Meet this year's Fair Royalty

Boundary County Fair Royalty this year include (left to right) Victoria Thomas, Collin Luther, Kimberley Kramer, Jolene Neumayer, Erica Wood and Collin Stone (not pictured).

—Photo by LAURA ROADY

Meet this year’s Fair Royalty

BONNERS FERRY — Fair time is an exciting time especially for fair royalty. Teens step up every year for the chance to be Fair King and Queen but also for the chance to become more involved with the fair.

Everyday, all day during the county fair the fair royalty help anywhere they are needed in addition to showing their projects. You’ll see them at the opening ceremonies, handing out ribbons, helping with games and finally at Family Fun Night.

Six teens are involved as fair royalty this year: Kimberley Kramer, Collin Luther, Jolene Neumayer, Collin Stone, Victoria Thomas and Erica Wood.

Being fair royalty brings a new perspective to the fair explained Kramer since they attend leadership meetings and see all the planning involved.

“It’s a fun project,” says Thomas. “We help out everywhere and set a good example.”

“You get to be really involved,” said Kramer. “There is a lot to do.”

Not only are the fair royalty greatly involved in the county fair but they also represent the Boundary County Fair at other fairs and community events such as Swish and the lawnmower races. They also help at Camp Cloverbud.

Please welcome this year’s fair royalty!

Kimberly Kramer

Kramer is going to be a senior in school this fall and has participated in 4-H for 10 years.

She has entered projects in alpaca, rabbit teen leading, archery, veterinary science and photography.

From 4-H she has learned “countless lessons on time management, responsibility and leadership”.

Kramer chose to be fair royalty because “I wanted to become even more involved in my community and to make a difference”.

At the fair she will be showing her alpaca, assisting with the rabbit group, handing out ribbons, helping with Family Fun Night and “of course I’ll be a role model as well”.

Kramer doesn’t have one specific favorite at the fair. She enjoys anything involving all animals but “has come to enjoy the alpacas most of all”.

“I’ve learned so much in alpacas this year,” she said. “I just really had fun.”

Collin Luther

Luther is going to be a freshman in college this fall and has participated in 4-H for three years.

He is entering projects in market beef, breeding beef, breeding sheep and is also entering sheep in open class.

Through 4-H Luther has learned valuable leadership skills and “it has also taught me organization is key to success”.

Luther decided to do fair royalty to help the younger kids and he wanted to be a good role model.

“I am going to do my best to help anyone who needs it,” said Luther. “I am also going to be helping the Fair run as smooth as possible.”

His favorite parts of the fair are showing off all the hard work that he put into his projects and spending time with his friends.

Jolene Neumayer

Neumayer is going into 11th grade this fall and is in her fifth year of 4-H.

She has entered projects in market lamb for four years and is doing market steer this year.

Neumayer has learned leadership skills and to help people out from 4-H. She has also learned a lot about her projects.

“I decided to do fair royalty to try something new, fun and exciting,” said Neumayer. “And to be able to represent our fair.”

During the fair, Neumayer will be down in the beef barn, showing one of her steers, and helping run the activities.

Her favorite part of the fair is “being able to show one of my animals that I raised on my farm”.

Collin Stone

Stone is going into 12th grade this fall and he has participated in 4-H for six years and is in his fourth year of FFA.

He has entered 4-H projects in swine, pottery, leadership and wildlife photography. Through FFA he has participated in market beef for the past three years at the fair.

Stone has learned the most from FFA.

“Through FFA I have developed a passion for agriculture and FFA has influenced me to be involved in agriculture as a profession in the years to come,” he said. “Some of the values and skills I have learned through FFA would be leadership, responsibility and being genuine at all times.”

He decided to be fair royalty so he could be a role model for younger 4-H and FFA members.

“I considered myself very passionate and involved in FFA,” said Stone. “With fair royalty, I get the chance to advocate for my beliefs and passions to the 4-H and FFA members of Boundary County, which is an awesome opportunity.”

During the fair, he will be showing his steer, selling the steer at the Market Sale on Friday, saying the FFA Creed during the Opening Ceremonies, handing out ribbons, helping with games, and helping with Family Fun Night. Also as the Chapter President for Bonners Ferry FFA he will make sure FFA’s responsibilities as an organization are being fulfilled at the fair.

Stone’s favorite part of the fair is the 4-H/FFA Market Sale on Friday.

“It’s amazing to see all the generous supporters we have in our community,” he said.

Victoria Thomas

Thomas will be in 12th grade this fall and has participated in 4-H for three years.

She has entered projects in vet science, horse and swine.

Through 4-H, Thomas has learned to be responsible and how to manage money through her livestock projects.

“I decided to be fair royalty during my first fair when I saw the previous fair royalty helping with the fair,” said Thomas. “And I wanted to be a part of that.”

During the fair, she will be busy with her projects as well as helping out with anything she can. Her favorite part of the fair is Family Fun Night.

Erica Wood

Wood will be in 11th grade this fall and has participated in 4-H for eight years.

She has projects entered in market beef, beef breeding, cooking, sewing, Know Your Government and pet goat.

Through 4-H Wood has learned how to speak in front of groups and how to work hard to accomplish a goal.

“I decided to become fair royalty because all of my older sisters did it and I wanted to because it sounded fun,” said Wood.

During the fair, Wood will be taking care of her steer, helping decorate the beef barn, modeling the dress she made for sewing during the Opening Ceremonies, helping with fair events and handing out ribbons.

Her favorite part of the fair is “being able to see my friends in 4-H and FFA and showing my family and friends what I’ve accomplished”.