Doughty and Brinker named junior fair queen and king

Pictured are 2015 Fair King, Collin McCoy, 2016 Queen Attendant, Eden Ehman, 2015 Fair Queen, Jade Poorman, 2016 King, Ian Brinker, and 2016 Queen, Mackenzie Doughty.

COSHOCTON – The 165^th Coshocton County Fair had its grand opening under sunny skies on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Rotary Pavilion. An acapella contingency of the Ridgewood High School Concert Choir entitled, Syntax Error, opened the event with their first public performance to date. The Ridgewood Choir then performed the National Anthem and Commissioner Curtis Lee welcomed everyone to the Coshocton County Fair. The mayor of Coshocton was also present and said that the fair was like a homecoming for many. President of the fairboard, Kim Wells, gave an update on the changes that have been made to the fair, including electrical infrastructure improvements, blacktop patching, and moving food vendors closer to the rides.

“The county fair isn’t just a fair,” said Wells. “It’s an exercise of leadership, development, and creative opportunity.”

Michael Vartorella of the Ohio Department of Agriculture was also present to award the Mizer family with the Ohio Bicentennial Farm title to distinguish those farms which had reached 200 years of same-family ownership.

“There are not many industries that have 200 years of service,” said Vartorella. “We appreciate and are proud of families who have maintained these farms over such a long time.”

Bruce Wallace of WTNS then read proclamations from Rob Portman and Jay Hottinger. Visiting royalty then took the stage, introduced themselves, and promoted their festival.

The 2015 Fair King and Queen, Collin McCoy and Jade Poorman, escorted the 2016 king and queen candidates to the stage. Vying for queen were Eden Ehman and Mackenzie Doughty, and king candidate was Ian Brinker.

Mackenzie Doughty is the daughter of Robert and Kathy Doughty. She believes that involvement in 4-H has taught her leadership and responsibility. Mackenzie has been a member of the Trailblazers and Go-Getters 4-H clubs and a four-year member of the Coshocton County Junior Fairboard. As a 4-H member she has taken market chickens and market lambs. For four years Mackenzie has volunteered as a 4-H Junior Camp Counselor. In the community she has been a Red Cross blood donor, participated in Relay for Life, sang in the Coshocton Community Choir, chosen as a Coshocton County Youth Leadership member, tutored at Keene Elementary school, and attends Roscoe United Methodist Church.

Eden Ehman, daughter of Cindy and Lewis Ehman, states that youth organizations teach you leadership, respect, and responsibility. She is a member of the Spring Mountain Climbers 4-H Club, the River View FFA, Farm Bureau Youth, and a four-year member Coshocton County Junior Fairboard. Her junior fair projects have been market lambs, breeding sheep, market hog, and fancy poultry. Eden has volunteered as a 4-H Junior Camp Counselor for four years, has been a Red Cross blood donor, has assisted with the Higher Hopes program, and other FFA and 4-H community projects.

Ian Brinker is the son of Alan and Susan Brinker. He believes everyone needs to volunteer and and have responsibilities to grow and have a commitment to the community. Ian is a member of the Premium Ag Kids 4-H Club, the Coshocton County Farm Bureau, and the River View FFA. He has taken market hog, market lamb, and beef breeding projects. Ian has won many showmanship as well as class honors. In FFA he has earned his Greenhand and Chapter Degrees and has participated in the Ag Sales Contest. In the community Ian was chosen to be a Coshocton County Youth Leadership member, is a Red Cross blood donor, a TLC elementary school tutor volunteer, has participated in Relay for Life, along with various volunteer projects he assists with through 4-H and FFA. He attends Nellie Chapel UMC.

After a brief interview, Brinker was announced king and Doughty claimed the title of queen.

“I was really nervous at first,” said Doughty. “It’s just a sigh of relief. I would like to go to other county fairs and bring back ideas for our fair.”

“I just want to be a role model for little kids here at the fair,” said Brinker.

McCoy said he believes Brinker will do a great job as fair king.

“You’ve got to pass it on sometime,” he said about his title as fair king. “It’s always good to get youth involved. I know he’ll do a good job.”

The following are sponsors of the fair king and queen contest: House of G.A. Fisher, who provided jewelry; Hillbippie Clay Company, who provided pottery; Warehouse Steak n’ Stein, who gave the king and queen dine-in gift cards; Linnett’s Flowers on the Square, who provided the floral bouquet for the queen; Dan Duren, who provided corsages; the Garden Patch Greenhouse, who provided decorations for the stage; Pam Gilmore, who made the sashes; and Susan McCurdy, who coordinated the ceremony.

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