Three to compete for Greene County Fair Queen title
WAYNESBURG -_Three young ladies will compete on Saturday, Aug. 8 to determine who will be crowned the 2009 Miss Greene County Fair Queen. The new fair queen will reign over all contests and events related to this year’s fair, which will be held Aug. 9-15 at the county fairgrounds. She will serve as the fair’s ambassador at all special events. The 2009 Miss Greene County Fair will have the opportunity to compete in the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Contest, which will be held in January 2010 in Hershey.
The new queen will be determined by a personal interview, a brief speech on “Why You Should Come to the Greene County Fair;” a written essay about the fair and an evening gown competition.
The public can watch Miss Greene County Fair contestants give their speeches at 2 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds.
The winner will succeed Lindsey Longstreth, daughter of Brian and Melody Longstreth of Waynesburg.
The contestants are:
Rachel Renee Finnegan, 17, daughter of Debbie Finnegan of New Freeport. She will be a junior this year at West Greene High School. She received the Girl Scout Leadership award, FFA Chapter awards and was a member of the 2008 state livestock judging team.
Finnegan participates in 4-H, FFA, SADD, the Spanish club, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation and rodeo. She is also the 2008 Miss Greene County Lamb and Wool Queen.
Finnegan enjoys riding horses and showing dairy and beef cattle and lambs. She also likes riding a four-wheeler, hunting, helping out in the community and going to rodeos and bowling.
Finnegan said the fair means a lot to her and some of her best memories come from being there with family and friends. She said she would like to be queen “because I want to continue teaching people outside the community about our fair.”
After graduation, Finnegan plans to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and study agricultural science and animal nutrition. She hopes to become a livestock nutritionist and eventually operate a show beef and show dairy farm.
Karlie Hoy, 17, daughter of Murray and Debbie Hoy of Waynesburg. She will be a senior at Waynesburg Central High School, where she is a member of National Honor Society and is a Bausch and Lomb Scholarship recipient.
Hoy has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average since seventh grade and has received chemistry, Spanish, English and public speaking awards, varsity achievement and other scholastic awards.
She is a member of FFA, SADD, Envirothon team, Spanish club and letterman’s club and participates in basketball and track and field. Hoy raises market swine and lambs and participates in FFA competitions.
Hoy said she has attended the fair for many years and has made many new friends there. “It is a place that I will never forget and will always have memories to hold on to. Being fair queen would be one more spectacular experience to add to my memories.”
Jessica Roberts, 18, daughter of Joann Roberts and Rick Roberts of Waynesburg. She is a 2009 graduate of West Greene High School and will attend Valley Forge Military Academy and major in political science.
She also plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps and attend officers candidate school. Roberts graduated with a 3.2 grade-point average and earned highest honors or high honors throughout her high school career.
She received the academic achievement award and excellence award and the senior athletic award for basketball. She lettered in varsity girls’ basketball and was selected as the Lions Club Student of the Month for March.
Roberts was a member of the drama club, Pioneer Players, science club, Envirothon team, varsity club, jazz and concert bands, marching band, county band, history club, Odyssey of the Mind team, German club, yearbook staff and senior planning committee.
She is a member of Just For Fun 4-H Horse and Pony Club.
Roberts said she enjoys riding her horse on trails, barrel racing, pole bending and cattle pinning, just for fun. She said that when she’s not on her horse, she can be found riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle with friends.