Treadway
Thirteen contestants are seeking the crown for the 2023 Miss Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen.
The competition is at 7 p.m. June 17 at the Columbus North’s Judson Erne Auditorium.
This year’s fair is June 23 to July 1.
The Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen represents the county in the Indiana State Fair queen competition.
Here are this year’s contestants, in random order
Heidi Murphy
Age: 18
Parents: Yancey and Amanda Murphy
Sponsor: Trico Farm Supplies
Community activities: Columbus East varsity soccer and basketball, Unified Track peer, Student Assembly, attends First Church of the Nazarene
4-H activities: Swine, Tractor and Mower Safety and Operator Skills, 10-year 4-H member
Honors: Academic letter recipient, academic all-state for soccer and basketball
Education: Columbus East Class of 2023 and will attend Olivet Nazarene University
Why do you want to be queen?: “As a young 4H-er, I always looked up to the queen and her court and I want to do the same for the kids in 4-H and the community.”
Saylor Lancaster
Age: 19
Parents: Doug and Laura Lancaster
Sponsor: Chick-fil-a
Community activities: 4-H volunteer, Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Future Greek Leaders, Purdue University Run Club, Purdue University Dance Marathon, Team Leader at Chick-fil-a, team leader for Boiler Gold Rush at Purdue.
4-H activities: 10-year 4-Her, completing more than 300 projects, including blacksmithing, cake decorating and rabbits.
Honors: 2022 Outstanding 4-Her, outstanding livestock exhibitor, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, The National Society of Leadership and Success and Purdue University College of Agriculture Dean’s Scholar program. Also, outstanding graduate and graduating summa cum laude at Ivy Tech, with Dean’s List throughout college.
Education: Homeschool through high school, graduated from Ivy Tech during senior y ear of high school with an associate’s degree in general studies, attending Purdue pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness.
Why do you want to be queen?: “Because I understand what it means to be a 4-Her and I want to be a role model to kids at the fair.”
Ella Engelau
Age: 17
Parents: Ed and Erin Engelau
Sponsor: New Design Homemaker’s Club
Community activities: St. Paul Lutheran Youth Group, Camp Lakeview Jr. Staff volunteer, C-4 Ambassador leadership team, National Honor Society, church day camp counselor
4-H activities: Swine, corn, soybeans, sheep, recycling, nine-year 4-H member
Honors: Two years swine carcass on foot grand champion, and two years swine carcass on foot reserve grand champion
Education: Columbus North High School
Why do you want to be queen?: “I’ve grown up spending lots of time at the fair and I’d love the opportunity to participate in all the fair events.”
Makena Jackson
Age: 20
Parents: Robert and Cathy Jackson
Sponsor: Incredible Shining Shamrock Kids 4-H Club
Community activities: Columbus FFA, worship group at church, Bartholomew County Humane Society volunteer, iGrad peer tutor, Unified Track, Lifeskills cadet teacher
4-H activities: 10-year 4-Her, swine, foods, scrapbooking, shooting, sports, beef, sheep, goats, dairy, 4-H club officer
Honors: Expert Swine Showman (2017) Columbus FFA vice president (2018-2019), Reserve Expert Cattle Showman (2019) Columbus FFA President (2020-2021) Trevecca Nazarene University Dean’s List for four semesters, Columbus East High School Senior Project Hall of Fame, Promising Future in Education Award from Trevecca Nazarene University, academic and technical honors from Columbus East High School
Education: Graduated from Columbus East in 2021, expected graduation from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2025.
Why do you want to be queen?: “Toi provide a role model for young 4-Hers to look up to.”
Antoinette “Annie” Hughes
Age: 17
Parents: Lisa Shafter, Jerry Hughes and Brooke Hughes
Sponsor: Home Hectics Extension Homemakers Club and Merri Makers Extension Homemakers Club
Community activities: Columbus East Theater, Show Choir (Center Stage and Serenade), Girl Scouts, Grace Lutheran and St. Peter’s Youth Group, Best Buddies, student government and National Honor Society.
4-H activities: Competed in open class for the past 10 years.
Honors: Girl Scouts bronze and silver award, Thespian Honors Bar, quilting and photography grand champion
Education: Columbus East High School
Why do you want to be queen?: “I believe it is a great way to inspire my peers and those younger than me, as well as share who I am and encourage people in that way.”
Carlie Menefee
Age: 19
Parents: Patrick and Katie Menefee
Sponsor: Social Butterflies Home Ec Club
Community activities: March of Dimes, animal shelter foster family, Columbus Youth Camp counselor, patient care technician at Columbus Regional Hospital
4-H activities: Was a 9-year 4-H member, with projects including cat show, recycling, photography and sports
Honors: IUPUC Dean’s list, IUPUC Honors College student
Education: 2022 CSA New Tech graduated, attending IUPUC pursuing bachelor’s of science in nursing
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be fair queen to be an example to younger kids that no matter how many times it takes, keep doing your best and you can do anything!”
