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Emma Jameson | Ada
Emma Jameson is the daughter of Deanna Jameson of Ada and is a senior at Ada High School. After graduation she plans to attend The Ohio State University in Lima and major in education.
She is a member of the Junior Fair board serving on the Art Committee and the Announcement Committee. She has submitted pottery pieces in past fairs. This year she will be participating by showing market turkeys.
Emma’s school activities have included being a cheerleader for four years for football and basketball and captain of the football cheer squad. She is a varsity letter winner and a gold scholar athlete in the Northwest Conference. She served as a junior class officer and was secretary. Currently she is an honor student and an academic letter winner. She is a member of National Honor Society, Language Club, Film Club and FFA. She has been an active member of FFA for four years serving as reporter, secretary and am currently vice president of the Ada FFA chapter.
In FFA, Emma was awarded the Star Greenhand Award and participated in the Creed Speaking and Parliamentary Procedure competitions for which she earned gold. She has participated in the Land and Soil Judging competition and attended the 2017 Girls Empowerment Conference. Through the years she has been awarded several Chapter Leadership and Chapter Scholarship pins, Agricultural Proficiency Award in Poultry Production and Vegetable Production. This year she earned the 110% award presented by Ag Credit Union. In the community, Emma attends the Cross Roads Church of God worked this summer at the Ada Swimming pool. Annually she serves at the Senior Citizens luncheon held at Ada School. She volunteered at kindergarten registration and small animals day. She also volunteers annually at the F&M picnic as well as perform annually with the cheerleaders. As a cheerleader she also participates in the annual F&M picnic parade and Harvest and Herb Festival parade. Throughout the school year Emma assists with multiple cheer clinics for grades pre K through 6. “I am an ideal candidate for fair queen because I enjoy serving as a positive role model. I would be honored to represent my community,”Emma said. “I have gained excellent leadership and communication skills with my involvement in extracurricular activities. I look forward to becoming a spokesperson for Hardin County and sharing with others all that Hardin County holds.”
Noah Garmon | Ada
Noah Garmon is the son of Tim and Vickie Garmon of Ada and a senior at Ada High School. After graduation he plans on attending the University of Findlay to study animal science and would like to secure an environmental job after college graduation.
His junior fair activities have included serving on the Junior Fair Board and participating in the Goat Show, Sheep Show, and the Consignment Sale. As a Junior Fair Board member he has worked many different shows including the Goat and Sheep Shows and the livestock sale. He cleaned the barns every night to make sure the fair was ready for the exhibitors attending the fair, and many other numerous tasks. Noah has earned many showmanship placements over the years of showing goats and sheep. He has been showing animals and going to the fair since he has been in the third grade. He was part of the Liberty Bells and Boys 4-H club until his freshman year, then he became part of the Ada FFA.
Noah’s school activities include FCA, FFA, soccer, Drama Club, Film Club, and Varsity Singers. Some school leadership roles include being captain of the soccer team and chaplain for FFA. He has been a leader in the classroom by getting on the honor roll all year. Some of the soccer awards he has received are three-year letterwinner, Gold Scholar Athlete, Captain Award, Defense MVP, NWC first team player and NCOSA second team player. He also received the Goat Production Award, Greenhand Degree and Chapter Degree for FFA.
In the community, Noah said his father pastors at Vancrest Nursing Home in Ada every Sunday. Noah has helped out by stepping in to give the sermon to the Vancrest community whenever needed, When not preaching he helps to make sure the church service runs smoothly. He has helped out with the Harvest and Herb Fest by tending to the clean up. He also participated in Helping Hands Week for his church and participated in mission trips to the Arizona Navajo Nation and to Kentucky. He will begin volunteering at the Ada Liberty Fire Department as soon as he turns 18 in late October.
“I have always loved the fair and I loved being involved with the fair. The reasons why I have always been excited for the fair is so I can show my animals and be surrounded by the fair community,” Noah said. “The fair brings so many people from different communities
together for one week out of the year and I look forward to that week all year. The fair also has helped me develop my responsibility skills because of all the work it takes to take care of the animals. It also has helped me develop agriculture skills so I can use them in for the outside world.
