Sophia Zeeman emerged victorious from a crowded field of candidates June 28 to become the 2026 Fairest of the Fair for Shawano County.
Five young women competed to become this year’s Fairest, the most that the Shawano County Fair has had compete for some time. Zeeman, as the winner crowned during the Shawano County Brunch on the Farm, will represent the county for the next 12 months as she attends other county fairs and various farm events and parades, as well as preside over the local fair when it’s held over Labor Day weekend.
“The girls are promoting our fair, and they’re promoting it throughout the year,” said Kerry Danley, one of the coordinators for Fairest of the Fair. “We have it so they can learn a little more self-confidence, public speaking, everything else.”
Zeeman expressed delight that she’ll be able to showcase Shawano County and its fair as the official ambassador at other fairs and participate in parades, her first coming up as Bonduel kicks off 250 years of United States independence.
“I’m really excited to do this,” Zeeman said. “I’m really excited to go to all of the events and get to promote the county fair.”
Zeeman and the other contestants were interviewed June 27, and the winner was selected from those interviews.
Zeeman said she has lived in Shawano County her entire life, and she has shown animals at the fair growing up.
“I just always saw the girls around, and I wanted to help promote the fair and do stuff like that,” she said.
The county fair, in Zeeman’s view, is “one big community event” that brings the entire county together and helps to promote pride in what Shawano County has to offer.
“It’s just like a big family reunion, and it’s one of the best parts of the summer for me,” Zeeman said.
She added she gets to be outdoors for much of her time as Fairest of the Fair, a spot she enjoys having grown up on a farm.
“I really enjoy seeing everyone outside in community settings,” Zeeman said. “I feel like it’s a really special year, and I’m going to have a lot of fun.”
Besides the Shawano County Fair, Zeeman said she’s most looking forward to participating in the Outagamie County Fair, which was wrapping up during her coronation but will be an event she gets to visit in 2027 as her reign comes to a close.
Zeeman attends Fox Valley Technical College, where she is pursuing a degree in the culinary arts. She is also currently a member of the Landstad 4-H.
The four other contestants were recognized during brunch, as well. Hannah Yeager was named first runner-up, while Faith Posbrig, Matti Koehler and Kendall Wilcox were named fair ambassadors.
The 2025 Fairest of the Fair, Olivia Danley, spoke briefly about her experience before crowning Zeeman as her successor and giving her an idea of where her life will be going over the next year.
“This journey has been nothing short of incredible, and it is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said. “The number of people I have had the privilege of meeting, the events I have had the honor of attending and the lessons I have learned along the way have shaped me in ways I never expected.”
Details about Zeeman and what she’ll be doing between now and next June will be featured at www.shawanocountyfair.net, as well as the Fairest’s Facebook page.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Sophia Zeeman, left, takes the microphone from Hannah Yeager as she announces herself to the crowd June 28 at the Shawano County Brunch on the Farm. Zeeman was named the 2026 Shawano County Fairest of the Fair, while Yeager was selected by judges as the runner up. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
