2012 Junior Fair Royal Couple thank community for awesome year
By Bob Robinson

GREENVILLE – “It was cool to see Lucas crown his little sister,” said Kelsey Burchett, 2012 Darke County Junior Fair Queen. Lucas King, 2012 Junior Fair King, crowned Jenna King 2013 Junior Fair Queen on July 16. 

“We were both rooting for his sister,” Kelsey added, “but she had strong competition and she was young. The odds were not in her favor.” 

“I saw her name on the paper… I almost had a heart attack,” Lucas admitted. 

Kelsey added Jenna had said she had a great interview. “Apparently she did, because all the competition was really tough! All those girls were good!” Kelsey listed Lizzie Hart, Brooklyn Baker and Maddy Buscher, who were chosen for Jenna’s court, as some of her primary competitors. 

Lucas and Kelsey were busy as the 2012 Royal Couple. They attended 15 county fairs and an even dozen parades. 

The Annie Oakley Parade at the end of July was their last official event. 

“I’m sad that it’s over,” Kelsey said. “I enjoyed every moment, but there is a ton of things I would want to do differently. I’d go to every county fair that I could. Fifteen just isn’t enough. I’d want to go see all of them.” 

Lucas hesitated. “Well,” he said, “it would be nice to go to some more, even though we were already busy.” He noted there are 88 counties in the state. He agreed however it was fun visiting, driving there… seeing how they run things.” 

The Great Darke County Fair is billed as the biggest and greatest fair in the state… 

“I think it really is,” Kelsey said. “The other fairs we went to are smaller. They weren’t really supported. We have huge support from our community. It has been an awesome year thanks to that support.” 

She added she really is thankful. When they went to the other fairs, the fair board paid half the gas bill. When she participated against 99 other Junior Fair Queens at the state pageant, the fair board paid all expenses. 

“Almost the entire fair board goes to support you… the families.” One of the other queens saw Lucas at the competition and told Kelsey, “You are so lucky your king came to support you.” 

“I’m a lucky girl,” Kelsey admitted. But she also found the state pageant nerve wracking. 

“It’s a week-long competition and includes queens from all the counties, all winners at home, all wanting to be the Ohio Junior Fair Queen.” Competitions are different. Some are beauty pageants, some strictly 4H… “I was there for the experience,” she said. 

Kelsey placed in the top 16 out of 100. “And you came home a queen,” Lucas said. “You were still the Darke County Youth Fair Queen.” 

Lucas noted it had been a growth year for him; the previous year had been a great experience. 

“I was the announcer at the Cheer Competition at the fair last year. I sounded monotone, so I decided to fluctuate my voice more. It definitely got better.” 

Neither Kelsey nor Lucas prepared scripts for their roles as moderators at the 2013 Pageant in July. 

“We completely improvised,” Kelsey said. “When we were asked if we had our scripts – that’s the way it was done in the past – we freaked out!” 

Lucas admitted to spending little or no time getting ready for the pageant in 2012. “I didn’t think about it at all. I just knew I had to have a suit that looked nice. I was more worried about the questions.” 

Kelsey also admitted not spending much time getting ready. “I like the ‘natural’ look. It takes me about 15 minutes to get ready. This year? Some girls said they spent two or three hours… hair, nails…” 

The high point of the year – according to both – was the Butler County Fair. 

“Only the two of us could go,” Kelsey said. “We finally got a chance to know each other. That was really cool.” 

Her personal highlight was the little girls looking up to her. 

“They were in awe of my tiara… they really looked up to me. The pretty dresses. They wanted to grow up just like me.” 

Both agreed over the past year they had become best friends. She will be attending Wright State. He will be at Miami. Seeing each other now that they no longer had to would be more difficult. 

“I’m going to miss her,” Lucas said. 

“I’m really thankful for my court,” Kelsey said. “But most of all, I’m thankful for Lucas. For his support.” 

“I didn’t have to do that much,” Lucas replied. “She did everything. I was just there to keep her sane.”