Crawford County Fair royalty crowned

By Correne Martin

The newest Crawford County Fair royalty was presented at a special occasion Saturday, Dec. 31, at Nelson True Value in Prairie du Chien. Fair ambassador is 18-year-old Keegan Eberling, of Prairie du Chien. She was crowned leader of this year’s fair court by 2016 Fair Ambassador Elizabeth Garfoot and 2016 Junior Fair Ambassador Alex Crary.

Rounding out the 2017 court, Brooklynn Nagel is senior future fair ambassador. Mya Riniker is junior future fair ambassador. Brooke Mitchell is first attendant junior future fair ambassador and Michaela Cauffman is second attendant junior future fair ambassador.

Keegan knew before the New Year’s Eve ceremony that she would likely take the reins of promoting the Crawford County Fair for 2017 and she was tremendously thrilled about the opportunity.

“I had served as senior future fair ambassador last year and worked with Elizabeth and Alex. It taught me a lot. It was a good experience,” Keegan commented. “I’m just really excited about promoting the fair. I look at this as a learning process.”

Keegan is a 2016 Prairie du Chien High School graduate now attending Southwest Tech in the new animal science program. Lori and Dave Schoenfeldt are her guardians.

Originally from Postville, Iowa, she grew up mostly in the Prairie du Chien area, on and off farms her family rented or owned. Early on, she was most acquainted with cattle and pigs. She enjoyed traveling with her family to buy animals for the farm and, believe it or not, even loved doing chores.

“We’d get the chores done and then stack haybales up high so we could make tunnels and cuddle in them with the animals,” she said. “We’d take the Gator out and go to the pond with the dogs.”

Those days seemed to be the beginning of Keegan’s growing love for small animals such as rabbits, dogs, cats and guinea pigs. She’s had New Zealand and Netherland dwarf rabbits as well as other crossbreeds. She’s often bred them herself, sold them (mostly online) and then started the process over again.

“I still own a few rabbits that I lend out to 4-H kids to use at the fair,” she noted.

But her other love is, without question, horses. Her first real experience with horses came available thanks to Shannon and Dawn Atkins, who lent out horses to 4-H youth wanting to show them at the fair. Of course, Keegan was involved in 4-H and jumped at the chance to do so.

“Then, my mom got me a horse I still have today,” she said, sharing that she’s also rescued two horses and had others she’s cared for, trained, ridden and shown over the years.

Keegan has been a 4-H member “pretty much [her] whole life” and the FFA since high school.

“I learned through 4-H that I loved going to fairs and seeing what was different each year. I took judging competitions in high school FFA and I liked to listen to what the judges at the fair had to say and then compare it to what I thought,” she explained. “I also thought it was interesting to see what the kids were showing. Even with the crafts and stuff, I’ve never thought about some of those projects before. Everybody thinks 4-H and FFA are only for farm kids and that’s not true. If you know just the basics, you can do anything.”

Since being crowned fair ambassador, Keegan has been working on her schedule for the coming year. She expects her duties to include giving talks at schools to young children and FFA students, attending other county fairs and promoting Crawford County there, participating in parades, updating the fair’s Facebook page, promoting the fair on the radio, sharing information with 4-H clubs and Boy/Girl Scouts, and seeking new sponsors.

“I like to talk about the fair and how kids can get involved in that and 4-H,” she added.

Looking ahead to her busiest weeks of 2017, the Crawford County Fair Aug. 23-27, Keegan can hardly wait. This year’s theme is “Barn in the USA.” As the fair ambassador, she’s fully aware she will be consumed with work and appearances, but she’s grateful to have her four younger ambassadors to share and assist with responsibilities.

“Last year, there was only three of us. We always had someone covering the activities but it was tough,” Keegan said. “Since this year’s court is bigger, that should really help. Last year, we became best friends. I hope to do that with this year’s girls.”

Keegan would also like to remind the public how much fun the Crawford County Fair is for the whole family. “There’s so much to do. It’s always a blast,” she said. She encourages everyone to mark their calendars and plan to attend. Be on the lookout for Keegan and the rest of the court and share in their excitement.

Once 2017 is finished, Keegan will crown the 2018 fair ambassador and then compete for the title of Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair, a role she would embrace. She’s not sure what career awaits her after this county fair leadership position and college. But she’s certain it will be in the agriculture field.

A court of 5 for this year’s Crawford County Fair

Brooklynn Nagel, senior future fair ambassador is the 17-year-old daughter of Jon and Becky Nagel. She is currently in 11th grade at Wauzeka-Steuben High School. Brooklynn has shown her leadership abilities in many ways: she was the 2016 Crawford County dairy princess and is currently the president of both her 4-H Club (the Eastman Cloverleafs) and FFA chapter. She also enjoys involvement in her church’s youth group. Her fair career covers 11 years and countless memories exhibiting swine, sheep, rabbits and many crafts.

Mya Riniker, junior future fair ambassador, is the 13-year-old daughter of Bob and Beth Saddler and Dan Riniker. She is an eighth grader at Bluff View Intermediate School in Prairie du Chien. She is active in volleyball, basketball and track. Outside of school, Mya is a trainer at CR Quarter Horses, where she enjoys spending time with the love of her life: horses. Mya is an active member of the Eastman Cloverleafs 4-H Club and enjoys her role as secretary. At the fair, Mya is passionate about showing hogs and is excited to learn more about raising and showing rabbits.

Brooke Mitchell, junior future fair first attendant, is the daughter of Bart and Amy Mitchell. She is a fourth grader at Wauzeka–Steuben Middle School. Brooke enjoys many aspects of school, including science, softball and volleyball. She is active in her 4-H club, the Steuben River Runners, dancing and showing her family’s cattle. She has participated at the fair for four years, exhibiting beef, swine, crafts and baking items. Brooke is looking forward to meeting new people in her role on the fair ambassador court.

Michaela Cauffman, junior future fair second attendant, is the 9-year-old daughter of Michael and Laurie Cauffman. She is a fourth grader at Kickapoo Elementary in Viola, where she plays basketball and summer softball. Michaela is a member of the Eastman Cloverleafs 4-H Club, volunteers at the Crawford County Fair and loves helping on the family farm. Last year at the fair, she was very excited to exhibit swine, crafts and baked goods, and is looking forward to her next adventures at the fair.