“I have always looked up to the candidates for fair king and I strive to be like them. I would love to serve the Hardin County Fair Community to the best of my ability and give back to the fair community,” he said.
Rylie Bame | Hardin Northern
Ryland “Rylie” Bame is the daughter of Dave and Robin Bame of Dunkirk and a senior at Hardin Northern High School. After graduation she plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to study pre-medicine with a focus in neuroscience.
Her junior fair activities include being a swine exhibitor for nine years, having shown in the junior show, the county born and raised show, as well as showmanship. She has served on the Junior Fair Board for three years, and as a part of that she has been a show ring announcer in addition to being a show ringman for multiple shows. She assists the arts and crafts division, the home economic division and being a floater to help where needed before, after and during the fair.
Rylie also has taken a variety of still projects to the fair through the Blanchard Pleasant Buckeyes 4-H club and Hardin Northern FFA chapter.
Throughout her school years at Hardin Northern she has been very active student within multiple departments of the school. Within the athletic department Rylie has been a member of the volleyball, track and softball teams. She was awarded first team all-conference for track as a freshman and sophomore. She received first team all-conference for volleyball as a junior.
She is a member of the Hardin Northern FFA and currently serves as the chapter president. In past years she has served as the chapter secretary, fruit sales committee chairman, school beautification committee chairman, leadership lock-in committee chairman, and 3 on 3 basketball charity committee chairman. For the 2017-2018 school year she was the Homecoming Chicken BBQ high ticket seller and was a top 5 seller for the fruit sale.
The music department is also where Rylie has dedicated much of her time. She has been a member of Awakened Commotion, a pop a cappella group for four years.
Rylie is a three-year member of the student council ambassador team where she helps with the Homecoming Dance and Veterans Day assembly. She was a 3rd grade teacher’s aide during the 2017-2018 school year and also served as a 7th and 8th grade math tutor in the library on a weekly basis.
In the community, she is a member of the youth fellowship team at the Bethel Church of Christ, where I also have helped with the delivery of the summer vacation bible school program. As a member of both 4-H and FFA, I have the opportunity to take part in numerous community service activities. She assists the Hardin County Pork Producers during fair week by helping with the swine pee wee showmanship. A new community activity she is involved in is the revamping of the arts and crafts department for the 2018 fair. She also held all of the different club office positions with the Blanchard Pleasant Buckeyes 4-H club.
“I believe I am the ideal candidate for the 2018 Hardin County Fair Queen because I am a well-rounded individual who takes pleasure in being involved with a wide variety of activities within the community,” Rylie said. “The Hardin County Fair has always been a highlight of my year. I enjoy spending time attending the different livestock shows, horse races, grandstand events, catching up with friends from around the county, and visiting the multiple buildings that display a variety of exhibits that contribute to the uniqueness of the Hardin County Fair. “One of the favorite parts of the fair is the chance to see and spend time with my friends. Throughout my time in FFA, 4-H and the Junior Fair Board I have made lifelong friends. These are friends that I might not be able to see and talk to every day, but I know these are the people that share similar interests and values with me.”
She added, “If I were given the opportunity to be crowned Hardin County Fair Queen I would continue to work hard to promote the Hardin County Fair and all the unique things it has to offer the community and others across the state of Ohio. I would also encourage younger Hardin County youth to become involved with a variety of events, clubs and organizations that coincide with the county fair.”
Keller Stout | Kenton
Keller Stout is the daughter of Theron and Shana Stout of Kenton and a senior at Kenton High School. After graduation she plans to go to college and become a physician assistant. Her junior fair activities have included showing chickens and a dairy beef feeder. She earned awards in showmanship for both animals.
Keller’s school activities have included being a varsity cheerleader for football and basketball season. She has helped teach cheerleading at the Kenton Mini Cheer Camp for four years and is on the Kenton Varsity Competition Team. She is a member of National Honor Society. She has been a Kenton High School Ambassador where she has greeted new students at open house when they are arriving to the high school for the first time. She has been the student council vice president for her class for two years and also held many positions in 4-H such as president, co-president, vice president and safety reporter. She is a Kenton Key Club member.
