Schumm, Vorst crowned Jr. Fair royalty

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

There were plenty of activities and events held as the 156th edition of the Van Wert County Fair got off to a good start under fair skies on Wednesday.

After ribboncutting ceremonies to officially open the fair, Adam Schumm and Katie Vorst were chosen as the 2012 Junior Fair King and Queen to reign over this year’s Junior Fair events.

Schumm, the son of Mike and Robin Schumm of rural Willshire, is the third member of his family to be fair royalty

“My mom was a queen and my cousin was a king, so when my FFA advisor asked, I thought I would keep it going,” Schumm said of maintaining the family tradition.

Schumm is a senior at Crestview High School and third-year member of the Junior Fair Board serving this year as vice president. He has spent 10 years as a member of the Barnyard Buddies 4-H Club, and is also an FFA member at Crestview.

His queen is Katie Vorst, daughter of Chris and Sandy Vorst and a senior at Delphos St. John’s High School.

Vorst, a member of the Venedocia Lads and Lassies 4-H Club is also in her third year as a Junior Fair Board member. She said being crowned queen is “the ultimate achievement” of her fair career.

“I have always wanted to be a queen ever since I was little, and I feel very honored,” Vorst said following the pageant.

Both members of Junior Fair royalty are also accomplished athletes, with Vorst a member of the Blue Jay varsity girls’ basketball team and Schumm a member of the Knight basketball and baseball teams.

King and queen runners-up were Sabrina Barnhart and Kurt Hoersten, while other candidates included Morgan Klinger, Amanda Lobsiger, and Grace Mitchener.

Crown bearers this year were Maddux Cunningham, son of Travis and Elizabeth Cunningham, and Kaylee Mollenkopf, daughter of J.R. and Becki Mollenkopf, while sponsors included Mr. and Mrs. Mayden Williams and family, Rita Adams, Robin Schumm, Poling Excavating and Waterworks, Laudick’s Jewelry, Straley Realty and Auctioneers Inc., Slusher’s Jewelry, McCoy’s Flowers and Jan Dunlap Photography.

The event committee included Sarah Klinger, Cheyenne Oechsle, Matt Oechsle, Sabrina Barnhart and advisor Kylie Mills.

Last year’s Junior Fair queen, Lauren Buchanan, and runner-up Bethany Army were emcees for this year’s event. 2011 Junior Fair King Nathan Profit is currently serving in the U.S. Navy and couldn’t be here for this year’s ceremony.

Following the pageant, 4-H members were presented with a number of special awards and honors during the 4-H Awards Ceremony, also held in the Gospel Pavilion (click here for a list of awards and recognition).

Because of the shortened fair schedule, the annual High School Band Show was also moved from its traditional spot on Tuesdays to the first day of the fair. A large number of area bands put on a dazzling musical display for an appreciative audience in front of the grandstand.

Today’s events include the start of pari-mutuel harness racing, which will be held beginning at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand.

Junior Fair events include the Poultry Show, at 9 a.m., FFA Crop and Shop and Vegetable and Garden entry judging, the Junior Fair Goat Show at 3 p.m. and the Junior Fair Sheep Show at 7 p.m., both in the Sheep and Goat Arena (click here for a copy of the fair book and calendars).