BELLVILLE – After nearly an hour of judge deliberation, the 2018 Bellville Street Fair Queen was announced Wednesday night.
It was Reagan Marshall, a Clear Fork High School senior involved in everything from cheerleading to Science Club. The crowd surrounding the fair’s main stage applauded as 2017 Fair Queen Abbi Klaus placed a sash and tiara on the new queen.
The occasion was slightly sentimental, as Marshall’s mother, Brandy Weyhmeller, won the contest in 1991. Marshall hugged family members afterwards, struggling to contain her excitement moments after accepting the honor.
“I’m really excited. I’ve definitely always wanted to be the Bellville Fair Queen,” Marshall said. “I’ve grown up at the fair and it’s just been a lot of fun, this whole experience.”
Three judges chose from four contestants for queen honors. Valerie Golden took second place, Victoria Skoog took third and Amaya Copeland took fourth. All four contestants are Clear Fork High School seniors.
In order to participate, contestants had to be at least 16 years old, be enrolled in Clear Fork Local Schools or live in the area, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and be an exhibitor at that year’s fair.
The judges were all Clear Fork graduates – Stacey Aldridge (2001), Kristi Roberts (1999) and Angie Peterson (1999). Roberts placed second in the 1998 Fair Queen contest.
The contestants were judged on their performance during a one-on-one interview session, which occurred on Saturday, and made up 50 percent of their final score, as well as their ability to answer questions on-stage on Wednesday night, which determined the other 50 percent.
“What we’re looking for is, are they able to verbally communicate well? Are they very poised? Are they active in the community?” Weyhmeller, in her 11th year as pageant coordinator, said before the contest. “Just that well-rounded, very outstanding young woman is what we’re looking for.”
Each contestant was asked to introduce themselves to the crowd and then answer one random question while on stage. Marshall’s question was, ‘What are you most proud of?’
“I am the most proud of is being from the community of Bellville because everybody is always coming together and being helpful, no matter what the situation is,” Marshall responded. “I’m also proud to continue traditions such as the Bellville Street Fair Queen Contest with my three friends.”
Marshall said after the contest that she was nervous during the time when the judges went to deliberate, which lasted nearly an hour.
“I was just really nervous, I didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Marshall said. “I didn’t know what to expect.”
Feeling relieved afterwards, Marshall praised her fellow contestants for their accomplishments and noted that it was a tough field this year.
“They’re all so nice, so sweet, and they’re all so involved in the community,” she said. “It was just really competitive and we all were really working hard and really trying to do our best.”
Along with being a four-year varsity cheerleader and Science Club member, Marshall also plays basketball and softball for Clear Fork. She is involved in National Honor Society, Yearbook and is a senior class officer. After graduation, Marshall plans to attend college to pursue a career as a dental hygienist.
Meanwhile, Golden plans to earn a bachelor’s degree is business with a focus on equine studies after high school. She also hopes to ride on a college equestrian team. Golden is active in FFA, Student Council and National Honor Society. She is a senior class representative who also plays varsity basketball and runs track.
Skoog is a cheerleading captain, a three-year varsity golf letterwinner, and serves as the Service Committee Chair for Clear Fork’s National Honor Society chapter. She is active in Science Club, Student Council and Creative Publishing. After high school, she plans to attend Ohio State University-Mansfield to major in Education.
Copeland is a Clear Fork senior who attends Knox County Career Center for Cosmetology. She is the Cosmetology class president and a student representative. Copeland is also a second-year varsity cheerleader for Clear Fork basketball and football. After high school, Copeland plans to attend college to become an art teacher or cosmetologist.
While judges deliberated on Wednesday night, Klaus spoke to the crowd about her favorite memories as last year’s Fair Queen. She spoke fondly of leading the town’s Christmas Parade, representing Bellville at the Knox County Fair and participating in the Fourth of July Parade.
In the end, she gave the incoming queen a piece of advice.
“Remember to always stay positive because it makes life a lot better and a lot easier,” Klaus said. “Hold your head high because there are a thousand little girls who want to be you and want to be just like you.”
Weyhmeller emphasized the importance of the queen pageant, as it kicks off the fair each year. This is the Bellville Street Fair’s 168th year in existence. The annual event continues through Saturday night.
“For people in Bellville, the Street Fair itself is just very, very important. It just means a lot to everybody. It’s a homecoming, everyone’s here,” Weyhmeller said. “It’s something to really look forward to. And that queen really kind of embodies something for young women to get involved in fair and to be proud of.”