In the community, Keller has participated in her 4-H club’s roadside trash pickup day each year. She has volunteered at Kenton Elementary being involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also was a part of an after school enrichment program called Club Roar where she taught girls cheers and chants every week. She has volunteered for Kenton Midget Football and Kenton Little League by working in the concession stand during games and tournaments.
“The smell of the food, seeing the lights from the rides, and watching intense shows in the show arena cannot top anything else. The Hardin County Fair is a special place for anyone in our county, no matter your age. I love our county and would be dedicated to the fair and all of the community who enjoys it if I had the privilege of being selected as Hardin County Fair Queen,” she said.
“Having livestock at the fair has helped me gain a great amount of responsibility, improve my sportsmanship skills, given me business skills, and make relationships with other youth who are from all over the county and different schools,” Keller said. “I look forward to fair week every year because I get to participate in showing and selling my livestock that I have worked hard with to prepare for fair week. I also get to be with other youth in the county that I have made relationships with over my years at the fair.”
She added, “The Hardin County Fair provides a safe place for youth to grow, learn, and create friendships that will last forever. I want the future youth of Hardin County to have the same experience and opportunities I had at the fair.”
Chase Fleece | Kenton
Chase Fleece is the son of Craig and Jennifer Fleece of Kenton and a senior at Kenton High School. After graduation he plans on attending a four-year university to pursue a degree in economics, then go to a law school with aspirations to attend Harvard Law.
His junior fair activities include being a current member of the Junior Fair Board, serving as vice president. He also was Hardin County Poultry King, received a livestock county award and a third place trophy in senior showmanship for poultry.
Chase said his school activities include serving as freshman and sophomore class president, founder/chairman of the KHS Young Republicans, Superintendent Advisory Committee, National Honor Society, Boys State and Boys Nation delegate, Kenton-Ohio Hi-Point FFA Executive Committee (sentinel) and Hardin County 4-H Camp counselor.
In the community, he served as deputy campaign manager for Jon Cross for State Representative, works with the Hardin County Republican Party and is agricultural news director at WKTN.
“There are two traits that would make me a good Hardin County Junior Fair King: Dedication and Leadership,” Chase said.
“Dedication stems from the many hours and days spent working to develop a better school, community and country for myself and others. As a student and as a citizen, I have always pursued opportunities that would assist others, whether directly or indirectly,” he said. “Within the activities and service opportunities that I have partaken in, all have been centered toward making Hardin County a better place to work, live and prosper.”
“During my high school career, I have served in the leadership roles of many organizations. Along with leading school-related activities, I have held leadership roles in organizations that are separated from school,” Chase said. “As an individual, my strongest attribute is my ability to lead in an effective manner.
“As Hardin County Junior Fair King, I would be able to effectively communicate and convey a strong message on behalf of the Hardin County Junior Fair and Hardin County as a whole.”
Mara France | Ridgemont
Mara France is the daughter of Brandon and Mandy France of Ridgeway. After graduation she plans to attend college and study fashion merchandising and fashion design.
Her junior fair activities have included showing meat and fancy rabbits since she was 9 years old and winning many county, state and national awards. She also has displayed different photography and art projects throughout her time at the fair. She has displayed a woodworking and welding project in the FFA booth and performed in the Ridgemont show choir, Company R. She has received her Greenhand and chapter degrees in FFA.
In school, she has been a varsity football and basketball cheerleader. She also is a member of Ridgemont FFA, has attended the National FFA Convention and the 212/360 leadership conference. Mara has helped to set up the rabbit tent, served as class treasurer, freshman homecoming attendant, prom committee, yearbook staff and wrote a paper for the World Food Prize.
