Fitzpatrick Crowned Fair Queen
What was left of the 93rd annual Fayette County Fair kicked off Thursday.
Severely limited by pandemic precautions, the Queen’s Contest was one of the few things that seemed mostly normal the fair. On a celebratory night, La Grange High School Junior Cierra Fitzpatrick was crowned the 2020 Fayette County Fair Queen.
But before people could watch Fitzpatrick’s win, they first had to get there.
To get into the Fayette County Fairgrounds for Thursday’s Queen’s Contest, attendees first had to have their temperature checked and then were questioned about any possible COVID-19 symptoms.
Once allowed inside, people parked where the carnival would have normally been set up.
After that, however, the event proceeded mostly like as in normal years – though less than half the normal crowd was there to see it (the event was streamed live online for people to watch at home).
Fair President Michael Zuhn kicked off the proceedings saying, “These young ladies are marketing experts. They found a way to sell tickets to an event that might not happen.”
Funds and tickets sold for this year have been donated to non-profits and other groups for next year’s fair.
The first portion of the pageant belonged to the Little Miss and Little Mister Contestants, who were humorously interviewed by Master of Ceremonies Lee Fritsch.
Rilan Karisch, son of Brandon and Carissa Karisch, was crowned Little Mister.
Lilly Herzog, daughter of Shane and Patricia Herzog, was crowned Little Miss.
Most Photogenic was Mc-Kinley Klesel. Most Personality was Lilly Herzog.
Little Miss Fayette County 3rd Runner Up was McKinley Klesel, 2nd Runner Up was A’Mara Shepert and 1st Runner Up was Hope Wunderlich.
Then it was on to the Queen’s Contest.
Outgoing Queen, Michael Leah Hart, gave her farewell speech, saying what an “honor it had been to serve Fayette County” and she thanked a number of people who helped her over the past year-plus.
Hart had sold $25,525 in season passes last year and $15,600 in carnival fun passes to claim the title.
Then it was on to this year’s awards.
Abigail Stockdale was named Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Layne Wied was named
Layne Wied was named Miss Poise and Beauty.
Finally the Fair Queen rankings were announced.
In all, the seven contestants sold $40.595.25 in advance tickets, about half of last year’s total.
Third runner-up (and winner of a $1,250 scholarship) was Halie Peter, representing the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse. She sold $5,180 in tickets.
Second runner-up (and winner of a $1,500 scholarship) was Layne Wied, representing the Knights of Columbus. She sold $8,155.
First runner-up (and winner of a $2,000 scholarship) was Raygen Pyle, representing the La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce. She sold $8,710.
Then Fitzpatrick was announced as the winner of the title of Queen and a $2,500 scholarship. She is the daughter of Ryan and Christyna Fitzpatrick and was representing the Kyla Drozd Memorial. She sold $10,955.25.