Fairest of the Fair/Fair Ambassador Program

FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION TO THE FAIR

Presented by Citizens Bank and Waukesha County Farm Bureau

Sponsored by Waukesha Noon Kiwanis and Carroll University with special thanks to the King Family and Waukesha Floral and Greenhouse for their unwavering support

Tuesday, June 28 | 6:45 pm

Waukesha County Fair, Fairest of the Fair – Official Competition

Held at the Waukesha County Expo Grounds – Arena Building: 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha

Wednesday, June 29 | 9 am

Waukesha County Fair, Fairest of the Fair – 2023 Official Crowning

Held at the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum – Grand Ballroom: 1010 W. Main Street, Waukesha

Wednesday, July 20 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Fairest of the Fair Royal “Tea” Event

Held at the Leinie Lodge

The Waukesha County Fair Association is now accepting applications for the 2023 Waukesha County Fair Fairest of the Fair competition. Any Waukesha County resident, at least 18 years of age on or before June 1, 2023, with Fair experience is encouraged to APPLY.

The Fairest of the Fair or Fair Ambassador is selected on the basis of personality, communication skills, school and community activities, professional appearance, knowledge of, and experience with the Waukesha County Fair. Requirements for the competition include being age 18 by the competition date and having knowledge/experience with the Waukesha County Fair. They will also need to attend at least three parades during the summer of their Fair and attend the annual Wisconsin Association of Fairs conventions, held annually in January.

Everyone is encouraged to apply; applicants can be male or female. If a female is selected, she will be known at the Fairest of the Fair. If a male is selected, he will be known as the Fair Ambassador. The individual chosen in 2022 will serve as the official host and spokesperson of the 2023 Waukesha County Fair, held July 19-23. The Fairest/Ambassador will have an entire year to learn more about the Fair, have increased opportunities to engage with the community, and be mentored by the current Fairest/Ambassador. The process of selecting a Fairest/Ambassador will be applied to each future year as well. This change is fostered by reviewing programs from other Fairs across the State and information provided by the State Fairest of the Fair Program to continue to improve our program, development, and offerings.

Responsibilities of the Fairest/Ambassador include welcoming the public, interviews with the media, announcing special events, judging and participating in contests, and awarding ribbons. Throughout the reigning year, the Fairest of the Fair/Fair Ambassador attends county functions, speaks at community engagements, schools, and clubs, and participates in parades as requested. During the following year’s Fair, the Fairest/Ambassador will be a part of putting together a showcase event on Opening Day (Wednesday) of the Fair. In addition, the Fairest/Ambassador represents the Waukesha County Fair at the three-day Wisconsin State Fairest of the Fairs Competition, to be held in January in Wisconsin Dells. A scholarship for continuing education will be awarded to the Fairest of the Fair/Fair Ambassador at the end of the reign.

Applications for our 2024 Fairest Competition will be accepted in 2023.

2022 Fairest of the Fair

Emma Vorpagel of Hartland

Emma has been showing a variety of animals at the Fair since she was nine including rabbits, poultry, swine, and beef. She is currently the rotating President of her 4-H Club. At her high school, Emma was the Varsity Team Captain for the Track and Field team as well as the Cross-Country Team. She was a Board Member of “Survivor and Veteran Experiences”, a member of National Honors Society, and a part of Interact Club, Student Senate, Principal’s Cabinet, and more. Emma will be starting her freshman year at Northern Illinois University in the Fall. She has participated in many community activities and spends a lot of her time volunteering throughout the community. One of her goals as Fairest of the Fair is to educate others about the livestock and showing industry. Emma would love to continue valuable Fair traditions and help others learn and grow, as she has.

1st Runner Up  Jayden Rather of Waukesha
2nd Runner Up  Mackenzie Waschow of Eagle
Miss Congeniality  Marleah Hilger of Waukesha

2021 Fairest of the Fair

Mariah Richardson of Dousman

Despite the challenges of 2020, we were incredibly excited to adapt, re-vamp, and continue our Fairest of the Fair program in 2020 for 2021 and beyond. In June of 2020, we held our Fairest of the Fair event and are both excited and honored to announce Mariah Richardson of Dousman as our 2021 Waukesha County Fairest of the Fair! Mariah, 22, is no stranger to the many facets of the Fair. She has exhibited a variety of livestock throughout her tenure in the Waukesha County 4-H program including sheep, goats, swine, dairy, steers, poultry, dogs, and rabbits. In 2015, Mariah was awarded the high honor in livestock exhibitions as the Showman of Showmen winner. She has shown her talents beyond the barns in sewing, knitting, quilting, jewelry making, woodworking, baking, and canning for the last eight years at the Fair as a member of the 4-H program. She has also volunteered in the Milk tent, 4-H Food Stand, Fair pre-event livestock set-up, and so much more. At home, Mariah is continually involved in all areas of her family’s farm. Mariah is currently an active member of the community at home as well as her time away at college. At this time, she is working through her senior year at Valparaiso University. She is majoring in healthcare leadership with a bachelor in science and is looking to continue her involvement with the Fair, her family’s farm, and the community as a whole.

Since June of 2020, Mariah’s roles have been active in connecting with the public, educating the community in showcasing the importance of agriculture at Waukesha County farms, connecting with Fair sponsors, and highlighting the Fair’s events and activities in 2020 as well as leading into 2021. Since the 2020 Waukesha County Fair offered individual day events for both competitive and livestock youth exhibitors, Mariah was a part of these activities, announcements, and welcoming youth exhibitors and their immediate families.

Mariah’s responsibilities as Fairest of the Fair leading up to this year’s July event include welcoming Fairgoers to the Fair, interviewing with the media, announcing special events, introducing entertainment acts, awarding ribbons, and representing Waukesha County in Wisconsin’s Fairest of the Fairs competition in January 2022. The Waukesha County Fair selects its Fairest of the Fair based on personality, appearance, poise, community involvement, and overall knowledge of the Fair. Contestants must live in Waukesha County or participate in a Waukesha County 4-H or youth program. Mariah succeeds Michaela King of Big Bend, our 2019 Fairest of the Fair, and will be awarded a scholarship at the end of her reign.