Six competing in county fair queen pageant on Tuesday
Six Jasper County residents will compete for the titles of Jasper County Fair Queen and Princess during the annual fair queen pageant, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Newton Community Theatre.
The public is invited to attend the pageant, which is free. This year’s fair queen contestants include Julie Beukema, Kimberly Rubino, Shawnee Storm, Ashley Reynolds and Annabelle and Auburn Blair. Biographical information about each contestant is listed below.
Julie Kay Beukema, 19, daughter of Mike and Sue Beukema of Newton recently completed her freshman year at the University of Northern Iowa.
Beukema has been involved in her community in many different ways. She had been a 4-H member for 11 years and still helps the club with special activities. This summer she is coaching middle school softball for the first time. Beukema finds it very rewarding teaching the girls a sport she enjoys. Beukema has been a member of the Amboy Grange located in Kellogg for 19 years. She also attends the Community Reformed Church.
Beukema has many scholastic achievements during her first year in college and at Newton High School. This past year Beukema was named to the UNI dean’s list and was a member of the UNI Criminology Club. During High School she was on the A honor roll, graduated with highest honors, and was a member of National Honor Society.
Beukema is majoring in criminology at the University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, she would like to become a deputy sheriff or an Iowa State Patrol officer.
Beukema said she would like to become fair queen so she can promote 4-H and all the positive characteristics that come from participating. She has improved her leadership and communication skills throughout her years of 4-H and by becoming queen she can show others the benefits of the fair and 4-H.
Annabelle Blair, 15, is the daughter of Jeff and Cindy Blair of Newton. She recently completed her sophomore year of school.
Blair has been a member of 4-H for the past two years and has been very active with her club. Some of the activities she has done with her club are street cleaning around the Newton Public Library, touring the Newton Daily News and participating in the Festival of Trees, where her club donated school supplies to orphans overseas.
Blair has performed several dramas around town with Youth Passion drama team and also performed a worship dance at the Hephzibah House. Every month she enjoys attending community barn dances. Blair attended the 4-H legislative day at the Iowa State Capitol and was a junior delegate to the local and state conventions.
After graduating from high school, Blair would like to attend a one- or two-year prophetic/healing school. Then she plans to attend college, majoring in communications and pursuing a career as a social worker, actor or journalist.
Blair said she feels that if she would become the 2009 fair queen, she would be receiving a title and honor. But most of all the responsibility of representing Jasper County as a unique person, who supports her community, loves beauty and upholds integrity.
Auburn Blair, 17, is the daughter of Jeff and Cindy Blair of Newton. She recently completed the 11th grade. Blair has been a member of 4-H for the past two years where she has been very active. Along with her 4-H Club, she has sung at nursing homes around Newton, street cleaned around the Newton Public Library, decorated the Newton Seed Store window for 4-H day and toured the Newton Daily News.
Blair has performed several dramas around town with Youth Passion Drama Team. She also attends and participates in the community barn dances each month. Auburn enjoys tutoring young children, has participated in the 4-H legislative day at the Capitol and also served as a junior delegate in both county and state conventions.
Auburn is still uncertain about her future plans after graduating next spring. One of her passions is art, and she may pursue something along that line.
Blair said she would be honored to serve and represent the people of Jasper County as fair queen. She would use this opportunity to serve and encourage others. She feels it would be a valuable experience to learn new things and interact with different people.
Ashley Reynolds, 17, is the daughter of Karen and Harley Ver Meer of Pella. She recently completed her sophomore year of high school, where she was involved in basketball and volleyball. She has also been a member of band since the fourth grade and plays the flute.
Reynolds is a member of the Pony Express Riders of Iowa and recently helped the group collect money for Camp Sunny Side. She has also been a member of 4-H for several years.
Reynolds would like to attend Kirkwood Community College and then transfer to ISU to complete her major in ag business. She also plans to minor in veterinary assistance.
Reynolds said she would like to be the 2009 fair queen because she wants to help younger 4-Her’s and FFAer’s to have a good time and also work hard. She feels she could be someone for others to look up to.
Kimberly Dawn Rubino, 16, is the niece of Bertha Deaton of Newton. She recently completed her sophomore year at Colfax-Mingo High School.
Rubino is active in many different programs. She is a member of the Poweshiek Partners 4-H Club, Colfax Girl Scouts, and Colfax-Mingo High School Spanish Club.
Rubino is currently attending Sacred Heart Catholic Church and is in the process of becoming a new member. She has also become involved in the youth programs the church has to offer. Rubino enjoys being involved in many extra-curricular activities, but devotes her time to band and volleyball. She currently holds the office of vice-president of the sophomore class.
Following high school, Rubino would like to pursue a career in the medical field. At the current time she is leaning toward the pharmaceutical field.
Rubino said she enjoys meeting new people and feels that she is very approachable. Rubino feels very comfortable talking with all types of students and adults and enjoys all aspects of the county and state fair. It would be most gratifying to her if she could represent her 4-H club as the 2009 Jasper County Queen.
Shawnee Storm, 17, is the daughter of Lloyd and Lori Storm of Monroe. She recently completed her junior year at PCM High School, where she is very involved.
Storm is a member of the PCM KEY Club, J.E.L, Drama Club, National Thespian and the Diamond Trail FFA. She has lettered in cross country, wresting as manager, football as manager, and soccer as manager. Storm can be seen participating in marching band, concert and pep band at PCM.
Storm has been a member of the Lucky L’s 4-H Club for the past nine years, where she has held an office each year. For the past four years she has been the club president. Storm is also a member of Jasper County Council and the Jasper County Equine Club.
As a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church and the senior high youth group at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City, she keeps very active and volunteers to teach Sunday school for the 3- and 4-year-old’s class.
Following graduation from high school, Storm plans to attend a two-year junior college and then transfer to Iowa State to complete her four-year degree in ag business.
Storm said she would love to be the 2009 fair queen so she could promote and represent 4-H, FFA, and Jasper County. She believes as queen she would have the opportunity to share her love for agriculture, 4-H, FFA and Jasper County.
