A new Brown County Fair queen, princess and court were crowned Sunday night to reign at this week’s fair. They’ll be in charge of handing out trophies and ribbons to winners of various events. The queen will advance to the state fair queen pageant in January.
These were the young women who competed for the titles.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]QUEEN CANDIDATES
Josephine Armstrong
Age: 20
Parents: Tad and Sarah Armstrong; Molly and Larry North
School and work: Brown County High School graduate with honors; attending Indiana University Bloomington studying political science and gender studies; works as barista at the Graduate Hotel in Bloomington.
Activities and honors: Active member of the Indiana University Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity; two-year member of the 2020 class of IU Political Science Washington D.C. interns; several-time recipient of awards for fine arts photography; enjoys photography, painting with friends, cooking, yoga, bike riding and feeding “world-famous IU squirrels.”
Goals: To finish undergraduate degree at IU, study and pursue a career in law, focusing on providing a voice for people who stand voiceless in the face of adversity.
Quote: “Decisions are made by those who show up.” “This is not only a recurring point made in my favorite show, ‘The West Wing,’ it rings true in my life and I remind myself of this every single day. If I want to be a powerful and impactful change in this world, I have to put in the work even when I’d much rather settle for what comes easily.”
Shelby Blake
Age: 17
Parents: Shane and Sheila Blake
School and work: Senior at Columbus East High School; participates in the C4 program as a veterinarian assistant at Best Friends Animal Health Care.
Activities and honors: On track to achieve technical and academic honors at Columbus East High School; member of the unified dance team her freshman year, allowing special education students to perform a dance routine during sporting events; served as a peer mentor for at-risk middle school students within the district, meeting with mentees once a week for lunch to help with homework and guiding them on a better path; active member of Columbus FFA Chapter, serving as student adviser for 2019-20 school year, attending the state and national conferences, participating in several career development events and other local chapter activities. competed in soil judging, livestock skill-a-thon and livestock judging at state level; nine years in 4-H, completing sewing, scrapbooking, genealogy and fashion review projects; livestock exhibitor, showing horses, beef cattle, Boer goats, dogs, cats and poultry; enjoys horseback riding, camping, classic car and tractor shows; has helped her sister when she competes in the American PowerBoat Association all around the Midwest.
Goals: To pursue a double major in animal science and agriculture education at Purdue University, Indiana State University or Wittenberg University, then a career in the agricultural field, such as practicing veterinary medicine or teaching tomorrow’s youth about all aspects of agriculture. She would also like to live in a rural community, continuing to raise livestock and contribute to the events that have shaped her life, becoming a 4-H volunteer and an FFA alumni advisor.
Quote: “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” — Clinton Anderson. “I chose this quote because of my stubbornness. It’s something my sister says often to me when I am training a green horse to do something new. If I am willing to learn how to take my time and train this animal to do this properly, then no one can stop me to teach this horse more. Same goes with life: If you are not willing to listen to your instructors, then no one can help you solve that problem, but if you are wanting to receive help, then you can excel over this and any like it.”
Whitney Clark
Age: 18
Parents: Chip and Sarah Clark
School and work: Senior at Brown County High School.
Activities and honors: Three-year honor roll student; nine-year member of 4-H, participating in Horse and Pony and Animal Club, showing swine and goats; 2016 Patriots Pen essay winner; 2018 Master Showman for Brown County 4-H; participates in Riley Dance marathon; volunteers for the Glass Slipper event; participates in high school volleyball and softball, church and volunteering; enjoys riding horses, playing sports, spending quality time with family and friends.
Goals: To earn a nursing degree from Purdue University.
Quote: “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” — John Wayne. “I love this quote and live by it because it pushes me to go out of my comfort zone, and even when things seem hard, it pushes me to be the best person I can be.
Hailey Lane
Age: 18
Parents: Jason and Christy Lane
School and work: Brown County High School graduate.
Activities and honors: Four-year honor roll student; received silver and bronze awards for Girl Scouts; Rotary Student of the Month; three-year recipient of the Brown County Pride award for softball; soprano section leader for Rhapsody show choir; worked with BCDM; active member of Girl Scouts, youth group, 4-H Swine Club; volunteers for the Glass Slipper event; enjoys spending time with family and friends, fishing, helping community, singing, working and spending time with children.
