By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
With each new fair that rolls around, there must be a court of fair royalty to preside over the festivities. On Sunday night, the 2015-2016 crowns were placed and the one for queen went to CeCelia Von Stein.
In order to be considered for the honor of king, queen, prince, princess, and attendants, the participants must be involved in 4-H, FFA, or FCCLA. In the case of the prince and princesses, the contestants ranged from 13 to 15 years old, and were interviewed before arrival, and then provided an introduction on stage. For the king and queen, a participant must be at least 16 and was also interviewed prior to the pageant itself, and while on stage, were required to answer both a question that they were able to prepare and a fishbowl question.
This year, as there were no king candidates, it was decided in advance that there would be additional queen attendants crowned. As a prize, the queen would receive a $100, and the attendants, prince, and princess would all receive $50. Throughout the year, the royalty will attend other fairs, festivals, and events to promote Crawford County, and to invite everyone to the fair.
The guests in attendance at the pageant were royal representatives from the Erie County Fair and the Attica Fair.
Twelve girls were up for princess, and three young men were in the running for the title of prince. In the final decision, Annika Gerlach of the Wynford FFA Chapter was named princess, and Emily Rudd of the Sulphur Springs Star Farmers was crowned princess attendant. The prince to stand alongside her was Zachary Hiler of the North Auburn Hustlers, with his newly dubbed attendant, John Bell of the Kilbourne Klovers.
For the title of queen, six hopefuls took the stage and, as each judge later commended, every candidate was an outstanding representation of Crawford County.
With the final tally, the results were as follows:
Third runner-up was Sarah Cornell of the North Robinson Blue Ribbons. 2nd attendant was Taylor Lutz of the Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club. This year’s 1st attendant was Tori Kirian of the Barnyard Guys and Gals, and, finally, the 2015 Crawford County Fair Queen is CeCelia Von Stein.
Von Stein is a member of the Buckeye Stars 4-H club, as well as holding the title of Junior Fairboard President and boasting the honor of being an award winning camp counselor.
Von Stein was tearful as she gratefully accepted her crown, and was visibly excited as she looked toward her near adventures.
“I’m really excited, I was so surprised,” Von Stein exclaimed, “I’m going to attend as many shows as possible this week and…tour as many fairs as I possibly can.”
When asked what she would say to an outsider about the Crawford County Fair, Von Stein’s reply was impassioned and simple.
“It’s a blast, it’s an experience; no matter where you go in life you should always try something different.”
Outgoing Queen Morgan Coffman summed the experience up nicely in saying, “What makes each fair unique is the love of the county behind it.”
And, with one reign ending and another beginning, the love and pride that makes Crawford County home was palpable, promising a bright future, a well-represented fair, and many adventures to come.