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A field of eight young ladies was narrowed down to one as Amanda Kaiser was crowned Franklin County 4-H Fair Queen June 24 at the Franklin County High School Lew Wallace Auditorium.
In her speech, the daughter of David and Cindy Kaiser, Cedar Grove, announced, “We do not remember the days, we remember the moments. Cherish the moments because they become memories.
“Growing up with three sisters and a brother, there was never a dull moment .... (and) being a 10-year 4-H member, there were times I was waking up early and staying up late to work on projects.”
When asked how she was different from the other girls in the pageant, the teen responded, “I try to keep a positive attitude on this whole process.”
To prepare for the event, “I practiced my speech and decided to relax and be myself.” The 18-year-old enjoyed herself and said, “The other girls made it fun. We did the cha-cha dance backstage as we were trying to relax.”
After winning the competition, Kaiser was very excited. She is looking forward to fair week and “definitely being a role model for the young girls.”
Last year’s queen, Caroline Koester, had advice for her successor. “Have fun because this is an experience you will always remember.”
KC Rae Stokes, 17, was the first runner-up. The daughter of Jon and Eva Stokes, West Harrison, revealed, “4-H has taught me to be accountable for my responsibilities, and it has helped me take criticism in a constructive way.” She is ready to “spend fair week with some pretty amazing girls.”
Second runner-up was Emma Stern, daughter of Gary and Susan Stern, Cedar Grove. The 16-year-old pointed out how she could be a role model for today’s youth: “By telling them that you don’t have to be just like everyone else just because your friends are doing it .... You need to be who you are inside.”
Jamie Kerr, 17, the daughter of John and Lynn Kerr, Brookville, received Miss Congeniality honors. During her speech, she recalled, “When I was a little girl, I can always remember going to the county fair with my family and saying, ‘I want to be just like her,’ the 4-H fair queen. She was just like Cinderella.”
The queen and her court will be on hand during the Franklin County Fair, July 14-21, to greet visitors, hand out awards and welcome the crowd at various events.
Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.
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