GREENVILLE — Molly Hunt and Isaac Gehret were crowned 2016’s Darke County Fair Queen and King in a pageant taking place Tuesday night at the All Season’s Place.
Thirteen girls competed in the contest and Gehret was the sole king candidate.
Both Hunt and Gehret are 17 years of age. She is the daughter of Brian and Teresa Hunt of Greenville and he is the son of Gary and Jill Gehret of Yorkshire.
The queen is a senior at Greenville Senior High School and was representative for Genesis 4-H Club, whereas Gehret is a junior at Versailles High School and represented Darke County 4-H Beef Club.
Runners-up in the queen contest are Deanna Langenkamp, sponsored by Grade A Kids 4-H Club, first runner-up; Shelby Manning, representing MVCTC FFA, second runner-up; and Brenna Loxley, a delegate for Swine Koolers 4-H Club, third runner-up.
Others called back as finalists were Skyler Marker of Banner Bound 4-H Club; Samantha McCallister of Swine Koolers 4-H Club; and Libbey Spoltman of Buckeye Buckaroos 4-H Club.
Additional candidates were: Jordan Campbell of Darke County Swine 4-H Club; Makennah Hutcheson of Doggone Kids 4-H Club; Mariana Ramos of Fun Bunch 4-H Club; Clair Schmitmeyer of Darke County Holstein 4-H Club; Cheyenne Meyers of Pets and Partners 4-H Club; and Sarah Gigandet of Versailles FFA.
Hunt has been in junior fair for 10 years and is active in 4-H/junior fair, school and the community.
Her various activities in 4-H/junior fair include being an officer of her club and Clover Bud assistant; a state fair delegate with a variety of projects most of the time since 2010; and the recipient of numerous county medals. Hunt said she was selected as top 20 in the state in 2015 and noted that her winning photo currently hangs at The Ohio State University and The Ohio State Fair.
She has been involved in 4-H camp; has been a Youth building represented for the past three years; a state board member of Ohio 4-H Health Heroes; and is Darke County and Ohio’s ambassador at the National 4-H Summit of Healthy Living in Washington D.C.
This year, she has taught workshops at the Ohio 4-H Conference; wrote an article featured in the Ohio 4-H Foundation Newsletter; used Smoothie Bike as a 4-H promotion at the Dayton Dragon’s game, taught workshops at Darke County 4-H Camp (2016); and is currently planning Darke County Healthy Living Day, an all-day workshop taught by herself.
School activities for the Academician has seen her placed on academic honors rosters in school and at Edison Community College; inducted into National Honor Society; on the Greenville varsity tennis team of which she is captain this year; and a recipient of numerous awards academically and athletically.
She is a member of SADD, Spanish club, science club, Varsity G, Key Club, student council, vocal music department, as well as being an officer in some of those clubs.
Her community activities see her involved in Darke County We Are The Majority; tutoring third to sixth grades; applying for grants through the HOPE Foundation; St. Mary’s Catholic Church in many ways;
After graduating, Hunt plans on attending Penn State University, with a double major in geology and anthropology.
“These majors will allow me to conduct research that could connect history to our society today,” she said. “While in school I plan to get involved in all aspects of student life, and if I’m granted the opportunity I would like to spend time studying abroad. My top goal for college is to graduate with a doctorate in both fields. After graduating from college, I wish to jump right into a career. My biggest dream is to move to Georgetown, Maryland, where I can be close to Washington D.C. Why live in D.C? I wish to work at the Smithsonian Institute which has been my favorite museum to visit for a very long time. However, working at the Smithsonian is a long stretch so I would be very content to work at any museum as a geological anthropologist. Once I get myself settled into a career I wish to get married and start a family.”
Gehret shows steers at the Great Darke County Fair.
He is the treasurer of his class at Versailles, plays baseball and is a member of Spanish club and FFA. He is also on the junior fair board and the Ohio Best program in addition to the 4-H beef club. He is also a member of St. Louis Catholic Church, North Star.
Scoring for the pageant was based on: Activities, 35 percent; poise and personality, 25 percent; personal appearance, 25 percent; and essay, 15 percent.
Judges were Betsy Kemp, Annette Stewart and Rachel Stewart Castle.
Emcees of the program were last year’s title-holders, Danielle Hesson and AJ Warner.
