Six young ladies vying for fair queen

NORWALK — Six young ladies are vying for the title of 2022 Huron County Fair Queen. Contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 18, must be a member of Huron County 4-H, FFA, FCCLA or Scouts, and must be an exhibitor at the 2022 Huron County Fair. Candidates complete an extensive application, submit two letters of recommendation, and participate in a professional interview with a panel of judges. The 2022 Huron County Fair Queen will have the responsibility of representing the fair at festivals, fairs and events throughout the state; as well as representing Huron County in the Ohio Fair's Queen Contest in January of 2023. The new Queen and Court will be crowned Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the G.A. Pickworth Pavilion after the final, on-stage portion of the contest which begins at 6 p.m. This year's contestants are: Sydney Bess, 17, of New London, is the daughter of Connie and the late Darren Bess. She will be a senior at New London High School and Pioneer Career & Technology Center. She is on the pioneer Color Guard and participates on Pioneer's Crime Scene Team. Bess is a member of Horseshoe Clovers 4-H Club. She has held several offices; she is the current Vice President as well as the Club's Poultry President. She has been the Turkey Representative to the Showman of Showman Contest at past Huron County Fairs. Her fair exhibits this year include Beef Feeder, Market and Carcass Turkey, Breeding Pigeons, Bantam & Standard Fancy Poultry, Hen and Egg, Market and Carcass Chickens and Pullets. She plans to attend North Central State College studying Criminal Justice, to become a probation officer. She also hopes to also breed, raise, and show quality cattle. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said, "The main two reasons are having a larger outlet to reach my community, as well as serving my community." Anita Ruggles, 17, of Norwalk, is the daughter of Marc and Betsy Ruggles. She will be a senior at EHOVE Career Center and Monroeville High School where she is a member of the track and cross-country teams, a cheerleader and in National Honor Society. Ruggles is a member of the Ridgefield Country Kids 4-H Club where she has held many offices, including serving as Club president. Additionally, she is the president of the Monroeville Chapter of the FFA. She is on the Huron County Junior Fairboard and has served as a 4-H Camp Counselor. She has participated in the Health and Safety Speaking contest and the Demonstration Contest at past Huron County Fairs. Her projects this year include Market Chickens, Market Lambs, Shopping Savvy and Soybeans. She will graduate in May with her cosmetology license. She plans to attend The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute to major in Agricultural Business. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said, "She would like to be the person who puts 4-H in the best possible light and promotes 4-H in any way she can." Adelynn Kradlak, 19, of Monroeville, is the daughter of David and Amy Kradlak. She is a graduate of Monroeville High School where she was active in softball, basketball and track. She will be a sophomore at Bluffton College in the fall. She also has her cosmetology license. Kradlak is a member of the Monroeville Fortune Finders 4-H Club and has held several Club offices, including serving as secretary. She is a member of Junior Fairboard, has served as a 4-H Camp Counselor and helped at Cloverbud Fun Days. Her project this year is Market Chickens. She plans to be an elementary teacher/intervention specialist and eventually earn her Doctorate in Speech Pathology. She hopes to become a traveling early interventionist specialist. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said, "She hopes to find new ways to promote 4-H in Huron County." Madilyn Lawson, 17 of Norwalk is the daughter of Erik and Rebecca Lawson. She is a senior at St. Paul High School where she is active in cross country, track and serves as a student ambassador. She is also enrolled at BGSU Firelands through the College Credit Plus program. Lawson is a member of the Huron County Clover's 4-H Club. She is a member of the Huron County Junior Fairboard, Huron County CARTEENS, a 4-H Camp Counselor, a Huron County 4-H Advisory Committee member, a member of the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Counsel, she attended the 2022 Ohio 4-H Leadership Camp and served as an Ohio delegate to the 2022 National 4-H Conference. Her projects this year are Look Great for Less, Your Thoughts Matter: Navigating Mental Health, The Laundry Project, Pantry Panic, Nailing it Together, Finding Your Voice: Public Speaking Made Easy, and Beef Feeders. She plans to attend The Ohio State University and major in Community Leadership and minor in Political Science. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said, she would like to have a platform to share her 4-H story, her love for the Huron County Fair, and her passion for all things 4-H." Grace Montgomery, 17 of Greenwich is the daughter of Gary and the late Kim Montgomery. She will be a senior at New London High School in the fall where she serves at Student Council secretary and Class President. Montgomery is a member of the New London FFA where she has earned both her Greenhand Degree & Chapter Degree. She currently serves as chapter president. She is also the secretary of the Huron County Junior Fairboard. Additionally, she has been a 4-H Camp Counselor. Her projects this year include Market Broilers, Dairy Beef Feeders, Agronomy, and Vegetables. After graduation, she plans to enroll in the Sunrise Cooperatives' RISE FFA Career Program as an intern exploring the Agri-Business, Agronomy, and Energy sectors. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said, she says feels very strongly about Ohio's Agriculture Industry and hopes to use this platform to increase awareness and continue to be a positive role model for this industry. Kamiah Felver, 17 of Greenwich is the daughter of Kirt and Crickett Felver. She will be a senior at South Central High in the fall where she is active in Jazz, Pep & Marching Band as well a theater and SADD, Student's Against Destructive Decisions. She is a member of the Greenwich Country Cornhuskers 4-H Club. She also serves on the Huron County Junior Fairboard and has been a 4-H Camp Counselor. Her projects this year include Photography and Woodworking. After graduation she plans to attend college to become a choir teacher, and she hopes to explore the option of eventually becoming a musical therapist. When asked why she would like to be the Huron County Fair queen, she said she would like to show younger members of the community to believe in themselves and to never be afraid of doing anything they put their mind to.