2015 Fayette County Fair Queen

 

 

 

Field of 13 to compete for fair queen

by Brian Smith
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

 

Thirteen young ladies from across the county will be seeking the title of Fayette County Fair Queen when the 2015 Fayette County Fair opens on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Each candidate has already earned the right to represent her community in the competition, which will get underway at 7 p.m. that evening. The winner of the queen contest will represent Fayette County at the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest later this summer.

Heather Anfinson is the daughter of Jeff and Sheryl Anfinson and is sponsored by Arlington Community Club. The 18-year-old graduated in May from Starmont High School, where she participated in volleyball, track, FFA, band, chorus, and Student Council. She is also a member of National Honor Society and served as a mentor and tutor for elementary students.

Community activities in which Heather has been involved include club volleyball, Red Cross blood drives, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, and helping with the Arlington Easter Egg Hunt. She has also assisted with various fundraisers for local causes.

Her hobbies include boating, fishing, camping, reading, skiing, biking, and playing volleyball. 

Heather plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa in the fall to study elementary education, special education, and reading.

Rebecca Miller, daughter of David and Karen Miller, is sponsored by Clermont Community Club and is 17 years of age. She recently completed her junior year at North Fayette Valley High School. She has participated in basketball, cross country, and track and field. The Clermont resident is also a member of her school’s Spanish Club.

Miller is an active member of West Clermont Lutheran Church as a youth representative on the council and as a member of the Luther League. She has also volunteered as a mentor and reading teacher. Rebecca is the coordinator and coach for a basketball camp fundraiser and works at T.J.’s Pizza in Clermont.

Hobbies for Rebecca include kayaking, swimming, hiking, running, and basketball. 

She plans to run for Student Council next year, graduate from high school, and attend Wartburg College for pre-med.

Elizabeth Roach is the 18-year-old daughter of Greg and Jean Roach and is sponsored by the Elgin Community Betterment Club. Elizabeth graduated from North Fayette Valley High School in May. She was involved in drama, speech, chorus, golf, FFA, and cheerleading. She was also a member of Students Okay Without Drugs and Alcohol (SODA) and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Roach has been active in her community’s 4-H group, for which she served as vice-president. She has also participated in the Elgin musical and volunteered time to work at story hour at the Elgin Public Library.

Elizabeth’s hobbies include working with children, reading, writing, acting, singing, and dancing. 

She plans to attend the University of Iowa to study therapeutic recreation with an emphasis in child life, eventually pursuing her master’s degree.

Madeline Garber of Fairbank is the 17-year-old daughter of Chad and Carrie Garber and will be entering her senior year at Wapsie Valley High School this fall. She has participated in cross country, speech, managed the school concession stand, served as editor of the school newspaper, and is a member of the yearbook staff. Madeline is also on the Honor Roll and is a member of National Honor Society.

Garber has volunteered time in her community by working at Fairbank Island Days, making meals to feed families affected by poverty, and making tie blankets to supply local women’s shelters. She works at the Fairbank Aquatic Center.

Hobbies for Madeline are reading, creative writing, babysitting, running, and juggling. Her future plans are to graduate from high school and enroll in a four-year university to study English and special education in order to become a teacher.

Rachel Pugh of Fayette is the daughter of Andy and Tricia Pugh and is being sponsored by Fayette Heritage Corporation. The 18-year-old recently graduated from North Fayette Valley High School, where she was involved in cheerleading, speech, drama, softball, basketball, Prom Committee and Spanish club. She was also president of Family Consumer Science Club.

Community activities in which Rachel has participated include coaching Little League baseball and volunteering at Watermelon Days. Pugh also worked at the Fayette County Tourist Center.

The NFV graduate has a variety of hobbies, including fishing, reading, writing, kayaking, traveling, baking, and hiking. 

This fall she will be attending the University of Northern Iowa, where she will pursue a degree in either English education or veterinary medicine.

Tiffanie Koch of Hawkeye will be starting her junior year at North Fayette Valley High School this fall. The 16-year-old is the daughter of Dwane and Roni Sue Koch and is being sponsored by Hawkeye Businessmen’s Association. Tiffanie has been active in FFA, volleyball, drill team, track and field, and choir.

She has been involved in a variety of community events, including the Hawkeye Fire Department Omelet Brunch, the Hawkeye Businessmen’s Pancake Supper, the American Legion Auxiliary’s Poppy Drive, and Hawkeye’s annual Easter Egg Hunt.

She also volunteers to clean ditches, help with Vacation Bible School at her church, and coach third- through sixth-graders in club volleyball.

Tiffanie’s hobbies include playing volleyball, running, swimming, babysitting, reading, volunteering, and helping others. 

After graduating from high school, she plans to go to college to study ag business or physical therapy.

Cheyenne Bantz, the daughter of Royce and Vanese Bantz, will be a senior at West Central High School this fall. She is sponsored by the Maynard Community Club. Cheyenne’s school activities include cheerleading, drama, speech, chorus, band, and she is a member of the Food and Fitness Club.

