(Atlantic) Fourteen candidates are competing tonight for a place in the royal court for the annual Cass County Fair that runs through July 31.
Cass County Extension Youth Coordinator Katie Bateman says the queen candidates are Rachel Becker, Sydney Becker, Natalie Behnken, Ryleigh Harrison, Cecilia Hensley, Rio Johnson, Claire Pellett, Natalye Scholl, Quincy Sorensen, and Trista Swain. The King candidates are Dylan Comes, Tristan Becker, Parker Brock, and Brett Dreager.
Bateman says preliminary judging was held on Monday, July 17, at the Cass County Community Center. She says two judges interviewed each candidate.
Bateman says the candidates competing for the Queen and King Positions voted amongst themselves for a Miss Congeniality and Mr. Congeniality.
This year, superintendent Haley Schmidt, the 2022 Cass County Fair Royalty, Queen Keira Olson, Princess Paige Jensen, King Bryan York, and Prince Logan Evens are coordinating the event.
The candidate selected as queen will advance to the Iowa State Fair, where she will compete statewide for the 2023 Iowa State Fair Queen title.
The crowning of the 2023 Cass County Fair King and Queen will occur in the north garden of the Cass County Community Center on Thursday, July 27, at 7:30 pm. The evening will kick off at 7:00 pm with our Little Miss and Mister contest. Cass County youth ages 5-8 can participate by signing up in the Extension Office by noon on Wednesday, July 26. All contestants introduce themselves to the crowd before a winner is drawn out of a hat.