RCF Ambassador Program is Ready to Shine

The Rice County Fair Ambassador program is in it's third year with a growth in candidates each year.

I had the pleasure of attending their judging day dinner.  Just the older candidates attended the dinner.  The Junior Ambassadors were not there.

I'm glad I'm not a judge although I did meet the judges because they were at my dining table and they are delightful young women also.

Both were candidates this year for Miss Minnesota.  Both are currently in college.  I steadies the heart to know there are a lot of outstanding young people getting ready to take their place in leadership roles in communities across the country.

Hopefully many of them will decide to come back to this area.

Here are the 2022 Rice County Fair Ambassador Candidate Bios in no particular order:

• Hannah Kraft, 16, daughter of Carrie and Matthew Kraft.  Hannah will be a junior this fall at New Prague High School.  After high school she plans to become an Orthopedic Physcian's Assistant.  Hannah would like to be one of the Rice County Fair Ambassadors because she likes to try new things and push herself out of her comfort zone.  Hannah is a member of Wheatland Wheaties 4-H Club and has held may leadership positions at the club and county level.  She is also a member of the New Prague High School gymnastics and track and field teams.  Hannah coaches at the New Prague gymnastics club.  Aside from those sports she also enjoys running, hiking, spending time with family and friends.  One of her favorite memories of the fair is the first year her family camped at the fair.  Hannah is sponosred by Peter's Clean Sweep and Power Vac of Lakeville.
• Talor Velishek. 18, daughter of Jessica Lakin.  Talor graduated from Faribault High School in 2022 and plans to attend Grand Canyon University to study nursing in the fall.  Talor is interested in becoming a RCF Ambassador because it would give her the opportunity to carry on the legacy of spreading joy and kindness throughout the fair and community.  She believes the program would allow her to develop many new skills and gain opportunities.  Throughout high school Talor was involved in DECA. link crew, the Emeralds Dance Team. golf, PCA Theater (Paradise Center for the Arts Community Theatre).  In her free time she enjoys anything outdoors, swimming, camping, traveling, hanging out with friends and working the Godfather's Pizza truck.  Talor's favorite memories at the fair include spending time with friends and enjoying delicious food.  Talor is sponsored by Two Rivers Tree Service of Faribault.
• Karly Chmelik, 18, daughter of John and Stacy Chmelik.  Karly is a Faribault High School graduate of 2022 and plans to attend South Central College this fall to pursue a degree in Elementary Special Education.  Karly would like to be a RCF Ambassador because she thinks it would be a fun experience and she would like to help promote the fair at events throughout the year by volunteering and sharing her experiences with others.  Some activities Karly has been involved in are dance line, trap, theater, youth group.  Karly has volunteered for many different events in her hometown of Morristown.  In her free time she enjoys reading, bike riding, drawing and spending time with family and friends.  Karly's favorite memory of the fair is coming with her aunt on daycare day to see all the animals and ride the rides, one year she won a bike.  Karly is sponsored by Boese Farms of Morristown.
• Mara Bauer is the 20 year old daughter of Pete and Melissa Bauer.  Mara graduataed from Faribault High School in 2020 and currently attends the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  She is pursuing a degree in conservation.  Mara would like to become one of the RCF Ambassadors because she thinks it would allow her to become more involved in the community and experience new things.  Some activities she has participated in are youth group, swimming, track and field, prom committee.  In her free time Mara enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, reading and skiing. Mara's favorite parts of the fair are the animals, demolition derby and all the food.  One of her favorite memories was stopping at the fair after a long day at work for ice cream and cheese curds.  Mara is sponsored by Nerstrand Excavating Inc.
• Karly Flom, 17, daughter of Sara and Kyle Flom will be a senior at Faribault High School this fall and plans to pursue a degree in elementary education following graduation.  Karly would like to be a RCF Ambassador because she wants to help out the community within Rice County and speak to the public.  Karly is active on the high school swim team and is a member of the Big Woods 4-H Club, as well as Faribault FFA.  In her spare time she enjoys attending youth group. going to the lake, showing sheep, spending time with friends.  Some of Karly's favorite things to do at the fair are showing her sheep and participating in Paradise in Porkland. One of her favorite memories from when she was younger is watching the Mitchell Marionettes.  Karly is sponsored by Purfeerst Farms of Faribault.
• Monica Albers, 17, daughter of Jillene Albers and the late Lee Albers.  Monica will be a senior at Fariault High School this fall and plans to go on to study nursing following her graduation.  Monica is interested in becoming a RCF Ambassador because she believes she could be a good representative of the community because she has lived here her whole life and has been involved as long as she can remember.  Monica has been involbed in Rice County 4-H for the last 11 years, student council, National Honor Society, band, trap shooting and swimming for several years.  In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, swimming, hunting, spending time at the lake, showing her animals.  One of her favorite memories at the fair is when her and other 4-H members used feed buckets as 'drums' and performed for people.  Monica also enjoys watching the demolition derby and watching all the shows at the fair.  She is sponsored by Temple Concessions of Faribault.
• Camryn Benson, 16, daughter of Cassi and Nate Benson will be a junior at Tri-City United High School this fall and hopes to pursue a degree in nursing after high school.  Camryn would like to be a RCF Ambassador because she hopes to encourage others to express themselves and be confident as past ambassadors have done for her.  Camryn also enjoys helping the community and feels the program would allow her to do that while being a role model for others.  Camryn is involved in many activities including church mentor and group leader, TCU FFA, Sand Creek Saddle Club, and cheerleading.  In her free time, she enjoys horse training, reading, and spending time with loved ones.  Camryn's favorite part about the fair is how it brings all members of the community together and allows them to connect.  Camryn is sponsored by Bonrud Management LLC.