Bantz has been involved in her community through helping at annual firemen’s dinners, participating in Maynard Days, leading song services at her church, and helping to clean up the local park. She has also volunteered to help at the fair and pass out water at the Maynard parade.

Cheyenne’s hobbies are camping, singing, tubing, fishing, kayaking, scrapbooking, and photography. 

Her future plans are to graduate from high school and then to attend Allen College to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Alianna Holliday of Oelwein is the 16-year-old daughter of Scott and Kim Holliday and attends Oelwein High School. She is sponsored by Oelwein Chamber and Area Development. In school Alianna has been involved in cheerleading, tennis, Art Club, Student Council, and a computer internship program.

Community activities of which Holliday has been a part include Party at the Park, Business After 5, coaching AAU volleyball, and lecturing at Sacred Heart Church. She also volunteers at various church events and works at Fareway.

Alliana’s hobbies include reading, drawing, writing, horseback riding, quilting, playing guitar, fishing, and boating.  

In the future, she plans to graduate from high school and then attend Ellsworth Community College, where she will complete the equine program. After that, she would like to attend Drake University to study law and Spanish.

Emily Luzum represents St. Lucas and will be entering her junior year at Turkey Valley High School this fall. She is the daughter of Kevin and Linda Luzum and is sponsored by the town of St. Lucas. Emily has been involved in speech and drama activities while in school.

Luzum participates in her community through being a member of the Girl Scouts, a local 4-H club, volunteering at Red Cross blood drives, and being an active member of St. Luke Parish. She also serves as a member of the County Council in 4-H and is involved in Signs of Christ.

Hobbies for Emily include trapshooting, sewing, and reading. 

Her future plans are to take college courses during the remainder of high school and attend Hawkeye Community College after graduation. She later plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa to get her degree in engineering.

Rachael Coan of Wadena is the daughter of Al and Dee Coan. The 18-year-old recently graduated from North Fayette Valley High School and is sponsored by Wadena Illyria Community Betterment Council. Rachael was involved in volleyball and was a member of Students Okay Without Drugs and Alcohol (SODA).

Community activities in which Rachael has participated include helping with Sunday school and sales at her church and volunteering with the Valley Community Coalition. She also enjoys spending time with residents at the Good Samaritan Society, where she works.

Coan’s hobbies are kayaking, hunting, fishing, water sports, reading, and gardening. 

She plans to attend Coe College to study nursing, then continue her schooling at Allen College for her master’s degree. She hopes to become a nurse practitioner and live in northeast Iowa.

Kennedy Balk resides in Waucoma and is the 17-year-old daughter of Greg and Angela Balk. She will be a senior at Turkey Valley High School in the fall. She is sponsored by the City of Waucoma. Kennedy has participated in volleyball, golf, cheerleading, track, Student Senate, and she is a member of the Wellness Club at school.

Kennedy has been active in her community by participating in Girl Scouts, in which she is also an assistant Daisy leader. She is also involved with Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness and is a lifeguard.

Gymnastics, dance, spending time with family and cheerleading are some of Balk’s hobbies. 

Her future plans are to graduate from high school, after which she would like to attend the University of Northern Iowa.

Mary Scott is the daughter of Mike and Kathleen Scott of Westgate. The 18-year-old home-schooled student also attended West Central High School and is sponsored by the City of Westgate. Mary’s activities in school include basketball, softball, track, and golf.

Scott is a member of the Harlan Fremont 4-H Club, serving as vice president and president of that youth organization. She has also served on the Fayette Youth County Council for three years, is a member of the Fayette County Youth Development Committee, and the St. Peter Lutheran Church youth group.

Hobbies for Mary include showing cows, participating in Dairy Quiz Bowl, dairy judging, horseback riding, and playing sports. 

Her future plan is to attend Iowa State University and major in dairy science. Scott would like to become a youth coordinator for the Holstein Foundation.

Hanna Moser of West Union is an 18-year-old recent graduate of North Fayette Valley High School. Her parents are Mark and Debbie Moser, and she is sponsored by West Union Chamber Main Street. While in school Hanna has been involved in softball, volleyball, track, golf, basketball, drama, chorus, and band.

Community activities in which Hanna participates are church choir, church lectoring, a community production of “The Messiah,” and playing piano at Stoney Brook Village.

Moser’s hobbies are horseback riding, drawing, painting, reading, playing piano, water and snow skiing, and golfing. 

She plans to attend Iowa State University this fall to double-major in biology and chemistry. She hopes to eventually attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.

Come out to the Fayette County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, to see one of these young ladies crowned Queen of the Fayette County Fair. The contest will be held at the newly constructed Bandstand, for which there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony just before the coronation. Each queen candidate will be auctioning off a pie to the highest bidder. Good luck to all the Fayette County Fair Queen candidates!

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