Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 16, 2009

Top market livestock entries at the Ringgold County Fair were named at the fair which closed Sunday.

Above top, from left: Cassidy BECKER showed the champion market sheep; Hagan WILLIS showed the champion market hog.

Above, April SHIELDS showed the champion market steer.

Jamie NOVAK of Mount Ayr was named queen and Halle STEWART of Mount Ayr was named princess of the 2009 Ringgold County Fair at the fair's queen contest ceremony Thursday, July 2.

NOVAK, daughter of James and Felicia NOVAK, was crowned by 2008 queen Holly ENGLAND. ENGLAND helped organize the event as her last official duty as queen from last year.

NOVAK helped present awards in many activities at the fair and will go on to represent the county fair at the Iowa State Fair queen contest next month. Her escort was Tom HOSFIELD.

First runner-up was Allie KNAPP, daughter of Benand Melanie KNAPP. She was escorted by Tyler HOSFIELD.

Second runner-up was Taylen ABARR, granddaughter of Sharon ENGLAND and John ROUTH. She was escorted by Josh CASE. ABARR was also voted the contest's Miss Congeniality in a vote of other contestants.

Princess Halle STEWART (at right) is the daughter of Russell and Jackie STEWART. She ws crowned by 2008 fair princess Mackenzie SHIELDS. STEWART was escorted by Jordan McALEXANDER.

Other queen candidates and their escorts included:

Courtnie COX, daughter of Brian COX and Kirk and Laurie GREENMAN. She was escorted by Kirk GREENMAN.

Tasha DRAKE, daughter of Robin and Deric DRAKE. She was escorted by Brian STILL.

Other princess candidates included:

Alexa ANDERSON, daughter of Tracy and Brandy ANDERSON. She was escorted by Dawson SWANK.

Charlcey BOWEN, daughter of Chirsty and Judd BOWEN. She was escorted by Keaton WHITE.

Baylee DARRAH, daughter of John and Lesa DARRAH. She was escorted by Tyler JARRED.

Melania HALEY, daughter of Rob and Jodi HALEY. She was escorted by Payton WEEHLER.

Payten LAMBERT, daughter of Derek and Tracy LAMBERT. She was escorted by Will NEWTON.

Brynn NICKLE, daughter of Nathan and Stasia NICKLE. She was escorted by Bryce SHAHA.

Alexandra SHELLEY, daughter of Jeremy and Audrey SHELLEY. She was escorted by Bryson TRIGGS.

Erin SOBOTKA, daughter of Doug and Darla SOBOTKA. She was escorted by Kade KLOMMHAUS.

Also performing at the coronation ceremony were Tina BOUNDS, Chatelle JENNETT, Maggie JENNETT, Marc CRUISE and Angie CREIGHTON and the band SonDogs.

Another successful fair is in the books and each year the fairgrounds show improvments as people come to spend five full days on the fairgrounds.

A number of groups were busy helping spruce up the fairgrounds this year.

One of the major additions this year was the camping pads with water service that were provided on the north end of the fairgrounds. This expands the camping facilities on the west side of the fairgrounds which were being stretched beyond capacity and do not have the concrete pads and water hookups that are available in the new camping area. All the new camping area was full for the fair.

The Crooked Creek 4-H Club made additions to the gazebo garden area out in front of the 4-H exhibit building.

The Junior Farmers 4-H Club placed barn quilt paintings on the school house and the beef barn.

Second and third graders in the classes taught by Karen TAYLOR, Tracy GILES, Angie DODGE and Darla SOBOTKA planted hostas and had a new picnic table with a shelter over it placed south of the school house.

The new grooming barn addition was also in place this year.

The Lotts Creek-Riley Rustlers 4-H Club planted some more small trees around the fairgrounds.

The Ringgold Rockets 4-H Club and Allan DOLECHECK provided new gates to pen hogs in when showing at the swine show.

 One cowgirl will represent the Ringgold County Fair at the Iowa State Fair cowgirl contest in August after winning honors in the contest in Mount Ayr Wednesday, July 8. Named the Ringgold County Junior Cowgirl Queen was Morgan QUICK, daughter of Jeff and Rhonda QUICK of Redding. There were no contestants in the [senior] cowgirl queen contest this year.

Photographs courtesy by Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2012