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Area Fair Queens participate in annual Iowa State Fair Queen contest

T-R PHOTOS BY CHUCK FRIEND Area county fair queens, Madelynn (Maddie) Green of Marshall County, Westin Hansen of Grundy County, Claira Sams of Hardin County and Taylor Lekin of Tama County are pictured with their FFA officer escorts during the coronation ceremony for the Iowa State Fair Queen contest at the fair in Des Moines on Aug 11.

DES MOINES – Four area girls were included among the 101 Iowa fair queens that participated in the annual Iowa State Fair Queen Contest held this past week in Des Moines. They were Madelyn (Maddie) Green of the Central Iowa Fair (Marshall County), Westin Hansen (Grundy County); Claira Sams (Hardin County) and Taylor Lekin (Tama County).

Green, 19, is the daughter of Lisa and Loren Green of State Center. She just completed her freshmen year at DMACC. Her plan is to get a business degree from DMACC and transfer to Iowa State University for agricultural education.

Hansen, 18, is the daughter of Sara Hansen of Holland and Mike Moreland of Cedar Falls. She will be a senior this fall at Aplington-Parkersburg High School where she is active in volleyball, National Honor Society, Students against Destructive Decisions, book club prom steering committee and a teacher’s intern.

Sams, 17, is the daughter of Gary and Christina Sams of Union. She will be a senior at BCLUW High School in Conrad this fall.

Lekin, 18, is the daughter of Jason and Mandy Lekin of Toledo. She will be a senior at South Tama High School this fall.

T-R PHOTOS BY CHUCK FRIEND Area county fair queens, from left, Madelynn (Maddie) Green of Marshall County, Westin Hansen of Grundy County, Claira Sams of Hardin County and Taylor Lekin of Tama County are pictured with their FFA officer escorts during the coronation ceremony for the Iowa State Fair Queen contest at the fair in Des Moines on Aug 11.

The 101 queens participated in four days of workshops and interviews along with activities such as the annual Iowa State Fair Parade, before the culminating coronation ceremony on Aug 11.

Iowa State Fair Iowa State Fair Secretary/Manager and CEO Gary Slater addressed the women during the ceremony, telling them to “think about the moments they have shared during the week — things they will not soon forget.”

He added that each woman should use this week to make a positive difference in their world around them by using the things that they have learned and experienced.

“Think of the first moment you ever made at the Iowa State Fair. We are celebrating life in Iowa and excited to be Iowans,” Slater said.

Hayley Swan of Dallas County was chosen at the 2018 Iowa State Fair Queen by the panel of Judges. Kayle Eivins of Madison County was first runner-up. Selected as second runner-up was Hannah Folkerts of Bremer County and Bailey Ferguson of Mahaska County was named third runner-up.

T-R PHOTOS BY CHUCK FRIEND Area county fair queens, from left, Madelynn (Maddie) Green of Marshall County, Westin Hansen of Grundy County, Claira Sams of Hardin County and Taylor Lekin of Tama County are pictured with their FFA officer escorts during the coronation ceremony for the Iowa State Fair Queen contest at the fair in Des Moines on Aug 11.

Brittney Woods of Polk County was given the honor of Outstanding Leadership, while Mariana Gonzalez of Wright county was named as the winner of Personality Plus.

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