2013 Junior Fair king & queen crowned

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It was a sweep for Crestview High School as both the new Junior Fair king and queen, Daniel Joseph and Leah Lichtensteiger, as well as runners-up Jacob Germann and Sarah Klinger, are students at the school.

Both Joseph and Lichtensteiger were excited about their new positions.

“I am absolutely speechless,” Joseph said, adding, “I am great friends with the other king contestants, so it will cool to work together.”

The new king also smiled as he admitted that he will is looking forward to wearing his Junior Fair king’s sash to this year’s High School Band Show held at the fair on Labor Day.

Joseph is involved in a number of school and community activities. A member of the Ohio Challengers and Exchange 4-H clubs, Joseph has been a qualifier for the Ohio State Fair every year for the past nine years.

He is also music director for the Vacation Bible School program at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, where he attends church with his family. Joseph also performs with Crestview’s Knight Vision show choir and was local delegate to the American Legion’s Buckeye Boys State.

Lichtensteiger also said she was surprised at being named the 2013 Junior Fair queen.

“I am shocked!” she said, adding that she thought queen runner-up Sarah Klinger would be named queen. “She had a lot more school activities than I did,” Lichtensteiger said.

Agriculture is a way of life for Lichtensteiger, whose family has a farming operation in the western portion of the county. “My family farms for a living, so I grew up around the farming aspect; it’s where I lived,” the new queen said, adding that she is excited about visiting other county fairs as part of her duties as queen, while also wanting to be a positive role model for younger girls.

Lichtensteiger is a 10-year member of 4-H is president of the Young Riders 4-H Club. She also serves on the Junior Fair Board and is a Buckeye Ambassador who has a state FFA degree.

Other candidates were Meredith Arn, Macey Ashbaugh, Ashlynn Henderson and Logan Miller.

2012 Junior Fair King and Queen Adam Schumm and Katie Vorst emceed this year’s coronation event.

Judges for this year’s king and queen contest were longtime fair manager Paul Oechsle, Jana Suman and Aaron Baker, while the crown bearers were Katie Sawmiller, daughter of Jake and Ali Sawmiller, and Titus Vercler, son of Bryan and Michelle Vercler.

Sponsors included Straley Realty & Auctioneers, Robin Schumm and Rita Adam, Max and Ilo Mercer, Slusher’s Jewelry and Laudick’s Jewelry, Jan Dunlap, Poling Excavating & Waterways, McCoy’s Flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Haydn Williams and family and several anonymous donors.

The fair was officially opened Wednesday with a ribboncutting ceremony (see photo at bottom of article), as well as a flag-raising ceremony, while harness racing also began on Wednesday.

Today is Kids Day at the fair, with admission $3 for everyone, except children ages 8 and under, who get in free today.

Rides will operate today, beginning at 3 p.m., while K-9 demonstration will be held from 3-6 p.m. on the midway.

Free entertainment today includes Gabriella Emerick and Crossroads in the Entertainment Tent and the Triumphant Quartet at the Gospel Pavilion. There will again be harness racing in front of the grandstand, starting at 7 p.m.

Junior Fair activities include the Turkey Show, FFA Crop & Shop judging, FFA Vegetables & Flower Garden judging and the Junior Fair Sheep Show.