By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
This weekend, 17 girls and 11 boys interviewed with hopes of being the next Wood County Junior Fair Queen and King. The 2026 Wood County Fair Royalty Court will be crowned Sunday, Aug. 2.
“It’s an experience like no other,” said Elizabeth Strawman, whose reign as the 2025 Wood County Fair Queen is nearing an end.
She and Dakota Rader-King, a member of the 2025 Royalty Court, recently shared their thoughts about the experience, their royal friendships, and their fondness for the Wood County Fair.
For Strawman, the joy of being the queen was a childhood dream fulfilled. As a young girl showing goats at the fair, she remembered seeing the fair queen during the fair. “I wanted to wear a pretty tiara like her and welcome people to the fair,” she said. “This past year, I’ve enjoyed being a role model and a leader to little kids. Hopefully, there’s a little girl who thinks, ‘Oh, I just want to be like her when I grow up,’ just like I did when I was young.”
Living that dream was a highlight for Strawman’s 11-year 4-H career. Little did she know at the time that the fair queen was a huge responsibility that required long days and short nights. Wearing the tiara was certainly fun, she said, but the role also required her to attend and help at most of the livestock shows and events. She also had to represent Wood County in the Ohio Fair Managers Association’s Fair Queen competition, and at several 4-H events and other county fairs across the state.
When she was coveting the tiara, Strawman didn’t realize that being part of the Junior Fair Royalty Court would be life-changing by putting her in a leadership and role model position.
She and Rader-King swear the bonds created within the royal court are incredibly strong, leading to great friendships and unforgettable memories.
The group of eight very quickly bonded, partly out of necessity, but also because their talents and qualities balanced each other out.
The full court includes Queen Strawman, King Henry Strow; first runners-up Gavin Roessner and Cayla Frank, second runners-up Gordon Ayers and Faith Morgart, and third runners-up Rader-King and Wesley Kellermeier.
Rader-King, who was previously a queen candidate, was glad she was chosen in 2025. “The group that we’re with is so special,” she said. Their shared similarities helped cement the ties: around the same age, dealing with the same life issues, and they believe in good communication..
“We’re all growing together. We make each other laugh, which is one of the most important things because at the end of the day, it’s very stressful. It’s hard and there’s no drama,” she said. “This has been one of the best things ever. We all understood what each other was going through. We were all hot, tired and sweaty together.”
“At the end of the day, it’s not about that last name… I would say it’s more about what you’re involved in too, because they don’t want someone that just brings animals to the fair,” Rader-King said. “They want someone that’s involved, that knows the fair.”
“We all were involved, but this just grew us stronger together,” she said.
Community service is an important part of the royalty role, as well as for junior fair participants in general, Strawman said.
Members of the royalty court still found time in their busy schedules to help at the animal shelter, visit nursing homes and participate in Hands to Larger Service Day. Throughout their year, they appreciated the support of the senior fair board members, in particular, President Paul Perry and First Vice President Tony Violi, for their support during the fair and throughout the year.
Strawman admitted she was somewhat of an outsider. She was active, but not in as many of the traditional activities as the other court members.
“I think I give hope to the little girls that aren’t the ones who have been known all along,” she said.
She was familiar with some of the girls but didn’t know any of the boys who were chosen for the court. “But after a week at the fair, it was so crazy how fast we clicked. They are like my second family.”
“That first night we were all so excited and shocked,” Rader-King said. As they walked to the fair office after the ceremony, they were already making plans for the week and beyond.
If you have the right people, it’s not as hard or scary to do, she said.
Thinking about the end of their royal year, they were both feeling nostalgic and a little sad.
Rader-King, known for being a hard worker and showing up every day, had a message to all the junior fair royalty candidates. “No matter who gets crowned, I just want them to know that they are so lucky and that it is such a privilege,” she said with a catch in her voice. “The Wood County Junior Fair brings out the best in people.”
Wood County Fair is ‘more than just agriculture’
There is more to the fair than just agriculture, animals and 4-H book projects, Strawman said. “It is not just for farm kids and farm families. Any age can come here and have something for themselves.”
Everyone from the community has the opportunity to be a part of the fair, from photography and artwork entries to collectibles, cooking and flowers.
Walking through the barns and buildings, visitors can see the animals, but also so many businesses and organizations that make the community strong, Strawman said.
“People from the community come here to contribute with their photo entries, handiwork, baking and quilt projects. They can do it all,” she said. “It is so cool to look at everyone’s hard work, and it’s so competitive here, making it a really big fair to enjoy.”
“And don’t forget things like Farm to Market” for young kids and the special events like the rodeo, demolition derby and petting zoo, Rader-King added.
The Ring of Dreams Livestock Show is one of Strawman’s favorite events at the fair. The event invites individuals with developmental disabilities to come to the fair, and, with the help of a junior fair member, show a pig, lamb, beef feeder, rabbit or chicken. She loved the opportunity to help people who don’t usually get to show animals “have a chance to do what we do at the fair,” she said. “It’s so fun, entertaining and heartwarming to watch. Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces is so overwhelming and powerful.”
“If you’ve never been to the Wood County Fair, you are missing out,” Rader-King said. “Come enjoy the fair for one day or the whole week. Get yourself an ice-cold lemonade, a 4-H milkshake, a corn dog. Watch the fireworks on Friday night or sit and watch a show to see how these kids have put in the time.”
