In the midst of the polar vortex Saturday, eight young women conjured up summer scenes of tractor pulls and prize-winning calves as they competed for the 2014 Oconto County Junior and Senior Fairest of the Fair titles.
The contestants, on stage at the Falls Area Performing Arts Center, answered questions, read radio spots they developed and told about their aspirations as county fair promoters.
When it was over, Kallie Rank and Lauren Herzog, both of Gillett, were crowned Senior and Junior Fairest of the Fair, respectively, for 2014.
Rank is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, studying American Sign Language interpretation. Herzog is an eighth-grade student at Gillett Middle School and a member of Willing Workers 4-H Club in rural Oconto Falls.
The Fairest of the Fairs’ primary responsibilities are to promote the fair and to help people —whether judges, fair board members, exhibitors or visitors—have rewarding experiences there.
To those who think the Fairest of the Fair is “just a pretty face,” volunteer Bethany Reith disagreed.
“It’s not about the crown. It’s not about the sash. It’s not about being a princess,” she said. “It’s about that professional leadership role.”
Reith, 2011 Oconto County Fairest of the Fair and state runner-up, helped the contestants prepare their presentations.
Several changes were made for this year’s competition. In the past, the Senior Fairest was crowned in late spring at a banquet facility, while the Junior Fairest was crowned at the county fair in August. This year, both representatives were crowned at the same time, so they can attend fair events together for a full year.
“We feel as though being elected and crowned together, they’ll be able to work together, have a closer relationship and be able to look to each other for support,” Reith said.
Stephanie Peitersen and Amber Baeten attended their last event as outgoing Junior and Senior representatives, respectively. Both spoke highly of the experience they gained in leadership.
Baeten, a freshman at UW-Green Bay, told about attending community events such as 4-H knitting meetings, donkey basketball games and parades.
“It helped me grow outside of my comfort zone and just go up to someone and talk,” Baeten said. “And I actually got to catch a pig with a team of girls and get down and dirty. It was a lot of fun.”
Peitersen told how the public speaking experience helped her with presentations at school.
Approximately 50 Wisconsin counties select Fairest of the Fair representatives to showcase and promote their county fairs. They also compete for the State Fairest of the Fair position, with the winner promoting the State Fair in Milwaukee.
Junior Fairest competitors range in age from 11 to 13, while Senior Fairest contestants must be 18 or older. Contestants submit applications and secure sponsorships in order to be eligible.
Senior contestants were Rank, runner-up Skhyler Simpson, Hallie Kopczynski and Kayla Steffel.
Junior contestants were Herzog, Hanna Brock, Aubrey Debauch and Amber Jo Farrar.
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