The Banquet Hall in the Champion Center at the Clark County Fair was packed Saturday July 23rd as the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Queen Contest crowned their new queen.
The Golden Anniversary started at 1 p.m. and the room was filled with many of the past winners to celebrate this big year. Each past winner in attendance was given a yellow sash that said “Past Clark County Fair Queen” and a tiara to wear. There were 27 past winners that filled up the first two rows.
Nancy Wilson from the radio station K99.1 FM opened the ceremony with the welcome speech and introduction of the three judges. This year’s judges were Alissa Armstrong, an account manager for FLM+ and past Clark County Fair participant, Courtney Siegel, 2000 Fayette County Fair Queen and athletic trainer at The Ohio State University Medical Center, and Jim Stickley, Farm Credit Mid-America Financial Officer. Wilson then introduced the the 2015 Clark County Fair Queen, Rachel Parker, who would be assisting her through the remainder of the contest.
The six contestants were then introduced and escorted to the the stage by this years escorts, Junior Fair Board Members Nick Yirak and Evan Callicoat. This years leading ladies were Elizabeth Delaney, Home Schooled, Lindsay Fries, Northwestern High School, Jamie Gothard, The Ohio State University and Graduate of Northeastern High School, Lea Kimley, Southeastern High School, Ciera Richardson, Clark State and Graduate of Northeastern, and Madison Wones, Shawnee High School.
After all the girls were introduced, they were brought up to the microphone to answer some getting to know you questions from Wilson. They then pulled a random question out of a basket, this was their impromptu question. After every girl had giving their answer, the judges went back stage to discuss scoring.
During this time, the past queens were brought up to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Each Past Clark County Queen was called up and a short biography was read explaining what each women has been up to since serving as Fair Queen. The 1967 Queen, Joyce Ann Leugers was present.
The judges then returned to the room with just one of this year’s candidates. Individually, each girl was then asked the same question and were so no one would have the advantage of knowing the question ahead of time.
Again, once every contestant had a chance to answer, the judges met back stage to get the final tally.
The 2015 Queen then gave a very emotional farewell speech as her final time as queen.
“I am just super sad, but relieved at the same time,” Parker said, “It is a lot of hard work and I am glad to not have the responsibility of it all anymore, but I loved doing it and will miss all the opportunities it provided me.”
Wilson introduced the sponsors and donors for this year’s contest as the judges filed back into the room.
The Presentation of the Community Service Award was up next. This is an $200 scholarship based on the girl’s application and 15-minute interview with the judges. The winner Lindsay Fries was named this year’s winner.
It then came to the time when the 2016 Fair Queen was announced. Wilson first named the 1st and 2nd Runners-Up. The 2nd Runner-Up, who was awarded a $200 scholarship, was named as Lindsay Fries and Jamie Gothard was named as the 1st Runner-Up and earned a $300 Scholarship. Lea Kimley was then crowned as 2016 Clark County Fair Queen.
“It just feels really good right now,” Kimley said minutes after being crowned, “I am super competitive and my best friend helped to quiz me with over 50 questions that maybe could be my impromptu question. None of the ones I practiced ended up being mine, but it worked out ok in the end.”