Mara’s community activities have included being a member of Country Timers 4-H and helping to mentor younger kids that want to start in rabbits. She took rabbits to the Ridgemont Public Library as a community outreach project. She planted flowers in Mount Victory as a community service project. She has held the 4-H offices of treasurer, secretary and vice president. She participated in the empty bowls project to raise money for Ridgemont’s backpack buddies program. Mara also recently helped with a rabbit fun show at the Mount Victory park.
“I believe that my leadership and dedication to the Hardin County Fair throughout the years makes me the ideal candidate for Junior Fair Queen. I also see value in fostering the next group of 4-H and FFA members through the leadership skills that are demonstrated by being the Hardin County Fair Queen.
“Throughout my time in 4-H, I have helped set up and get the barn ready for fair in the rabbit department. I have donated and worked towards getting a nice and proper show arena not only for the rabbits but also for the goats and poultry,” Mara said. “I take pride in showing rabbits and believe that I will be a great representative for Hardin County. I also enjoy going to other fairs to learn what they have to offer and see what they are doing with the different animals.
“The fair has helped me in so many ways such as, becoming more social and having great communication skills. My father was the Ridgemont Fair King candidate in 1990 and I would love to represent the next generation in my family by having that honor.”
She said, “Having the opportunity to be Fair Queen will help me become a more rounded person because of getting to visit different fairs throughout Ohio. Meeting new people will help me strive in college and my future by being able to talk to people that I’ve never met before. I believe that I stand out as a candidate because of the amount of years I’ve been involved with the fair and how much dedication I have for the fair. I believe I could represent Hardin County well throughout the course of a year by showing how good our fair is and what we have to offer. I also feel that I am qualified and with the experience with being rabbit queen and rabbit princess. I have previously represented Hardin County and would be a great person to continue to do this for the fair.”
Troy Cameron | Ridgemont
Troy Cameron is the son of Jessi Kalb of Ridgeway and the late Brian Ansley. A senior at Ridgemont High School, after graduation he wants to attend Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion for a welding certification to obtain a job in the welding industry.
His junior fair activities have included three FFA projects, one a woodshop project in which he made a birdhouse and two metal shop projects – a stick figure and a Chevy symbol. He received an “A” on all three projects.
In school activities, Troy was involved in the Food for America program, during which he helped walk third graders to their stations and taught kids about how agriculture is involved in everyday life. He helped with field day for K-6 students and helped the kids play and understand how to be a good sport. He has worked with eighth graders on wood cutting and learning how to properly operate power tools and equipment. Troy also was part of a three-person welding team that created a fire pit in the shape of the Ohio State block O. They went on to compete at the state convention and took fifth place our of 12 teams.
In the community, Troy said he is in the process of making a community service learning day for his school. He plans to take students in grades 7-12 out of school for a day to clean, pick up, paint or build stuff for the community.
“I am the ideal candidate for the Hardin County Fair King because I am always willing to help those in need no matter the circumstance. I have been in FFA for four years and I have been able to apply my love for agriculture within this organization.
“Also, I have enjoyed going to the Hardin County Fair and seeing all the wonderful things that it has to offer,” Troy said. “I have been going to the Hardin County Fair since I was young, going with my family and friends. I think that I would represent the Hardin County Fair with absolute positivity and responsibility. I would help out the younger fair enthusiasts and serve as a great example as to how a responsible individual should act.”
Alexa Lowery | Upper Scioto Valley
Alexa Lowry is the daughter of Kelley and Jeff Miller of Kenton. A senior at Upper Scioto Valley High School, after graduation she plans to attend college and obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and specialize in emergency medical care.
Her junior fair activities have included showing swine at the fair for three years. She is a member of Jumbo Jr. Farmers and has shown as a member of the USV-Ohio Hi-Point FFA Chapter. She is in her second year as a member of the Junior Fair Board where she serves on the Swine Committee. She helped to plan and run the 2016-2017 pee wee swine showmanship. She also is the Hardin County Pork Queen for 2018.
