participating in FFA and serving as an officer for the organization, District XI reporter, volleyball and Best Buddies
Hobbies and interests: Listening to music, drawing and hiking
Christina Claycamp
Age: 19City: Columbus
Education: Purdue University sophomore
Sponsor: Common Threads Home Ec Club
Parents: Brian and Michele Claycamp
Future ambitions: Become a large-animal veterinarian
Activities/organizations: Sigma Alpha sorority, Purdue Dairy Club, 4-H member for 10 years, FFA
Hobbies and interests: Playing volleyball and helping on the family farm, especially with the cows
Riley Coers
Age: 16City: Columbus
Education: Columbus East High School junior
Sponsor: Coers Family Eye Care
Parents: Brad and Carey Coers
Future ambitions: Study pre-medicine and major in biology or chemistry and then attend medical school to become a cardiologist.
Activities/organizations: Varsity cheerleading, Key Club, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America
Hobbies and interests: Cheerleading, volunteering, working and photography
Tanna Coombs
Age: 19City: Hope
Education: Ivy Tech Community College sophomore
Sponsor: Laverene Sorrells Photography
Parents: Don and Lisa Coombs
Future ambitions: Obtain a degree in agricultural business and continue growing the family’s cattle herd
Activities/organizations: FFA Alumni, 10-year 4-H member, varsity cheerleading, Students Against Drunk Driving
Hobbies and interests: Helping on the farm and traveling
Lydia Doughty
Age: 18City: Columbus
Education: Hope College freshman
Sponsor: Clay Township Kids 4-H Club
Parents: Jamie and Ryan Doughty
Future ambitions: Pursuing a double major in biology and French. After college, apply to medical school to become a doctor.
Activities/organizations: Cheerleading, track and field, National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, cadet teacher, volunteer, homecoming and prom court
Hobbies and interests: Skeet and sport clay shooting, hunting, science and studying French
Elizabeth Elliot
Age: 18City: Columbus
Education: Purdue University freshman
Sponsor: Boyer Machine & CSA Design
Parents: David and Judy Elliot
Future ambitions: Major in computer science and eventually be an entrepreneur
Activities/organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Spanish Club, Teen Republicans Club, National Honor Society, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County
Hobbies and interests: Cheerleading, crafting, singing, math and debating
Sarah Hayes
Age: 19City: Columbus
Education: IUPUC sophomore
Sponsor: Boyer Machine, Circle K and Vivian Lou
Parents: Alan and Melissa Hayes
Future ambitions: Own a large-animal vet clinic and stay involved in 4-H by becoming a leader
Activities/organizations: Passion for music, traveled through seven countries in Europe performing American music.
Hobbies and interests: Farm animals and helping on a local farm.
Cheyanne Hodson
Age: 17City: Columbus
Education: Columbus North High School senior
Sponsor: 4-H Flames
Parents: Jamie Young and Reginald Hodson II
Future ambitions: Study criminal justice or social work in college or become a firefighter
Activities/organizations: Softball, yearbook, photography, 4-H Flames
Hobbies and interests: Photography and softball
Kyra Jessie
Age: 19City: Columbus
Education: IUPUC sophomore
Sponsor: Bunny Bunch 4-H Club and Schafstall, Inc.
Parents: Aaron and Regina Jessie
Future ambitions: Obtain a degree in health sciences and be the leader of a 4-H Club someday
Activities/organizations: IUPUC student ambassador, 10-year 4-H member, 2016 Supreme Showman, FFA, the Great Sunflower Project
Hobbies and interests: Gardening and taking care of livestock
Alaysha Pollert
Age: 18City: Seymour
Education: Ball State University freshman
Sponsor: Hughes & Hughes, Allstate
Parents: Richard and Joetta Pollert
Future ambitions: Major in nutrition and dietetics and become a dietitian at a children’s hospital
Activities/organizations: Four-year varsity volleyball player at Columbus East, member of National Honor Society and student government
Hobbies and interests: Volunteering, hanging out at the lake
Allison Roberts
Age: 19City: Columbus
Education: Marian University sophomore
Sponsor: The Kroot Corp.
Parents: Mike and Choniti Roberts
Future ambitions: Earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2021. Earn master’s and doctor of nursing degrees and become a nurse anesthetist.
Activities/organizations: 21st century Marian University mentor, Marian University Craft Club, Circle K Club
Hobbies and interests: Cooking, baking, crafting, landscaping, gardening, NASCAR
Jenna Shoaf
Age: 17City: Hope
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Sponsor: Columbus FFA, Shoaf Honey Farm
Parents: Cammille and Julius Shoaf
Future ambitions: 4-year college degree in agribusiness
Activities/organizations: FFA, 4-H, National Honor Society, tennis
Hobbies and interests: Agriculture, music, singing, adventuring, traveling, sports
Claudia Sims
Age: 17City: Columbus
Education: Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech senior
Sponsor: QuickSigns
Parents: Chad and Debbie Sims.
Future ambitions: Major in animal sciences at Purdue University to become an animal nutritionist.
Activities/organizations: Member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4-H member for nine years, Junior Leaders, Feathered Friends Poultry Club, FFA, Student Ambassador, National Honor Society, BCSC prom committee, dean’s list
Hobbies and interests: Playing softball and basketball for Columbus East, showing animals at the fair, watching professional bull riding
Taylor Smith
Age: 18City: Columbus
Education: University of Indianapolis freshman
Sponsor: Fisher’s Flower Basket
Parents: Allen and Frankie Smith
Future ambitions: A career in physical therapy or sports medicine
Activities/organizations: Swimming, track and field, golf, student government
Hobbies and interests: Church youth group, dancing, fishing
Madelyn Steinwedel
Age: 17City: Columbus
Education: Columbus East High School senior
Sponsor: L&M Glick Seed
Parents: Matthew and Jennifer Steinwedel
Future ambitions: College undecided/pediatric nurse
Activities/organizations: 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Honor Society
Hobbies and interests: 4-H, working in food science at the hospital
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What: Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Queen Contest
When: 7 p.m. Sunday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m
Where: Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St.
Admission: $3. Attendees are asked to bring a canned good item, which will be donated to Love Chapel.
Information: Visit bartholomewcountyfair.com
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