The niece of Oconto County’s first Fairest of the Fair will wear the crown in 2015.
Jenna Herzog was selected as the 2015 Senior Fairest of the Fair and will serve as hostess of the 2015 Oconto County Fair from Aug. 20-23. She will compete in the State Fairest of the Fair contest in January.
Herzog’s younger sister, Lauren, 2014 Junior Fairest of the Fair, also crowned Macy Franti, of Gillett, as her successor Saturday.
“I am really excited about what I’m going to learn,” Jenna Herzog said, after being crowned by Kallie Rank, last year’s winner.
Lauren and Jenna are nieces of the first Oconto County Fairest of the Fair, Julie Herzog, and daughters of Jon and Mary Herzog, of Gillett.
A Gillett High School graduate, Jenna Herzog works on her parents’ farm and is a cashier at Kohl’s. She recently completed a five-month mission trip that took her all over the world, including stops in Europe, Asia and South Africa. She plans to obtain an associate degree in health and wellness.
She has exhibited cattle and handmade quilts at the Oconto County Fair.
The Fairest of the Fair contest was held Saturday at Gillett Secondary School. Judges evaluated contestants’ interview skills, ability to answer questions, public speaking, professionalism, enthusiasm and knowledge of the fair.
Junior contestants answered questions and read event announcements, including radio spots.
Franti, a Gillett Elementary School student, told how she would explain the fair to someone who had never been to a fair.
“It’s not just fun and food, but learning,” she said.
The Fairest of the Fair commits to a year of promotional events, including parades, helping at the Oconto County Breakfast on the Farm, speaking engagements and appearances to promote the Oconto County Fair.
Rank was teary-eyed as she gave her farewell address. She told how, as a resident of a small community, she saw life from a different perspective as Fairest of the Fair this year. Lining up her sandals, rubber boots, work shoes and sequined flats, she told how her shoes demonstrated past experience and knowledge, making her what she is today.
“Shoes tell a lot about a person,” she said.
As the 2014 Fairest of the Fair, she added dressy heels to her closet and told about walking thousands of miles while learning huge lessons about hard work, dedication, passion, energy and small-town values.
“I hope that I have left footprints in the lives of the people I met,” Rank said.
In her farewell address, Lauren Herzog, 2014 Junior Fairest of the Fair, said her favorite part of her reign was going to parades and getting to go behind the scenes.
Also participating were senior contestant Priscilla VanDenElzen and junior contestants Amber Jo Farrar and Tani Lucht. Senior contestant Sonja Sanford did not attend the contest due to an emergency. No runners-up were selected.