Alexa attends Ohio Hi-Point Career Center where she is enrolled in the Allied Health and Nursing Program. However, she still remains active in several school activities at USV, including cross country, track and field, cheerleading and basketball. While in FFA at USV, she served as sentinel, received the Star Chapter Award and was a member of the livestock and soil judging teams. While in 4-H, her group went to state for public speaking. She is now president of her 4-H club and also received the outstanding livestock award for market swine this year. After coming to Hi-Point, Alexa has been active in National Technical Honor Society and HOSA, where she finished third in districts and state for researched persuasive writing and speaking.
In the community, she has participated in trash pick-up for the past three years and helped to coach the elementary USV cheer team. She also helped with elementary cross country and track clinics and is part of the Veterans Day breakfast and Relay for Life event at USV.
“A great Hardin County Fair Queen is someone who is determined to represent the county in the best way possible. I have been a part of many clubs and programs that have allowed me to gain social and leadership skills to speak to others in the community about what a great place Hardin County is to live and raise a family. Being the Pork Queen also shows how dedicated, I am to the Hardin County Fair, not only fair as whole, but also in the commodity area for which I belong.”
“I would make an ideal Fair Queen because I have worked behind the scenes of the fair with the Junior Fair Board to know how much work it takes to put on the fair,” Alexa said. “I believe this has taught me humility and respect which are both qualities a Queen should possess. Without the fair, I would never have this opportunity to grow as an individual and achieve some personal goals I set for myself.”
“I moved to Hardin County my freshman year and decided I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself. I joined the Jumbo Junior Farmers 4-H group where I decided to show swine and do public speaking,” she said. “After the first year of attending the Hardin County Fair, I found myself falling in love with it and the people that I met. I did everything I could after that to become as active as possible and ingrain myself into something like the fair and community that accepted me and gave me the chance to become a better person as I grow older.”
Wyatt Daniels | Upper Scioto Valley
Wyatt Daniels is the son of Brandon Daniels and Shelley Daniels of Alger. A senior at Upper Scioto Valley High School, his plans after graduation include attending college and majoring in animal science. He would like to participate on a collegiate rodeo team.
He has been involved in the junior fair since age 9 when he started showing with the Alger Junior Farmers. Once he got to high school he began showing with the Upper Scioto Valley Ohio Hi Point FFA. Wyatt’s past awards at the Hardin County Fair include Champion Beef Feeder, Reserve Champion Beef Feeder, Champion Market Steer, Senior Beef Showmanship and Reserve Champion Gilt. He also helps plan and run Pee Wee Swine Showmanship on Sundays in the arena.
His school activities include Big Brothers/Big Sisters, USV Honor Society member and four-year varsity basketball letterman with one year as a team captain. He is involved in the Sunday youth basketball program as a referee. A four-year member of the FFA, he received his Greenhand Degree and Chapter Degree. Wyatt also is a three-year member of the Ohio High School Rodeo Association where he competes in tie down roping.
In the community, Wyatt has tutored junior high students, worked for the USV Athletic Boosters and worked planning the annual USV Veterans Day assembly.
“I feel I am an ideal candidate for the Hardin County Fair King because I have grown up around agriculture and been very involved in the fair for many years,” he said. “I am personable, socialize within the community, and would love to end my show career with this honor.”
Ruth Anne Osborne | 4-H
Ruth Anne Osborne is the daughter of Paul and Marissa Osborne of Alger. She is home schooled and said she is looking forward to marriage and a family. “It may not seem like a very big goal, but when I think of the foundation my parents have laid for my siblings and me, and the ability we have to enrich our community and beyond, I can think of no higher calling than to attempt to do the same for the next generation,” she said.
Her experience at the Hardin County Fair began in the poultry tent in 2013. Ruth Anne and her siblings came with market chickens and soon learned “that pretty feathers do not make a grand champion market chicken.” They resolved to learn all the could about the fair and how to raise ribbon-worthy livestock, she said. In 2017 she won reserve champion born and raised market lamb. Her livestock projects this year include dairy beef feeders, market lambs, market goats, market chickens, exhibition chickens and breeding rabbits. She also has won three Outstanding of the Day ribbons from the Ohio State Fair for her still projects.
