Local fair queens compete for Pennsylvania State Fair Queen title
Bonnema
Rode
Hissem
Gottschalk
Naser
Several young women with local ties are among 61 contestants who will compete this month for the title of Pennsylvania State Fair Queen, a competition now in its 30th year.
The winner will be crowned Jan. 23 in Hershey at the annual convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.
“They’re all coming in as winners so you’re getting the best of the best,” said Karen Dobson, of Chester County, who is coordinator of the state fair queen contest and a board member for the association, which sponsors the competition.
Fair queens with local connections registered to compete include Brittany Bonnema, Greene County Fair; Marissa Rode, Jacktown Fair in Greene County; Aleshia Hissem, Fayette County Fair; Megan Gottschalk, West Alexander Fair in Washington County; and Rachel Naser, Washington County Fair.
According to information provided by the state association:
Bonnema, 17, is a daughter of Jason Bonnema of West Finley and Jamie Keller of Graysville. She is a junior at West Greene Middle-Senior High School. Bonnema is a class officer and member of Future Farmers of America, prom planning committee, science club, student council, Envirothon and varsity softball team. She has participated on the schools’ volleyball and basketball teams. Bonema’s extracurricular activities include Women’s Auxiliary, 4-H market swine, 4-H market lamb club and volunteering at Washington Hospital. She hopes to become a pediatric oncologist. In her spare time, she enjoys hunting, fishing and babysitting.
Rode, 17, is a daughter of Jeff and Sheila Rode of Jollytown and a junior at West Greene High School where she is involved in basketball, cheerleading and softball. She is a Girl Scout, working on her Gold Award. Rode is a member of the National Honor Society, a prom attendant and was a class officer for five years. She is a volunteer at her church, Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. Rode is employed by 5 Kidz Kandy in Waynesburg. She enjoys painting and playing sports.
Hissem, 18, is a daughter of Jamie Hissem of Acme and a senior at Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center. She has been involved in National Technical Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, yearbook club and helps with kindergarten and third-grade dental days. Hissem is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Youth Rodeo Association, New Horizons Livestock 4-H Club and Bullskin Saddle Club. She is employed at Brady’s Family Restaurant. In her spare time, Hissem enjoys riding horses, working with livestock and riding quads.
Gottschalk, 18, is a daughter of William and Diana Gottschalk of Prosperity and a freshman at Waynesburg University where she is majoring in bio-pre-physical therapy. She graduated from McGuffey High School where she was named female junior of the year in 2014. While in high school, she was a member of Teen Action, choir, class secretary and vice president, four-year letterman in varsity track and field and girls soccer. Gottschalk has been a 4-H member for 10 years and is current vice president and treasurer of Stitch, Stir and Fur 4-H Club. She is a Girl Scout and volunteers at her church. Gottschalk is employed by the Candle Tree Farm.
Naser, 20, is a daughter of Randy and Debbie Naser of Scenery Hill. She is a 2013 graduate of Bentworth High School and a student at Penn Commercial Business/Technical School where she studies medical office administration. Naser was a 10-year member of Vankirk Friendship 4-H Club where she held many offices, had several 4-H projects and was involved in community service. She volunteers to help prepare the fairgrounds each year for the upcoming fair.
The state competition began in 1987 when Jill Romesburg of Somerset County was crowned the first queen. Somerset County produced four other state fair queens, including Wendy Will in 1991, Jennifer Marie Randall in 1995, Julie Sechler in 1999 and Cassie Hay in 2003.
Washington County took the title in back-to-back wins with Kelly Townsend in 1989 and Denise Sustrick in 1990.
Other state queens from the local area include Amy Anderson of Greene County in 1993, Krystal McCracken of Westmoreland County in 2004 and Kristi Rooker of Fayette County in 2005.
Dobson explained each fair uses the same rules for its fair queen contest and it is their discretion whether to send their local queen to the state contest. Deadline for registration was Nov. 1.
The contest is held Jan. 21 through 23 with contestants judged on public speaking, knowledge of fairs and the agriculture industry, poise and an evening gown competition.
The top five contestants are revealed Saturday at a banquet. They must answer a final question before the winner is crowned by 2015 Fair Queen Alana Eisenhour of York Fair.
Dobson, who began working with the program in 2002, is amazed by the friendships the young women make in three days.
She added, “We get so many compliments from people about them being so bright and well spoken. They represent the community well. It’s nice to have something positive with young people. It’s very rewarding to be part of something like that.”
The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship, attends several state events and appears at fairs across Pennsylvania.