Junior Ambassador Candidates Bios:

• Emily Pesta, 10. daughter of Joe and Kimmy Pesta and Angela Erikson will be starting 5th grade in the fall at Tri-City United in Lonsdale.  Emily's favorite subject in school is math.  Outside school she is a member of the Wheatland Wheaties  44-H Club, Sand Creek Saddle Club and the Titans 101 Fastpitch Softball Association.  Emily wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because she likes to meet people and make new friends.  Her favorite memory at the fair is when she won Junior Grand Champion in jumping figure 8 with her horse BonBon.  Emily is sponsored by Next Gen Seed LLC of Montgomery.
• Daphne Luckow, 8, daughter of Mitch and Allie Luckow.  Daphne will be in third grade this fall at Divine Mercy Catholic School in Faribault and her favorite subject is math.  Outside school Daphne enjoys playing volleyball, basketball and floor hockey as well as robotics and swimming.  Daphne wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because she loves going to the fair each year and has fun at every event so she wants to help others have fun too.  Her favorite memory of the fair is riding the high swings 5 times in a row and not getting sick.  Daphne is sponsored by Indian Motorcycle Ambassador-Riding Fish of Faribault.
• Megan Moyer, 7, daughter of Dan and Andrea Moyer.  This fall she will be in second grade at DMCS.  Outside school Megan sings at church, plays hockey, softball and participates in gymnastics.  Megan wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because she loves coming to the fair each summer and thinks it would be cool to get to attend events at the fair and walk around every day.  Megan's favorite thing to do at the fair is walk around and see all the animals, she wants to be a vet someday.  Megan is sponsored by VanHaren Construction of Faribault.
• Teagan Hart, 9, daughter of Carrie and Jonathon Hart will be a 4th grader at Jefferson Elementary in Faribault this fall.  Her favorite subject is math.  Outside school Teagan plays hockey, soccer, is involverdf in wrestling and tai kwon do.  Teagan wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador bevasue she enjoys representing the county in all her sports and activities and likes to try new things.  Her favorite memory of the fair is the first time watching the demo derby with her dad and brothers.  Teagan is sponsored by Mari and Scott Sorgatz and Brian and Mary Hart.
• Makynlie (McKinley) Braun, 10, daughter of Nick and Steph Braun will be a 5th grader at Eagle View Elementary and her favorite subject is social studies.  Makynlie is involved in volleyball, softball, 4-H, Sunday school and takes horseback riding lessons.  Makynlie would like to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because last year one of her friends was an ambassador and she sall all the fun she had and wants to attend all of the fun events.  Her favorite memory of the fair is the year she went to the rodeo and one of the bulls got out of the fence.  She also enjoys showing her dairy calf, sheep and rabbits.  Makynlie is sponsored by Wholesale Tire of Morristown.
• Alyson Dupont, 9, daughter of Peter and Stacy Dupont will be a 5th grader in Medford this fall.  Her favorite subjects in school are math and reading.  Outside school Aly participates in fastpitch, is active in here church, Our Saviors.  Aly wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador so she can bring a smile to others.  Her favorite things to do at the fair are riding the rides and seeing others have fun.  Aly is sponsored by The State Bank of Faribault.
• Adele Johnson, 6, daughter of Scott and Rachel Johnson is starting second grade this fall at Roosevelt Elementary in Faribault.  Her favorite subject is reading.  Other activities include BMX.  Adele wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because she enjoyed seeing them around the fair last year.  Her favorite thing to do at the fair is to see all the animals and go on rides.  Adele is sponsored by Hometown Garage Doors of Faribault.
• Balin Winget, 8, son of Dane and Sarah Winget will be in third grade this fall at Greenvale Elementary in Northfield.  His favorite subject is Spanish.  Balin is involved in 4-H and enjoys showing rabbits, chickens, and his horse.  He wants to be a RCF Junior Ambassador because he likes going to all the fun activities and welcoming everyone at the fair.  One of Balin's favorite fair memories is the year he was finally tall enough to ride the Zipper.  At the fair he enjoys showing his animals and volunteering with friends to work at the 4-H Food Stand.  Balin is sponsored by Lonsdale Feed Mill.

The new RCF Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors will be announced following a program Saturday on the fairgrounds in Faribault.

The program begins 6:00 p.m. in the Cannon River Room.

Ambassadors must be between 16 and 20 years of age as of July 1, 2022.  Junior Ambassadors must be between the ages of 6 and 10 as of July 1, 2022.

Gretchen Hohrman oversees the program.  Fair Board President Tara Langevin was also in attendance and is on the Ambassador Program Committee.

I have to admit food is my favorite thing at the Rice County Fair although the entertainment might be tied with it.