Germann, Wilson Jr. Fair King & Queen

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

This year, the Junior Fair King & Queen coronation was held prior to the actual start of the fair, and, by the time the ceremony was over in the Entertainment Tent, nearly everyone on stage was wearing a crown.

The biggest crowns went to 2014 Junior Fair King Jon Germann and Junior Fair Queen Sophie Wilson.

Both the new king and new queen said they were excited about their new positions, with each adding they thought the selection process was “crazy.” By that, they meant it was tough to cram all of their school and 4-H/FFA accomplishments into a 15-minute interview.

The new Junior Fair king and queen both have extensive 4-H or FFA experience, as well as participating in lots of school and church activities.

Wilson, the daughter of Michael and Wendy Wilson, has been a 4-H member since 2006 (currently president of her club) and FFA since 2012 (she is DJHS FFA vice president). She has shown dairy feeder calves at the fair and was also a 4-H camp counselor and member of the Junior Fair Board. She is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos.

She will be a junior at Delphos Jefferson High School and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was a varsity football cheerleader, played varsity softball and was a wrestling statistician.

Germann, the son of Doug and Marcia Germann, is a four-year member of the Crestview FFA, and currently is student advisor. He started showing animals at the fair when he was in kindergarten and bought his first cow when he was 8 years old. His fair projects have included beef cattle, horses, rabbits and goats. He is also a member of the Junior Fair Board.

He is a senior at Crestview High School, Germann is on the varsity golf and track and field teams. He also was a delegate this summer to the American Legion’s Buckeye Boys’ State at Bowling Green State University. He attends Common Ground Church in Decatur, Indiana, and works part-time at Century Trading Company.

Cody Keirns was Junior Fair king runner-up, while Taylor Hughes came in second place to Wilson for Junior Fair queen.

New this year were “species” princess titles. Those titles were won by, respectively, Beef Princess Laura Schmid, Goat Princess Amanda Lobsiger, Swine Princess Tara Vorst and Horse Princess (and 2013 Junior Fair Queen) Leah Lichtensteiger.

Crown bearers were Katelyn Black, daughter of Craig and Stephanie Black, and Reagan Mox, son of Jimmie and Natalie Mox.

Judges for the pageant were Amanda Kohnen, Samantha Joseph and Thad Lichtensteiger.