First of all a huge compliment: the 2022 Royalties, Jayden Hicks and Mariah Kreusch lead the Darke County Junior Fair King and Queen Pageant on Tuesday, July 11, at the Radiant Lighthouse, 5256 Sebring Warner Road, Greenville professionally and entertainingly.
All 11 contestants (7 young ladies and 4 young men) went then through 2 rounds of questions, asked by the 2022 Royalty.
While the judges deliberated, a slide show was shown with some highlites of the Hicks’ and Kreusch’s reign.
Some former Royalties from the 1990’s through 2020 came forward and talked about their experiences and what advise they would give to the soon to be named new Royalty. Also, the 2022 Royalty including some of the 2022 Runners Up shared some of their experiences during their reign.
Then, the big moment came:
The four judges selected 17 year old Elizabeth Brewer (daughter of Shaun and Jill Brewer, sponsored by Versailles Busy Beavers 4-H Club) and 16 year old Andrew Wuebker (son of Alan and Sarah Wuebker, sponsored by Versailles FFA) as the Royalties for the 2023 Darke County Fair.
Elizabeth is a Senior, Andrew a Junior at Versailles High School.
Both of them are involved in several school-activities.
Andrew’s family has a long history of Queens and Kings:
1991 King: Alan Wuebker
2018 King: Kyle Wuebker
2019 King: Jacob Wuebker, Queen: Victoria Wuebker
2021 Queen: Laura Wuebker
First runners-up:
Gracelynn Harter (18), daughter of Jeremy and Krista Francis, sponsored by the Darke County Junior Fairboard and
Daxton Harter (16), son of Jeremy and Krista Francis, sponsored by the Darke County Junior Fairboard.
Second runners-up:
Madison Werner (18), daughter of Marla Werner, sponsored by the Trails and Tails 4-H Club and
Cooper Bucklew (17), son of Adam Bucklew and Karen Bucklew, sponsored by the Rabbit Habbit 4-H Club.
Third runners-up:
Sophia Aultman (16), the daughter of Matt and Morgan Aultman, sponsored by the Darke County Holstein 4-H Club and
Carson Heitkamp (17) son of Brian and Mechelle Heitkamp, sponsored by the Canine Capers 4-H Club.
Additional contestants in the pageant were: Katelynne Michael (16), daughter of Chris and Jodi Michael, sponsored by the Show Hoppers 4-H Club, Alannah Sullivan (16), daughter of Jennifer Smith and Jimmy Smith, sponsored by Trails and Tails 4-H Club and Megan Wood (16), daughter of Mike and Christina Wood, sponsored by the Odds N Ends 4-H Club.
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