4 to compete for Fairest of Fair

Four Oconto County contestants will compete for the title of Senior Fairest of the Fair. The winner will be selected Sunday, March 1, at Oconto Falls High School. Interviews and judging will take place throughout the day, and the public is invited to attend a reception with the candidates at 2:30 p.m. Final judging begins at 3 p.m. in the Falls Area Performing Arts Center. Contestants will introduce themselves, present radio spots and event announcements, and answer impromptu questions. Senior Fairest Amber Baeten and Junior Fairest Stephanie Peitersen will give their farewell speeches. Here’s a look at the candidates: Hallie Kopczynski is the daughter of Mark and Therese Kopczynski, of Oconto Falls. She attends Oconto Falls High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in animal science. Kopczynski works on a farm in Pulcifer. She has participated in drama club, FFA, French club, student council, Trees for Tomorrow, basketball, track and cross-country. At the Oconto County Fair, she shows ducks, vegetables and preserves. She has also volunteered at the Wisconsin State Farm in the birthing barn. Kopczynski said she would like to serve as the Senior Fairest of the Fair so she can be the voice of agriculture for the younger generations. She is sponsored by J’s Construction of Oconto Falls. Kallie Rank is the daughter of Shane and Juliane Rank, of Gillett. She is a graduate of Gillett High School and attends UW-Milwaukee, majoring in American sign language studies. She has been involved in high school and college with FFA, FBLA, National Honor Society, 4-H, Partners in Active Learning Support and the Christian Dance Company. She enjoys exhibiting arts and crafts, food and sewing at the Oconto County Fair. She works for Seth’s Crop and Shop, and babysits in her free time. She said she would like to serve as the Senior Fairest of the Fair because she is passionate about advocating for agriculture, being a positive role model for exhibitors, and would like to give back to the Oconto County Fair Board for all of its hard work. She is sponsored by Seth’s Crop and Shop of Cecil. Skhyler Simpson, of Cecil, is the daughter of Keith and Michele Simpson and Glenn Jr. and Kathy Hanson. She attends Gillett High School and plans to attend Impact School of Leadership in Milwaukee to become a youth pastor. She has been involved in FFA, positive peers, student council, 4-H, pep band, PALS and her church groups. She works at a horse stable, feeding and grooming standard bred horses for racing. She enjoys showing beef cattle and sheep at the Oconto County Fair. She said she would like to serve as the Senior Fairest of the Fair because she wants to represent the lessons that youth learn through exhibiting fair projects and to inspire others to find their passion in life. She is sponsored by Steve and Gale Beam, of Gillett. Kayla Steffel is the daughter of Peter and Ann Steffel. She is a graduate of Oconto Falls High School and attends UW-Platteville with plans to obtain a master’s degree in international agriculture at Oklahoma State University. She has been involved in high school and college FFA, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, International Student Orientation Leader, Education Abroad Ambassador, Global Amigo Mentor and Oconto County Pig Showmanship Clinic. At the Oconto County Fair, she has shown swine through 4-H and FFA. She works on her parents’ dairy farm and is a co-owner of K and K Hog Farm. She said she would like to serve as the Senior Fairest of the Fair so she can positively promote the Oconto County Fair’s fine qualities that it instills into its many participants. She is sponsored by Zanadu Dairy of Coleman.