Reflections of Fair Queen royalty
Becoming the Greene County Fair Queen was something Sadie Wright wanted from the first time she walked into a show barn at the county fairgrounds when she was two years old.
鈥淓ighteen years later, I got that opportunity,鈥� said the Waynesburg University junior and reigning 2014 fair queen.
But on Sunday, the 20-year-old daughter of Jeff and Pam Wright of Mount Morris will place the crown on the 2015 fair queen, and she admitted it will be a bitter-sweet moment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wonderful year but I will always have the memories and my crown,鈥� the public relations major said.
Wright had little time last August to bask in the glow after she was crowned queen because, as is tradition, the fair queen鈥檚 first duties were to attend all shows at the fair and hand out ribbons.
鈥淭here were quite a few of them, including the 4-H market lamb and steer shows,鈥� she said.
Wright did note that she was crowned one month after having knew surgery and vowed she would attend all the fair鈥檚 events without crutches.
鈥淎nd I did,鈥� she said.
Her responsibilities did not end when the Greene County Fair concluded. She and 58 other fair queen from across the state competed in January at the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Pageant during the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs in Hershey.
鈥淭hat competition is quite intense, much more so than what takes place at the local fairs,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut after the first day we all became friends, calling ourselves the 鈥榮isterhood of county queens.'鈥�
Wright, a 4-H member for 11 years, has been busy this summer making visits at other fairs, including the Jacktown Fair in Wind Ridge and now at the Fayette County Fair.
So, what advice would she give her successor?
鈥淛ust have fun representing Greene County. Make friends, be yourself and enjoy Hershey,鈥� she said.
When her reign does end Sunday, Wright plans to jump back in the ring, so to speak.
鈥淚 am going to compete Monday for the Greene County Wool Queen title,鈥� she said.
As for this year鈥檚 title, three young ladies will compete on Sunday to determine who will be crowned the 2015 Miss Greene County Fair Queen.
The new fair queen will reign over all contests and events related to this year鈥檚 fair, which will be held Aug. 9-15 at the county fairgrounds. She will serve as the fair鈥檚 ambassador at all special events and represent the Greene County Fair in area parades.
The 2015 Miss Greene County Fair will have the opportunity to compete in the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Contest, which will be held in January 2015 in Hershey.
The new queen will be determined by a personal interview, a brief speech on 鈥淲hy You Should Come to the Greene County Fair,鈥� a written essay about the fair and an evening gown competition.
The public can watch Miss Greene County Fair contestants give their speeches at 4 p.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds.
This year鈥檚 contestants are Brittany Bonnema, the 16-year-old daughter of Jason Bonnema and Jamie Keller; Lindsey Renee Gilbert, the 16-year-old daughter of James 鈥淩ichard鈥� and Heather Gilbert; and Lesley Tift, the 19-year-old daughter of Wes and Justine Tift.
This year鈥檚 Greene County Fair will feature a full slate of agricultural activities, live entertainment, a demolition derby, tractor and truck pulls, harness racing, exhibits, games, rides and food vendors and much more.