Fairest of them all. As Rock County Fair begins, new Fairest crowned

JANESVILLE — Sparkly dresses, crowns and sashes abounded Tuesday as three young women competed to be named the 2024 Rock County Fairest of the Fair.

In the end, Natalie Abey of Plymouth 4-H was crowned this year’s Fairest in a ceremony at the Craig Pavilion. Lily McCoy of Magnolia 4-H and Carol Traynor of Milton FFA were named members of the Court of Honor.

Just prior to the ceremony Tuesday night, members of the 2023 Court of Honor and 2024 Court of Honor, and 2024 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs Kelsey Henderson, paraded through the fairgrounds, visiting barns and riding a ride together.

Abey, McCoy and Traynor all have shown animals and projects at the fair, and are active in their home communities.

McCoy plans to attend college to study early childhood education with the goal of opening her own daycare on a hobby farm. Abey is attending Iowa State University for animal science with a pre-vet emphasis with the goal of opening a practice for large animals. Traynor is currently in college, majoring in agribusiness with a minor in animal science.

Bella Ruosch, the 2023 Rock County Fairest of the Fair, said winning the title has opened her life up to different opportunities.

“Public speaking is definitely a huge part of it,” she said. Plus “a lot of networking. It just makes you more of a well-rounded individual.”

Ruosch shared in her farewell speech that she struggled to find her place in school but found a welcoming space in 4-H. She said she was grateful to be chosen as the Fairest of the Fair especially when she herself didn’t come from a family agricultural background.

McCoy said she wants to involve more people in 4-H and to show them that there is more to it than just showing animals.

Abey said that she wants to bridge the gap between the public and the agriculture community. She said she hopes to help others see opportunities before them.

Traynor said the Fairest of the Fair is a networking opportunity that has helped her gain hands-on experience in working with different people.

Around the fairgrounds

Around the fairgrounds Tuesday, others were also enjoying the first day of the annual event.

Morning rain showers didn’t stop DeAtte Stewart, who brought her young grandchildren Addilyn and Dawson Comstock to the fair.

Addilyn and Dawson posed for photos at the oversized chair near the fair office before the three headed over to the lumberjack camp.

They had seen the lumberjack show earlier in the day. There were also a lot of stops on the rides at the midway, Addilyn’s favorite part. The rain also didn’t spoil riding in the bumper cars or teacups.

They go to the fair every year and attend each day.

“We are having fun,” Addilyn said.

Addilyn is a first-year 4-H Cloverbud in the town of Bradford, and she won a blue ribbon for a flower project.

“We got in in the pouring rain and got in the Cloverbud barn and then it stopped. But, it turned out to be a great day either way,” Stewart said.

Craig and Sarah Harrie attended the fair with their young daughter, Ryleigh, who was eyeing up the games at the midway, particularly basketball. Ryleigh won two prizes, a stuffed pink crayon and a stuffed axolotl while playing darts.

“It was good. We came this morning as everything was opening up. It was raining on and off, so we grabbed some food from the trucks and headed home and took a nap, came back because we knew it would be hopping tonight,” Sarah said.

Craig said that fair organizers have “stepped it up this year” and there were “better games” to choose from.

“She (Ryleigh) is having a great time. We went home during the rain and she begged to come back 30 minutes later,” Craig said.

The lumberjack show continues Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The lumberjack camp continues at 6 p.m. Wednesday. A full list of this week’s fair events is at rockcounty4hfair.com/events.