By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Age is nothing but a number for Morgan Coffman, the newly crowned 2014 Crawford County Junior Fair Queen.
Coffman was one of eight young women competing for the crown Sunday night and she was shocked to be chosen by six judges from Wyandot County as the Junior Fair queen.
“It was really surprising since I’m only 16 and most of the older ones usually get it,” Coffman said with a huge smile. “It was really shocking and it was really awesome and I’m really excited. I can’t wait to go to all the fairs and festivities with my court.”
There is one thing Coffman said she can’t wait to do during her reign as queen.
“I really want to go to the Ohio State Fair so much with like all my court. I think it will be so much fun; it’s a huge fair and it’s so awesome,” Coffman said.
During the contest, the king and queen contestants were asked two questions: one which pertained specifically to them and a fishbowl question.
“I wasn’t too stumped (about the fishbowl questions),” Coffman said. “At first it obviously took me a while; I stood up there for a minute. It wasn’t too hard because I know this stuff really well because this is my life and I love it.”
Coffman’s fishbowl questioned asked what her feature story would be about that she would write for the media to showcase the fair or 4-H.
Serving as master of ceremonies for the night, Junior Fair Board member Jacob Kocher teased the audience and contestants with the announcement of fair queen before cheekily declaring himself as the winner.
Douglas Reer was named the 2014 Junior Fair King. Reer will be a freshman at Plymouth High School and is a member of the North Auburn 4-H Club. Daniel Garrett was named King’s attendant. He will be a freshman at Buckeye Central High School and is member of North Auburn Hustlers 4-H Club.
Coffman will be a junior at Seneca East High School and is a member of the Chatfield Blue Ribbons 4-H Club. Morgan Wurm was named Queen’s attendant. She is a 2014 graduate of Buckeye Central High School and will be attending the University of Findlay in the fall to major in pre-veterinary/animal sciences. Wurm is a member of the Buckeye Stars 4-H Club.
Nathan Bishop was crowned the 2014 Junior Fair Prince. He attends Galion Middle School and is a member of the Bucyrus Kilbourne Klovers 4-H Club. Nick Fike was named the Prince’s attendant. He attends Buckeye Central and is a member of the Tiro Tailors and Balers 4-H Club.
The 2014 Junior Fair Princess is Grace Cornell. She attends St. Peter’s High School and is a member of the North Robinson Blue Ribbons 4-H Club. Aryn Copeland was named the Princess’s attendant. She attends Wynford High School and is a member of the Crawford County Shooting Stars 4-H Club.
Departing queen Sara Gebhardt had a few words of wisdom for the new court.
“For this year’s queen and all the royalty this year: congratulations. You have a lot of work ahead of you but it’s a blast and it’s all worth it,” said Gebhardt.
Kyle Harmon had over 700 days as the Crawford County Junior Fair King, a reign that finally came to an end Sunday night.
“It’s a sad ending. It’s an undoubtedly sad ending. But I like it. It satisfied everything that I needed to do. I am proud of my accomplishments and what being King has taught me. It taught me that these people will be around for the rest of my life,” stated Harmon.
“Only 88 people a year in Ohio get to call themselves a fair king, and that even less can call themselves a Crawford County Fair King. I was able to do that for two years. That responsibility, that power, and knowing that I can accomplish things and be a leader within my community was amazing in that amount of time,” Harmon said.