Pictured, from left, front row, Haley Hoover, Abbigail Curtis, Madelyn Zimmerman, Evan Coblentz, Reagan Rowland and Logan Hollar. In back are Valerie Messmore, Austi Swanson, Morgan Bruner, Jackson Templin, Jonathon Tate Andrew and Isaiah Stouder.

KOSCIUSKO — The 2018 Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at the Kosciusko County Extension Office, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw.

The Kosciusko County Royalty Contest began in 1968. At that time, the 4-H junior leaders selected the king and queen. Gary Boggs and Cathy Bryant Shipley were Kosciusko County’s first 4-H king and queen. Today, royalty candidates for 4-H must submit a complete history related to 4-H, school and community leadership, service, and activities and involvement. Blind applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of three judges.

The judges then meet with the candidates for 10-minute professional interviews. The 2018 4-H king, queen, prince and princess will be crowned Thursday, July 5. The 2017 4-H king was Hunter Magiera, and the 2017 4-H queen was Lacey Helfers.

The 2018 Kosciusko County 4-H royalty candidates are:

Morgan Bruner

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmer
Number of years in 4-H: 10
Projects: swine, horse and pony, beef
School and grade in the fall: 2018 graduate of Warsaw Community High School
Parents/Guardians: Chad and Maggie Bruner
Future plans: Graduate from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology

Abbigail Curtis

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
Number of years in 4-H: Nine
Projects: dairy, swine, forestry, junior leaders, sport fishing
4-H Office held: president, secretary, health and safety, song leader
School and grade this fall: 2018 graduate of Warsaw Community High School
Parents/Guardians: Justin and Laura Curtis
Future plans: Undergraduate studies at Ivy Tech and then enter Purdue University to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in agribusiness 

Haley Hoover

Club: The Great Outdoors 4-H club
Number of years in 4-H: Nine
Projects: fine arts, recycling, llama, dog poster, rabbit poster, wearable art, poultry, vet science, dog, rabbit, sheep, shooting sports, wildlife and hay
4-H Office held: president, vice president and treasurer
School and grade this fall: Senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School
Parents/Guardians: Jeffrey Hoover and Bethany Hoover
Future plans: Graduate from college with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science. My plans are to secure employment, purchase a farm and serve as a 4-H volunteer.

Valerie Messmore

Club: Horse & Pony Club
Number of years in 4-H: Nine
Projects: horse & pony, dairy steers, dairy calf feeder steers, dairy, photography and sheep
4-H Office held: president, vice-president, treasurer and refreshment coordinator
School and grade this fall: Valerie will be a senior at Warsaw Community High School
Parents/Guardians: Brent and Renea Messmore
Future plans: Attend Purdue to major in accounting or finance  

Reagan Rowland

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
Number of years in 4-H: Eight
Projects: dairy calf feeder steers, beef, weather, foods, photography
4-H Office held: president, vice president, secretary, song leader, health & safety leader
School and grade this fall: Junior at Warsaw Community High School
Parents/ Guardians: Greg and Kassi Rowland
Future plans: Upon graduating from high school, Reagan plans to attend Purdue University to major in agriculture communications and minor in agronomy

Austi Swanson

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
Number of years in 4-H: Nine
Projects: rabbit, dairy, rabbit poster, and gift wrapping
4-H Office held: vice president
School and grade this fall: Austi will be a senior at Warsaw Community High School
Parents/ Guardians: Kelley Hollo
Future plans: Post-secondary studies in conservation/environmental science or education at an Indiana college

Madelyn Zimmerman

Club: Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club
Number of years in 4-H: Nine
Projects: beef, swine, foods, photography, creative writing, create-with-a-mix, sewing, consumer clothing
4-H Offices held: president, vice-president and reporter
School and grade this fall:  Madelyn will be a senior at Wawasee High School this fall.
Parents/Guardians: John and Peg Zimmerman
Future plans: Post-secondary plans include attending Kansas State to double major in agriculture communications and cattle reproduction

Jonathon Tate Andrew

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
Number of years in 4-H: Six
Projects: swine, poultry, dairy
4-H Office held: Two terms as club president
School and grade this fall: Junior at Warsaw Community High School
Parents/Guardians: Barry and Rebecca Andrew
Future plans: Further post-secondary education in college, followed by employment within the dairy industry

Evan Coblentz

Club: Syracuse Community Hands, Milford Helping Hands
Number of years in 4-H: Seven
Projects: poultry, rabbit, goat, DCFS, dairy steer, photography, fine arts and miscellaneous crafts
4-H Office held:  Milford Helping Hands 4-H club secretary
School and grade this fall: Junior at Wawasee High School
Parents/Guardians: Allen and Mindy Coblentz
Future plans: Post-secondary studies in biology or biochemistry in a pre-med program leading to employment as a clinical geneticist

Logan Hollar

Club: Milford Helping Hands
Number of years in 4-H: Seven
Projects: dairy, beef, swine, poultry, electric, photography
4-H Office held: recreation leader
School and grade this fall: Junior at Wawasee High School
Parents/ Guardians: Mitch and Jaime Hollar
Future plans: Pursue a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering

Isaiah Stouder

Club: Milford Helping Hands
Number of years in 4-H: Eight
Projects: dairy, robotics, collections, wildlife, lego, sport fishing, electric, woodworking, farm toy scene, dog poster and miscellaneous crafts
4-H Office held: vice president
School and grade this fall: Junior at Syracuse Christian Academy
Parents/Guardians: Rich and  Naomi Stouder
Future plans: Entering the United States Marine Corp upon high school graduation and serve 20 years to receive a military pension

Jackson Templin

Club: Milford Helping Hands
Number of years in 4-H: Eight
Projects: beef, sheep, swine, goat, dairy calf feeder steer, dairy steer, recycling, dog poster, create-a-mix
4-H Office held: vice president, treasurer and recreation leader
School and grade this fall: Junior at Wawasee High School
Parents/Guardians: Terry and Karen Templin
Future plans: Graduate from high school and to major in either ag engineering or agribusiness