Lynse Wolterman
Age: 18
Parents: Lisa Wolterman
Sponsor: Rural King
Community activities: Attend The Ridge Church, member of the Horse and Pony Club and Feathered Friends, employed at Rural King
4-H activities: 10-year 4-H member, taking foods, arts and crafts, cupcake decorating, vet science, horse and pony and poultry
Honors: None listed
Education: Hauser High School graduate
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be there for younger 4-Hers and encourage them. I have always loved the fair and want others to be a part of it.”
Cami Warren
Age: 18
Parents: Doug and Tracey Warren
Sponsor: AB Timing
Community activities: Elementary student tutoring, church and youth group, repairing and rebuilding low-income housing.
4-H activities: Rabbits, nine-year 4-H member
Honors: Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate, C4 Veterinary Careers student ambassador
Education: Columbus East High School graduate
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be a role model for younger kids and represent Bartholomew County.”
Madelyn Poe
Age: 17
Parents: Cameron and Jessica Poe
Sponsor: Best Excavating
Community activities: Student Council, SADD, varsity basketball (four years), varsity volleyball (one year), Sunshine Society, Peer Mentoring, Bitty Ball coach, yearbook and National Honor Society.
4-H activities: None listed
Honors: 4.0 GPA, Top 10, basketball MVP, two times all conference, all sectional team, academic letter
Education: Hauser High School incoming senior
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen because it would be an honor to represent my community in an event that’s so important to our community and to show the younger kids how you can be a positive attribute in your community and be a role model for them.”
Lilly Smith
Age: 18
Parents: Mark and Linda Smith
Sponsor: MDM Trucking
Community activities: Reins to Recovery volunteer, St. John’s Youth Group, Best Buddies and Unified Track, varsity cheerleader
4-H activities: 10-year 4-H member, swine, beef, foods, food preservation, floriculture, woodworking, recycling, collections, arts and crafts, cupcake decorating
Honors: Christian Attitude Award, Olympian Award for cheerleading
Education: White Creek Lutheran School and Columbus East High School graduate
Why do you want to be queen?: “I’ve always loved the fair, it’s my favorite time of the year and I would get to experience everything the fair has to offer. It would be an honor to represent Bartholomew County.”
Albany Speer
Age: 18
Parents: Andy and Sarah Speer
Sponsor: Doug and Karen Whipker, Whipker’s Market and Greenhouse
Community activities: Working at Whipker’ Market, community service with The Ridge church
4-H activities: 10-year 4-H member, showed swine, corn, soybeans, BBQ, gift wrapping and cake decorating
Honors: Grand champion carcass, champion pigs, Captain award for basketball, fifth overall barrow, champions in corn, soybeans and BBQ
Education: Columbus East High School graduate
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be the 4-H fair queen so I can experience the far in a new way and represent the fair in the best way I can.”
Riley Carothers
Age: 18
Parents: Ross and Shelli Carothers
Sponsor: Property Hunters LLC
Community activities: 5th and 6th grade girls Sunday school teacher at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Vacation Bible School volunteer, Chrysallis Flight volunteer, Venture Youth Group, mission trips to Guatemala and Kansas City, Missouri, fair volunteer
4-H activities: 10-year 4-H member, participated in sheep, swine, photography, child development, creating with a mix, sewing, beekeeping, cat, scrapbooking, public speaking, creative writing, arts and craft, starter calf
Honors: Four year varsity cross country and track, Columbus East 4-year honor roll, Academic Letter, Outstanding C4 student, FFA Hoosier Degree recipient
Education: Columbus East High School graduate attending Purdue University this fall
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to be able to celebrate and encourage younger 4-H members, all while representing Bartholomew County. Older 4-H members have been role models to me and I want to be that for younger kids.”
Rachel Treadway
Age: 18
Parents: Aaron and Laura Treadway
Sponsor: Happy Go Luckies 4-H Club
Community activities: Happy Go Luckies 4-H Club, Conservation Club at North High School, Thespian Troupe 57, North Vernon Church of the Nazarene youth group, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County
4-H activities: 10-year 4-H member, wildlife, caged critters, sports fishing, arts and crafts, needle craft, sewing
Honors: Top 10% of graduating class, grand and reserve grand champion in caged critters, two reserve grand champions in wildlife, academic letter
Education: Columbus North High School graduate, planning to attend Hanover College
Why do you want to be queen?: “I want to represent my club and show all the younger 4-Hers that they can do anything they put their mind to.”
