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A new class of Crawford County Junior Fair Royalty will be reigning over this year’s fair, but they will have to get through the annual royalty contest first.

Below is a list of contestants running for each title and their biographies.

Crawford County Junior Fair King

  • Zachary Hiler (Buckeye Central High School, North Auburn Hustlers 4-H Club): “Hi my name is Zachary Hiler, I am 16 years old. I am the son of Randy and Roxanne Hiler of New Washington. I also have 3 brothers. I go to Buckeye Central and I am in Football, band, baseball and the drama club. In 2015, I was the prince. I am an active member of the North Auburn Hustlers. Of all my activities, I enjoy playing the trombone and enjoy signing in the musicals. Being the prince was especially exciting meeting all my new friends from other counties. I am also pleased that I will be representing Crawford County on the Citizenship Washington Focus trip this summer.”
  • Austin Strouse (Colonel Crawford High School, Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club): “My name is Austin Strouse and I am the 18 year old son of Mike and Sherri Strouse. I have been involved in 4-H for as long as I can remember. I have been our club community service leader for the last four years and I am the co-president. I have been a camp counselor for the last five years and was nominated by my peers and campers as the outstanding male counselor in 2016. I have recently graduated from Colonel Crawford High School with merit honors. In school, I participated in golf and baseball, and lettered in golf for two years.”

Crawford County Junior Fair Queen

  • Megan Gwirtz (Heidelberg University, Tiro Tailers and Balers 4-H Club): “Megan Gwirtz is the 18-year-old daughter of Mark and Tammy Gwirtz. She recently completed her first year at Heidelberg University where she is majoring in Music Education and studying Trumpet and Piano. At Heidelberg University, Megan made the Dean’s list both semesters and is a member of the Concert Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Athletic Band, Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society, and Delta Sigma Chi Women’s Society. Megan has been a lifetime member of 4-H as this is her 11th year participating in the Crawford County Fair while representing her club, Tiro Tailors and Balers. In her club, she has served as the treasurer for four years and the President for two years, along with being in numerous committees. Megan is no stranger to the Junior Fair as she has shown dairy-beef feeders and hogs in the past and is going on 10 years of showing market goats. Along with her animals, she has served the county 4-H program though going to camp and being a 4-H camp counselor for four years. Megan was also a member of the Junior Fair Board for four years where she helped plan and run the Crawford County Jr. Fair. This is Megan’s last year involved in 4-H and the Junior Fair and she hopes to make it a memorable year as she runs for the Crawford County Jr. Fair Queen.”
  • Desiree Sharp (Colonel Crawford High School, Barnyard Guys and Gals 4-H Club): “My name is Desiree Sharp and I will be a senior in the fall at Colonel Crawford High School. On high school, I have been involved in 4-H, Leo Club, National Honors Society ad elementary student mentoring, I’ve also participated in being a student officers and FFCLA. I’m the Secretary of my 4-H Club and have been for several years. For the 2017-2018 school year, I have been elected as my class secretary and secretary of the Leo Club. Over the part two years, I have worked in the dairy department at the Ohio State Fair with the “Milk A Cow” station and in the Dairy Board Office. In 2016 I began my journey of being a competitive gymnastics coach at Spirit Ohio Sports Academy after retiring from competitive gymnastics. In high school, I was involved in Cheerleading, Basketball and Softball. In the past year, I have had the opportunity to run and work at 5 Red Cross blood drives at my high school. In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering at Lowe-Volk park and being involved in my community service projects through school and my church. All this volunteer work has allowed me to do something positive in my community and in other lives. This past year I organized and ran a toy drive benefiting Nationwide Children’s hospital. This was a week-long drive that took place at my high school. In total, we were able to collect 967 donatable items to Children’s Hospital.”
  • Victoria Thimmes (Buckeye Central High School, North Auburn Hustlers 4-H Club: “My life consists of farming, school, golf, and 4-H. When I am not in school I am typically baling hay, helping my neighbor farm his land, working on my 4-H projects, or out golfing. Being able to do these things has really changed my life. Farming has helped make me work harder for what I want. When it’s almost 100 degrees outside and you’re baling hay it makes you want to work harder and faster to get the job done. 4-H has taught me how to be responsible. Whether it’s taking care of sick campers, working with animals, cleaning out the pens, or getting ready of shows. Almost everything I have done in 4-H has helped make me a more responsible person. Golf has taught me to never give up. When I have bad days I never give up because I know that the next day will be completely different. School has taught me that if you work hard enough for what you want you will be rewarded in the end.”