She is a member of the Jumbo Jr. Farmers and Scioto Valley 4-H Club and has been an officer every year since joining in 2013. This year as president of the Scioto Valley 4-H Club, Ruth Anne said, “I led our group to restore the Alger welcome sign as a club community project. This added beauty to the roadside and will allow residents to see the opportunities for involvement in Alger, Ohio. I am very proud of the work we did.”
In the community, she has taken an active role in promoting her local library and its special programming. She is a member of the Friends of the Alger Public Library, whose committee created “Second Expression,” a literary art show celebrating fine art, music, and drama in Hardin County through an annual event each November. She has participated in the USV Drama Club and was voted “Best Actor” in the club. She earned “Best Supporting Female Actor” in Hardin County at the annual TAB awards. Ruth Anne has helped with the local political races of Jon Cross fro State Representative and Tim Striker for Hardin County Commissioner, as well as her father’s two successful campaigns for Marion Township Trustee.
“If chosen as Hardin County Fair Queen, my motto would be, “Learning by Leading, Leading by Serving,” she said. “An eagerness to serve impacts our entire outlook on life. It makes us attentive to the needs around us, it makes us proactive in addressing them, and it makes us wiser and better prepared to address the next need. It would be an honor to serve Hardin County and the Hardin County Fair Board as the 2018 Hardin County Fair Queen.”
Mason Manns | 4-H
Mason Manns is the son of Molly Jo Shick of Kenton. He is a senior at Benjamin Logan High School. He plans on attending OSU Lima for a year to continue his education there where he is now an on campus student for his senior year of high school. After that he plans to attend an in-state college to pursue a job in the business field.
His junior fair activities include 4-H enrollment in numerous projects. He has taken “My Favorite Things” , market hogs, woodworking, fishing, and his currently taking a pair of exhibition geese to the fair. Throughout his nine years of 4-H, Mason said he have received only “A” grades for his projects, and has been awarded outstanding achievement ribbons in addition to being given the opportunity of participating in state judging with his coin collection four times. Outside of 4-H he likes to stay involved and active on the fairgrounds. Throughout the week he enjoys helping Junior Fair Board members with their tasks, as well as going the extra mile for others and learning a thing or two from his fellow showmen and fair attendees.
Within his school Mason is a member and leader in various clubs and extracurricular activities. At Ben Logan High School he has been his class treasurer for 3 years, and participated in Ohio Model United Nations (OMUN) as a delegate for over six years, He recently was accepted as a Spanish National Honors Society member, as well as being a player for his school’s soccer, basketball, and track and field teams. He was also a member of Ben Logan’s FFA chapter, and has been awarded numerous merit and scholar rewards. He was a former member of the quiz bowl team and robotics team.
In the community, he has taken on small projects such as trash pick-ups, assisting and preparing others for 4-H judging, being a staff member of the Hardin County 4-H Cloverbud day camp, and being a 4-H club treasurer. He is a member of Abundant Life church, where he attends youth group and will be a kids camp counselor.
“What makes me the ideal candidate as the next Hardin County Fair King is my passion for the area and desire to represent Hardin County and its people,” Mason said. “Although I attend a school not currently included within school districts represented in Hardin County, I am blessed to have the unique opportunity of representing other Ben Logan students in our community as well as the Hardin County Fair as a whole.”
Mason said, “I feel that my love for the people of our community doesn’t stand alone as my own reason either. I have always went to the fair since I was in a stroller. It seems that after each year passes my desire for coming back to the fair only grows, Ever since I showed my first pig I’ve been glued to the fair, even enrolling in FFA at my own school and taking a week’s worth of school work home just to finish up so I could skip school and soak up this once a year event.
“I feel fit for this role because of my experience at and knowledge of the fair, years of leadership qualities learned through Ben Logan High School and other activities listed above, and most importantly because of my connection and love for people of all ages within our community. The Hardin County Fair is a magical place, and I would be honored to represent it as king.”
Note: This work originally appeared in the 2018 Fair Preview; a publication of the Kenton Times.