Goals: To study at the CRC to become a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA), then furthering her career at Riley Hospital for Children.
Quote: “Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile.” — Connor Franta. “To me, it means to be who you are instead of letting society choose who you are for you.”
Lacey Sichting
Age: 19
Parents: Jamie Sichting, Jennifer Parker
School and work: Indian Creek High School graduate, studying agriculture business at Ivy Tech Community College.
Activities and honors: Volunteer firefighter; was four-year FFA member, 10-year 4-H member, sentinel senior in FFA chapter and president of sheep and cattle club, vice president and treasurer of swine club for two years; planned the Brown County Rodeo and helped with the pig club in Brown County; enjoys breakaway roping/rodeo, singing the National Anthem, playing bass and orchestrating the Brown County Rodeo.
Goals: To transfer to Purdue University, graduate from college and start a family and family farm.
Quote: “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” — John Wayne
Ashley Stout
Age: 18
Parents: Steve and Kim Stout
School and work: Indian Creek High School graduate planning to study dental hygiene at the University of Southern Indiana.
Activities and honors: Member of the varsity cheer squad; member of the track team her senior year; four-year member of FFA, secretary her sophomore year; awarded two scholarships from 4-H council and Brown County Community Foundation; enjoys supporting and helping her family, working with animals, gardening, helping her grandfather at the farm, volunteering at her church and being on 4-H council.
Goals: To earn a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, start a family, and be an active member of her church and a 4-H volunteer.
Quote: “A phrase that I say to myself countless times a day is, ‘God’s got this!’ I used this when I was studying to become a dental assistant or when I feel overwhelmed in general. It helps me to remember that no matter your struggles, God will never give me a task that I can’t handle. He is only preparing me for something bigger in life.”
Jessica Rose Taylor
Age: 19
Grandparent: Debbie Havely
School and work: Brown County High School graduate, sophomore at Ivy Tech Community College; former 911 Brown County dispatcher, currently a medical assembler at Cook Medical Worldwide Headquarters in Bloomington.
Activities and honors: Big Sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County; helper for Brown County Lions Club; eight-year Girl Scout; member of St. Agnes Youth Group and Young Adult Youth Group; member of March for Life; volunteer at Brown County Veterans Affairs; 10-year 4-H member and former president of the 4-H Gang; served as recreation leader for Junior Leaders; participated in 4-H camps and workshops; junior director of 4-H camp; former volunteer for Nashville Fire Department; former Jobs for American Graduates Program member; Nazareth Farm volunteer; four-year varsity golf member; former manager of high school boys golf team; color guard and winter guard member; three-year band member playing trumpet; junior varsity tennis player; former C4 student; Most Spirited Golf Player Award recipient; Archdiocese of Indianapolis 2018 Spirit of Youth award recipient; Thespian Honor Society member; former member of Brown County High School Prom Committee and Brown County Student Council; speaker at Brown County 2018 commencement; 21st Century Scholarship recipient; 2018 Brown County Citizens Scholarship recipient; Richard B. Bowden Golfers Scholarship recipient; enjoys reading, photography, watching “Law and Order: SVU,” making memories with friends, raising her Chihuahua and spending weekends helping where needed in the community.
Goals: To transfer to Indiana University to continue her education in communications and become a broadcaster for a local news or radio station.
Quote: “It is when I struggle that I strengthen. It is when I’m challenged to my core that I learn the depth of who I am.” — Steve Maraboli. “I find myself personally connected to this quote in many ways. I have felt the pain and I have felt the love. The pain I have experienced in my lifetime is sometimes overbearing, but I remind myself the lessons those sufferings have taught me and turn it into something I can share.”
PRINCESS
Rebecca Billings
Age: 16
Parent: Amanda Billings
School and work: Sophomore at Brown County High School.
Activities and honors: 4-H Horse and Pony Club board member; member of Come as You Are Church; enjoys being outside with her animals, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, spending time with family, and helping her elders when she is able.
Goals: To participate in the C4 program and study to become a veterinary technician at Purdue University.
Quote: “Cowgirls don’t cry.”