Crawford County Junior Fair Prince

  • Thomas Kurek (Wynford High School, Holmes Liberty Royal Lions 4-H Club): “Thomas Kurek will be a sophomore at Wynford High School this fall. He is the son of Edward and Karissa Kurek. He is the oldest of three kids. This is Thomas’s 9th year in 4-H. Thomas is a member of the Holmes-Liberty Royal Lions 4-H Club and the Crawford County Junior Fair Board. His 4-H projects areas include leadership and citizenship, food and nutrition, robotics, electricity, aerospace science and healthy living. Thomas currently has a 4.0 GPA and is a three sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. Thomas is also a member of the Royal Singers, Spanish Club, and Interact Club. He is looking forward to the VEX Robotics Competition this fall with his Team Comet Robotics Club. Thomas’ future career plan is to be a robotics engineer involved in the construction and programming of robots. He is honored to represent his school, 4-H Club and community in the Crawford County Jr. Fair Royalty Contest.”
  • Alec Sipes (Crestline High School, Liberty Leaders 4-H Club): “My name is Alec Sipes. I am 14 years old & I am a freshman at Crestline High School. I partake in many school activities such as, show choir, basketball, cross country, track, & swimming. I am also a part of the FCCLA Chapter and I love every minute of it! My parents are Kevin & Mindy Sipes and I also have 2 other siblings Tyler and Kennedi Sipes. In my free time I like to run, or help out and do community service, that way our community looks nice and presents good to the non-locals! I am a part of the Liberty Leader’s 4-H Club and I love it! We do so many fun things, and also help the community of Bucyrus out by picking up trash for our annual trash pick-up day and I enjoy it so much! Thanks for taking the time to read this, it means a lot. Yours Truly, Alec Sipes.”

