Seven compete for Washington County Fair queen

WASHINGTON — Seven girls are in the running for this year’s Washington County Fair Queen contest.

Contest coordinator Heather Marek said the contest would generally be similar to last year’s, with personal interviews, a group interview, a dinner with the judges and a three-part pageant at the Washington Community Center at 7 p.m. Sunday.

“The queen is always able to compete in the Iowa State Fair competition, but last year’s queen was not able to do that,” Marek said. “That’s really our only difference … this year’s queen will get to go on and participate at the state fair.”

Marek said the candidates were all 4-H or FFA members.

Lilly C. Clark, of Wayland, is the daughter of Kevin and Lisa Clark. A member of the WACO Class of 2022, Clark is involved in track, softball, cross-country and chorus at the school.

Clark was crowned the Washington County beef queen in 2021 and beef princess of 2020. She has vet science, self-determined, and child development project awards from 4-H.

Clark’s hobbies include camping, paddle boarding, dance and working with her cattle. In the future, she hopes to study agriculture education or athletic training in college.

Kyleigh Dolan, of Washington, is the daughter of Chad and Kathy Dolan. A rising senior at Hillcrest Academy, Dolan is involved in volleyball, basketball, student government, compassion club, National Honor Society, and debate club. She is vice president of the school FFA group and a co-editor for Reverie Magazine.

Dolan has received the Iowa High Schools Girls Athletic Union 4.0 GPA award for several sports and has several awards from FFA including a Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, state-level Iowa Degree, and a silver award in radio broadcast competition. She boasts several prizes from showing rabbits, including four years of first-place awards for Netherland Dwarf Sweepstakes Points.

Dolan’s hobbies include hiking, listening to music, reading, and Bible studies. She hopes to one day be a nurse practitioner specializing in neonatal or pediatrics.

Zoe Fisher, of West Chester, is the daughter of Duane and Vicky Fisher. A student at Mid-Prairie, she is involved in band, marching band, jazz band, large group speech, drama, choir, cross-country and archery at the school.

Fisher has No. 1 ratings in state jazz band, state marching band, and solo and ensemble contests. She has a chapter degree from FFA, an outstanding 4H record book, a judge’s choice award on 4H presentation, and a CBI Bank Excellent award. She is a State Fair intermediate dog showmanship champion.

Her hobbies include cooking, knitting and working out. She plans to attend Iowa State University to study human nutrition after one more year of high school.

Anna Nafziger, of Wellman, is the daughter of Tim and Jessica Nafzigger. A Mid-Prairie student with a cumulative 3.63 GPA, Nafziger participates in track and cross-country and FFA, where she served as secretary last school year and has been elected vice president for next school year. She is a silver chord member of the National Honor Society with 106 volunteer hours. Nafziger is an active member of the Student Leadership Team and Big Hawk Little Hawk Mentoring.

Nafziger’s leadership extends beyond her involvement at school. She is club president and a leadership team member of the Lime Creek Limelights 4-H Club. She’s an active member of the Washington County Livestock Judging team and the Enthusiastic Leaders Inspiring Teamwork and Experience group, which plans events like the Farm Tough Challenge and Little Hands on the Farm.

Nafziger’s hobbies include piano, running and various outdoor activities. She is considering attending Iowa State University to major in Agronomy or Animal Nutrition.

Bailey Sieren, of Keota, is the daughter of Jeff and Shauna Sieren. At school, she’s involved in National Honor Society, student council, speech, football cheerleading, dance, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, and the WorldLink Ambassador Program.

Bailey Sieren boasts awards from the National Honor Society, a beef award and a leadership award. She is involved in market breeding beef at the fair.

Her hobbies include dance, traveling, and apparently headstands, which she can hold for 10 seconds. In the future, Sieren plans to attend Iowa State University to major in agriculture in society.

Carmen Sieren, of Keota, is the daughter of Jason and Katherine Sieren. She’s involved in Big Hawk Little Hawk peer tutoring, the student leadership team, and FFA at Mid-Praire, where she was the group’s 2020-2021 reporter and will be its 2021-2022 president. She is involved in the Iowa City West Swim Team.

Carmen Sieren holds several livestock awards, including grand champion senior showman, livestock leadership, outstanding record book, and sheep project area leader. Academically, she received the gold honor roll and super student, and is a silver chord member of the National Honors Society.

Her hobbies include refurbishing furniture, showing sheep, livestock judging, and helping on the farm. She plans to attend Oklahoma State University to double major in accounting and ag business, before returning to help operate the family farm.

Taylor Sublette, of Riverside, is the daughter of Cary and Sara Sublette. At Highland, she is involved in cross-country and track and holds several leadership positions, including wrestling manager, National Honor Society vice president, student council class secretary and FFA president.

Sublette has been honored with the gold honor role, Iowa FFA degree, blue and gold FFA award, excellence FFA award and Iowa Southeast Union Award.

Her hobbies include working with livestock and attending livestock shows, outdoor activities, and helping others. Sublette plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall to major in ag studies.