Junior Fair king, queen crowned on Sunday

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Cody Gamble and Lillian Hempfling were crowned Junior Fair King and Queen during a ceremony held at the grandstand of the Van Wert County Fairgrounds on Sunday.

Gamble, the son of Greg and Keely Gamble, graduated from Van Wert High School in 2020. A former member of the Shooting Stars 4-H club, he is currently a member of the 4-H Exchange Club.

Gamble’s 4-H projects include chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, goats, rabbits, knot tying, and archery. He has much success with his poultry entries, winning grand champion and reserve champion honors with both chickens and turkeys. He was also had a champion waterfowl at the Ohio State Fair.

Gamble’s sister, Chloee, is a former Junior Fair queen.

Hempfling, the daughter of Chuck and Sue Hempfling, is a senior at Delphos St. John’s High School. She is a member of the Udder Dairy 4-H club and has shown dairy heifers, market goats, and market turkeys. Hempfling is also a member of the Junior Fair Board.

No stranger to Junior Fair royalty, Hempfling has previously been chosen as dairy princess and goat princess. In 2019, she earned Showman of Showmen grand champion honors.

Dylann Carey was Junior Fair queen runner-up, while David May Jr., was king runner-up.

Other Junior Fair royalty are as follows:

• Junior Fair Swine Princess — Brenna Grace
• Junior Fair Beef Princess — Addie Sorgen
• Junior Fair Poultry Princess — Lindsey Barnes
• Junior Fair Goat Princess — Tara Radabaugh
• Junior Fair Dairy Princess — Christina Keen

The 4-H special awards and Black Inc. award recipients were also announced on Sunday, while the 4-H Style Revue winners were also announced.