Crawford County Junior Fair Princess

  • Abigail Brocwell (Colonel Crawford High School, Liberty Leaders 4-H Club): “My Name is Abigail Brocwell and I am running for the 2017 Jr. Fair Princess and Royalty Court. I enjoy playing the ukulele and the piano; I also play the saxophone and keyboard in the Colonel Crawford Band. I am involved with my Church youth group, Crawford Theatre Company, where I have been in 11 shows, band and choir, 4-H and Garden Tractor Pulling. I am a very creative and outgoing person who works well with others and is always up for a challenge.”
  • Sydney Corwin (River Valley Junior High, Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club): “Sydnee Corwin is the 14 year old daughter of Aaron and Jill Corwin. Sydnee is representing the Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club, where she currently serves as historian. She enjoys preparing and learning about her projects and the time she gets to spend with her livestock in preparation for the fair each year. Sydnee will be a freshman at River Valley High School in the fall where she is involved with Junior Teen Institute, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball. Sydnee is a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where she is actively involved in her youth group, bell choir, and junior choir.”
  • Haley Easterday (Bucyrus High School, Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club): “I will try to summarize myself. I feel as if I am a well rounded individual. I am hard working, try to be involved in everything I possibly can, and feel I have a good sense of humor. A lot of my time I spend helping my dad with horses and practicing in sports; but when I’m not doing that I enjoy hanging out with my friends and just being a kid. I love to have fun and to always be doing something new and exciting. I am involved in my local Girl Scout troop 661, I help out at the safety town events that my friend Sarah brought back, and I’m also in my school science club. I have always been interested in science and animals and that is why I’m aspiring to be a veterinarian as my career after high school. I feel as if this summarizes my fun loving self.”
  • Corin Feik (William Crawford Intermediate School, Liberty Leaders 4-H Club): “Hello, my name is Corin Feik, the daughter of Phillip and Michelle Feik. At thirteen years old, I am taking a beef feeder and a steer to the Crawford County Fair. A member of the Liberty Leaders 4-H Club, the second largest club in the county, I have learned to work in large groups and the diverse projects that 4-H has to offer. I am a proud student at William Crawford Intermediate School and take pride in my everyday work in and outside of school. Since I have concluded the seventh grade on honor roll, I’ve enjoyed working with my cattle. Being in the 4-H program for five years, I have taken many different projects including: baking, lambs, steers, and beef feeders. My favorite project is beef feeders because my family raises them. They can be difficult to train however; their personalities help me realize how fun they are. I love showing them with my family the most because we all take a beef feeder to the fair. My favorite sport is basketball because my first coach was a big influence. He taught me fundamentals in a fun way. I hope this summary gives you a better understanding of why I love family, friends, and fair.”
  • Hannah Feldman (Wynford Junior High, Heartland 4-H Club): “I’m Hannah Feldman, the 13 year old daughter of Chad and Anny Gebhardt. I attend Wynford Junior High and will be an 8th grader in the fall of 2017. I am involved in many school activities such as basketball, football cheer, softball, student council, and many more. I am in the Heartland 4-H Club for Crawford County and have been for six years now including cloverbuds. I have done many things at the fair like cooking projects, sewing projects, modeling, hogs, poultry, favorite foods, and now running for fair princess. Along with 4-H, I have went to 4-H camp all five years that I have been able to so far, though this I have many memories with some of my closest friends which I met at camp.”
  • Jodie Jennings (Wynford High School, Mt. Zion Buckeyes 4-H Club): “Hello! My name is Jodie Jennings. I am the daughter of Virgil and Crystal Jennings. I will be a Sophomore this fall at Wynford High School, where I am actively involved in FFA, Teen Institute, Student Council, and the Marching, Concert, and Pep Band. I am a ten year member of the Mt. Zion Buckeyes 4-H Club. I have held roles as the historian, Reporter, Safety Officer, Health Officer, and the Recreation Leader. I have completed multiple Family and Consumer Science Projects, Department One Projects, Goats, and Alpacas. I have also competed in thr Speech Contest, Make it with Lard Contest, and several Senior Fair baking and photography contests. For the past two years, I have been a member of the Junior Fair Board. This year, I served as a 4-H camp counselor. Through 4-H, I have been given the opportunity to have wonderful leadership experiences and learn many great things while improving upon life skills. I have built friendships across the country because of the opportunities I have been given through this organization. Becoming a part of the Crawford County Jr. Fair Royalty would further enrich my 4-H experience thus far.”
  • Madison Tieben (Colonel Crawford High School, Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club): “Even though I have a lot of work keeping up with academics, my job, sports, and taking care of my rabbits, I enjoy many activities inside and outside of school. I have been involved in them for many years, and now, 4-H has become my passion. I am a member of the Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club. I am also an active member of the Colonel Crawford FFA, which I am currently the Treasurer and past secretary of, and a member of the Crawford County Jr. Fair Board. I have shown my dog, rabbits, and dairy cows at our county fair. It is important to do my best whenever I show any type of animal. I have gone on to show at The Ohio State Fair, the Ohio State Rabbit Breeders Mini Convention, and the 2016 Californian National’s with my rabbits. Every show has been an awesome and fun journey, even when I don’t win. I am learning important life skills by participating in 4-H and other clubs, and, in the end, that will be the most important thing I take away from all those years of hard work with my animals, department one projects, and agricultural projects.”

The 2017 Junior Fair Royalty contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. on July 16 at the Youth Building.

The 2016 court included Queen Taylor Lutz, queen 1st attendant Aryn Copeland, queen 2nd attendant Bonnie Welsh, King Zoltan Feldman, king attendant Nathaniel Bishop, Princess Sydney Harris, princess attendant Victoria Thimmes, Prince Levi Hartschuh, and prince attendant Alec Sipes.

RELATED CONTENT: Taylor Lutz, Zoltan Feldman crowned Junior Fair royalty | Crawford County Fair 07-17-16 (photos)