Jasper County Fair queen candidates take the stage in competition Tuesday

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Special to the Daily News

Seven area teens will compete for the title of Jasper County Fair queen during the pageant scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Newton Community Theatre. Community members are invited to attend the pageant, which is free to the public. Fair queen donors this year include the Jasper County Fair Board, Newton Community Theatre, Newton YMCA, Newton Daily News, Hy-Vee Floral, PJ’s Deli, Bob Hawkins Photography, Wal-Mart, Artisan’s Jewelry Designs, KCOB Radio Station, Jasper County Tribune, Diamond Trail News, Jasper County Extension Office, Farm Bureau Spokesman, Monroe Legacy and Prairie City News. A biography of each fair queen candidate follows.   Chelsey Branderhorst, 16, daughter of Bryan and Deb Branderhorst of Prairie City, recently completed her junior year of high school and has been involved in a variety of activities. Throughout high school, she has been a member of the basketball and volleyball teams, involved in student government and a member of National Honor Society. She also is involved in the Diamond Trail FFA, where she is currently serving as president. Branderhorst is a member of the Prairie City Champions 4-H Club, where she currently holds the position of president. Branderhorst is also a member of the Jasper County Council, where she serves as the vice-president. With her 4-H Club, FFA, county council and church group, she gives back to the community by helping others in need. Branderhorst would like to attend Iowa State University with a major in animal science and a minor in genetics. Her dream job would be to work for the Iowa Pork Board or the National Pork Board. Branderhorst would like to represent Jasper County as the 2008 fair queen because county fair is her favorite time of the year as well as the state fair. She wants to help get other kids involved, so they can experience the fair and have the opportunity to make county wide friends.

Chauncy Wiggins, 16, daughter of Brad and Mindy Wiggins of Mitchellville, recently completed her sophomore year of high school, where she has been very active. For the past four years, Wiggins has been on the honor roll each semester. She has been involved in the Big Student/Little Student program, a member of the PCM girl’s golf team and is in student government, where she is class governor. She is also a member of the FFA where she has received numerous awards in different areas. Wiggins is very active in her community. She is a member of the PC Champs 4-H Club, where she is currently the vice-president, and a member of the Jasper County Council, where she serves as secretary. Wiggins also is involved in FFA, Prairie City Summer Recreational Youth Program and Prairie City Church of the Brethren youth group. After high school, Wiggins plans on attending DMACC for two years and then transferring to Iowa State University to continue in their agricultural sales or agronomy program. Following college, her plans are to return to Jasper County and work in the agricultural field. The county fair has played a big part in who Wiggins is today. Over the years, she has come to realize what an important part the queen plays in the fair and in her community. If named queen, she realizes there is a lot of work involved, but it is work to look forward to. Wiggins understands the importance of 4-H and FFA in children’s lives, and if chosen as fair queen, she would share that belief with today’s young fair-goers.

Julie Beukema, 18, is the daughter of Mike and Sue Beukema of Newton. She recently graduated from Newton Senior High School, where she was on the “A” honor roll all four years. She was very active throughout high school. She was a member of the girls swim team, softball team, a member of National Honor Society, a member of the band where she played percussion, a student council representative, a DARE role model and a member of the Newton FFA Chapter. Beukema has been involved in 4-H since she was in second grade. She is an active member within her club and participates in their yearly community service projects. Beukema is a member of Amboy Grange located in Kellogg, a nursery attendant at Community Reformed Church and volunteers her time at the Newton Community Theatre. Beukema plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa this fall majoring in criminology. She would like to be a police officer and a DARE officer. Beukema would like to be Jasper County Fair Queen so she can promote 4-H and all of the positive things that come from it. She has lived in Jasper County all her life and would be a good ambassador for Jasper County.

Jenn Saak, 17, is the daughter of Wayne and Juli Saak of Baxter. She is a recent graduate of Baxter High School. Saak was very active throughout her high school career. She was involved in volleyball, basketball, track and field, a member of student council, inducted into national honor society and was on the “A” and “B” honor rolls. For 10 years, Saak has been an active 4-H member of the Hominy Ridge 4-H Club. She is involved in many 4-H project areas. Saak also has been selected to take projects to the state fair in the following areas: clothing selection, fashion revue, visual arts and photography. In 2007, she was the Jasper County Sheep Queen. Along with her 4-H Club, Saak is very active in helping others in her community. This fall, Saak will attend Grand View College majoring in graphic design with a minor in photography. Saak would like to be Jasper County Fair queen because she has been involved with the fair for many years and the queen position would feel like a privilege. By being crowned queen, she would be a role model in which she would be able to promote the fair, community and the county.

Kelsey Vos, 18, is the daughter of Jeff and Lori Vos of Newton. She recently graduated from Newton Senior High School, where she was on the “B” honor roll. Thoroughout her four years of high school, she has been a member of the marching band, concert band, pep band, orchestra, link crew, student council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and part of the large group and individual speech team. Vos is an active member of 4-H, a member of the United Presbyterian Church and a member of the Jasper County Council. Vos will attend Grand View College this fall majoring in history and secondary education. Vos would like to be Jasper County Fair queen because it would not only be a great way to represent Jasper County but a great way to be a role model to younger citizens of the county.

Eva Opfer, 17, is the daughter of Larry and Christine Opfer of Colfax. She recently completed her junior year of high school. During the past three years, she has been very active in jazz band, pep band, marching band, concert band, member of Crew and cheerleading. This past year she was a member of the Colfax-Mingo FFA. Opfer has received an academic letter each year in high school and is a member of the National Honor Society. Opfer has been active in 4-H for nine years, where she is currently the vice president. In the past, she has held the office of treasurer for her 4-H group. Opfer is very active in her community. She helps deliver meals on wheels to the elderly, is a member of AQHA and very active in her church. For the past two summers, she has helped teach Spanish at Drake University in the Foreign Languages for the Youth Program. This fall, Opfer will be a senior at Colfax-Mingo High School, where she will be participating in numerous activities. She also plans to apply to Drake University. She would like to major in pharmacy and earn her certificate of fluency in Spanish and her PharmD. Opfer has been taught to take pride in all that she does. County Fair is always a highlight of her summer. She is very active in 4-H and has learned many new life skills. She believes she would be an excellent candidate to represent Jasper County as fair queen because she has lived the fair.

Janessa Madoll, 17, is the daughter of Bill and Mandy Madoll of Newton. She recently completed her junior year of high school. She has been very active in the color guard, FFA and Mat Maids in high school. This past year was her first year of being involved in the Newton FFA program. She feels the FFA program gives her a chance to learn more about agriculture. Madoll is a mentor and role model for elementary kids by being involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She also enjoys teaching younger kids gymnastics at YMCA. For the past seven years, Madoll has taken dance at inMotion Center. After high school, Madoll plans on attending college where she will major in elementary education. She would like to become a kindergarten teacher and eventually open her own business as an interior designer. Madoll would like to be Jasper County Fair queen so she can jazz up Jasper County. She believes becoming fair queen is a lot more than just a crown and sash — it is making a difference in the county. Being queen would give her the opportunity to meet new people and get more involved in the community.