The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Germann, Ashbaugh 2016 Jr. Fair royalty

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It was called Celebration Sunday, but for Junior Fair representatives and 4-H members, it was an early start to the 2016 Van Wert County Fair. The day included coronation of the 2016 Junior Fair King and Queen and species princesses, the 4-H Fashion Style Review, the Cloverbud Graduation and Show and Tell Awards, and the 4-H Special Awards event.

Junior Fair Queen Macala Ashbaugh, Junior Fair King Joel Germann, and Queen Runner-up Maggie Cripe pose following the coronation ceremony held Sunday at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Jan Dunlap/Van Wert independent
Junior Fair Queen Macala Ashbaugh, Junior Fair King Joel Germann, and Queen Runner-up Maggie Cripe pose following the coronation ceremony held Sunday at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Jan Dunlap/Van Wert independent

Starting out Sunday’s events, Macala Ashbaugh was named 2016 Junior Fair queen, while Joel Germann, the only boy candidate, was named 2016 Junior Fair king. Maggie Cripe was named queen runner-up.

While he admitted it wasn’t a surprise, since he was the only candidate, Germann, the son of Doug and Marcia Germann, said he “felt blessed” to be able to serve as the 2016 Junior Fair king. “I guess I’m really excited,” he added.

Germann, who is a member of the Junior Fair Board, serving on the Awards, Barn Maintenance, and Animal Clinic committees, while also chairing the Goat and Public Relations committees, said he is also interested in being a part of all the Junior Fair events, including many he hasn’t really been involved in over his 4-H career. Germann has shown goats for four years and won several showmanship awards in the breeding market and dairy market goat classes.

The Crestview senior, who is involved in Scholastic Bowl, football, track, National Honor Society, Knight Vision show choir, and school musicals, plans to double major in molecular biology and genetics. Germann said he became interested in what Junior Fair judges considered in determining which animals were the best representatives of their breed, which, in turn, led to an interest in genetics.

Ashbaugh, the daughter of Rick and Dianna Ashbaugh, is a senior at Lincolnview High School, where she is involved in Beta Club, FFA, National Honor Society, Agents of Change, and Student Council. She also was a representative this summer to Buckeye Girls’ State, while competing on the school softball and golf teams. She also has been involved in the school latchkey program and plans to pursue a degree in early childhood education after graduation.

“I am very excited,” Ashbaugh said following her coronation. “This is something I have wanted for a very long time.”

The 2016 Junior Fair queen said the title is one she has wanted since she was a little girl and spoke to a Junior Fair queen at the fair.

“I’ve always wanted to be a bigger role model for everybody else,” Ashbaugh added. “I just want to make our fair great.”

A current member of the Hoaglin Farmers 4-H club, and a former member of Leaders of the Future club, Ashbaugh has helped with several community landscaping projects, while also serving on the Junior Fair Board for three years and being a 4-H Buckeye Ambassador. A member of the Lincolnview FFA, Ashbaugh, who has shown market hogs, turkeys, and dairy feeders for her FFA projects at the fair, said she is pleased to become a part of the Junior Fair queen program.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity to be part of the Van Wert County Fair queen (tradition),” she noted.

In the species princess competitions, Nadia Pardon was named Goat Princess, Cassie Priest is the 2016 Equine Princess, Samantha Klinger was named Poultry Princess, and Laney Jones is the 2016 Swine Princess.

Later Sunday evening, 4-H members had the chance to strut their stuff as part of the 4-H Fashion Style Review, which was followed by the Cloverbud graduation, and, finally, the 4-H Special Awards event.

POSTED: 08/29/16 at 7:26 am. FILED UNDER: News