New fair queen and princess selected from strong field of competition
The 2011 Fayette County Fair queen and princess claimed their titles in one of the largest fields of competition in recent years.
Katie Diamond, 16, of Smithfield became the new fair queen and Alexis Tabaj, 18, of New Salem is fair princess among a field of 12 candidates that included young women from throughout Fayette County. Both were impressed with the range of candidates in this competition that was decided opening night of the fair.
鈥淭he girls covered everything in our fair from livestock to dairy,鈥� said Tabaj, speaking about the variety of 4-H clubs in which the candidates participate.
鈥淭here were a lot of people,鈥� said Diamond. 鈥淎ll the clubs were well represented.鈥�
Both the queen and princess have been involved in 4-H for many years.
Diamond, daughter of Paul and Beverly Diamond, is a senior at Albert Gallatin High School. She is in her eighth year of 4-H and shows dairy cows and market swine at the fair.
鈥淚 like showing my animals. I look forward to it all year,鈥� said Diamond.
Tabaj, daughter of John and Marcy Tabaj, is a 2011 graduate of Brownsville Area High School. She is a freshman at Seton Hill University in Greensburg and plans to study biology. This is her 10th year in 4-H and she shows market swine, steers and lambs. Tabaj has won several titles with her animals and was 2010 Reserve Grand Champion Supreme Showman.
鈥淭his is my last year of 4-H. It鈥檚 sad. I won鈥檛 know what to do with myself next year,鈥� Tabaj said.
This was the first time that both girls participated in the fair queen competition. For their presentations on why the public should attend the Fayette County Fair, Tabaj gave her speech in rhyme and Diamond portrayed a travel agent who explained anything a person wants to do on a vacation can be enjoyed at the fair.
Both Diamond and Tabaj said they like everything about the fair.
鈥淚 like the food, seeing friends and definitely the livestock are close to my heart,鈥� said Tabaj.
鈥淚 like the shows in the Family Arena. I like walking around all day 鈥� I never get bored,鈥� said Diamond. 鈥淚 tell my friends to come and see me and my cows.鈥�
Being fair royalty means being put to work. The young women are on duty from about 8 a.m. until the fair closes each day. They pass out ribbons at competitions, announce musical acts and greet fair-goers.
鈥淓ver since I started coming to the fair and saw the fair queen walking around, I鈥檝e wanted to do this,鈥� said Diamond. 鈥淚鈥檝e been looking forward to this my whole 4-H years. I鈥檓 proud to represent the Fayette County Fair.鈥�
鈥淜atie will represent us well at the state level,鈥� said Tabaj, who also commented, 鈥淚t鈥檚 great being princess. I鈥檒l do my best to support Katie in every endeavor.鈥