CLEARFIELD – Rachel Duke of Clearfield was crowned the 2016 fair queen at the 28th annual competition Sunday on the grandstand stage at the Clearfield County Fair.
“I cried – a lot, but it feels so good now,” shared Duke just moments after she began her reign. “I am so excited to represent Clearfield County, and I wanted to bring the crown home to Clearfield.”
Duke was crowned by last year’s queen Abby Jamison of Luthersburg. “It’s sad [to see my reign end], but it’s bittersweet at the same time,” commented Jamison. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
Duke will be joined in her court by Emily Andrulonis of Treasure Lake, first runner-up; Cassie Folmar of Luthersburg, second runner-up; Christen Wisor of Mineral Springs, third runner-up; and Reilly Brown of Houtzdale, fourth runner-up.
In last year’s competition, Andrulonis was second runner-up, Folmar was third runner-up and Duke was fourth runner-up. Folmar is the younger sister of 2014 fair queen Chelsea Folmar.
During her on-stage speech, Duke asked members of the audience to take a moment and imagine the sounds of the fair: families and friends laughing, crowds applauding and cows mooing and to gaze on at the carnival.
“My heart races at all of the memories and my wonderful days spent here at the fair,” she stated. “…But the fair isn’t just one memory for one person but many memories for many people.”
Duke went on to say that the fair offers “warm memories” and “a feeling of community, as it brings everyone together in one single place.”
But that’s just a small reason people should come to her fair, she stated, adding the most important one was agriculture. According to her, farm families come to the fair each year to share about their industry.
Duke stated: “It’s a place to socialize with farmers. They are some of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met, and they understand the importance of their work … it’s why the fair was started in the first place.
“When you come to the fair, remember what it means to the community.” She concluded, saying her fair was a place to make memories and friends, to have fun and support agriculture. “This fair is the best fair because of you and because of all of us.”
Before the results were given, Rachel Carr Davidson, fair queen committee member, provided an overview of the fair queen competition. It closely resembles the Pennsylvania State Fair Competition, at which Duke will represent the Clearfield County Fair.
According to her, contestants had already completed the first segment of the competition, a personal essay on what the fair means to their community.
Earlier on the day-of the competition, they had appeared for a personal interview with the panel of judges. Judges also had a chance to observe the contestants in a social setting at a reception, a non-judged event.
On-stage, the contestants competed in a timed three- to five-minute speech on why people should come to their fair and an evening gown/personal introduction.
Once the judges selected their Top 5, those contestants answered an impromptu question on how they would be an ambassador for the Clearfield County Fair and Pennsylvania agriculture if crowned the queen.
Bob E. Day served as the master of ceremonies, an honor he’s had since first doing so at the 1992 fair queen competition. Day was joined on-stage by Chelsea Folmar.
