Bonnema reflects on year of fair queen royalty
WAYNESBURG 鈥� Brittany Bonnema remembers how emotional it was for her when she was crowned Greene County Fair Queen last year. She also remembers that grueling first week of her reign.
鈥淚t seemed like I was at the fairgrounds 24 hours a day, seven days a week,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I grew up as a 鈥榖arn kid鈥� so being in the show rings handing out all those ribbons was something I really enjoyed.鈥�
But the 17-year-old soon-to-be senior at West Greene High School will relinquish her title when she crowns the 2016 fair queen Aug. 7.
鈥淚 hope the new queen enjoys every moment she can,鈥� Bonnema said. 鈥淢y advice? Go to every event that you can whether you think you will like it or not. Because in the end you will regret not going.鈥�
Bonnema, daughter of Jason Bonnema and Jamie Keller, was brought up around agriculture and animals and as a member of 4-H she has shown lambs and pigs at fairs.
鈥淚 am going to be showing again this year,鈥� she said.
One of the highlights of the past year was competing in the state pageant in January.
鈥淭here were 61 contestants, including me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had a great time getting to know a lot of new people.鈥�
One thing Bonnema feels she accomplished as fair queen was becoming a role model for other young girls.
鈥淚 used to look at the fair queen and think how cool it would be to be a good role model,鈥� she said.
So, what鈥檚 next for this young woman? Well, first she and the rest of her Lady Pioneers softball teammates hope to win that elusive state championship next spring.
And then? Although undecided now on where she would like to study following graduation, she plans to major in elementary education and then get a master鈥檚 degree in special education.
鈥淚 want to be a teacher,鈥� she said.
That鈥檚 not a bad role model, either.