MANSFIELD — The newest royals in the succession of the Richland County Junior Fair assumed their titles on Sunday evening at the John Hartz Building.
Madison Parks of Richland County Round-Up 4-H and Shelby FFA was crowned the 2021 Richland County Junior Fair Queen, while Evan Stuart of Crestview FFA was crowned King.
Their crowns were awarded by 2020 Queen Natalie Snyder and King Cory Myers.
First runners-up to be crowned were Caroline Tilton of Muddy Creek Clovers 4-H and Clear Fork FFA, and Carson Abbott of Ring Raiders 4-H and Shelby FFA.
The second runners-up were Thalia Kurtzman of Wild-n-Free 4-H and Ashton Crider of Ring Raiders 4-H.
Other contestants for queen include Marissa Circosta of the Lucky 4-Hers, Megan Lindenberger from Plymouth FFA, and Keeley Mack from Shelby FFA.
Dr. Judy Villard Overocker, the 4-H Extension Educator, said last year’s pageant and coronation took place outdoors due to COVID-19 restrictions. Besides youth shows, no other events were allowed at the fair.
“Now we’re getting back to normal, being indoor and in air-conditioning is nice,” she joked.
“The spirit of this program has never wavered,” Overocker said. “It feels more like home now because we’re back in this facility. And what outstanding young people we have; any one of them could’ve been on the top.”
Parks is a recent graduate of Shelby High School. She is currently attending The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, majoring in graphic design and minoring in agricultural communications. She started with the junior fair program eight years ago, showing hogs.
“Madison has such a love for children,” Overocker said. “She’s one of our camp counselors, she’s teaching kids from juvenile traffic court, she has a passion for helping other people. She is very trustworthy and dependable, one of those kids I’d call on to do anything.”
Stuart is a junior at Crestview High School, and first got involved with the Richland County Fair in 2010. He noted he enjoys the familiarity of the fair, and the kind faces he sees every year.
“I can’t tell you how polished Evan has been this year at the fair,” Overocker said. “He works extra time in the office, he’s very dedicated, just loves to provide service. When he first came on the fair board he never would’ve done this, but he’s built his confidence and he’s going to go far.”
The Junior Fair Queen and King are considered fair ambassadors. They will mentor the younger generations, help out with this year’s fair activities, and travel to other county fairs in Ohio.
