Cassadi Colbert Crowned 2021 Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen
By Nicholette Carlson
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Fair Queen Pageant took place last night in the Shrine Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Cassadi Colbert was crowned the 2021 Fair Queen. First runner up was Gabrielle Sigler. Second runner up was Kali Wolf. Third runner up was Brittany Duncan. Austine Swanson was voted Miss Congeniality. Hannah Becker and Elizabeth Quinn-Pesina also competed.
Alyssa Swanson was crowned the 2021 Teen Queen. Teen first runner up was Jasmine Fuller. Teen second runner up was Skylar Payton. Teen third runner up was Tatum Shoemaker. Due to a health emergency, Ella Collins was unable to compete in the pageant after completing the interview portion. However, she was able to attend at the end and was voted the teen fourth runner up.
Colbert was sponsored by TCI Turner Mass Excavating and Mining and several individual sponsors. During her speech, Colbert discussed everyone completing their own individual journey while also being grateful for those you value. In her on-stage question, she was asked about students using phones in school. She believes phones should only be used in school for academic use. Otherwise she thinks students should be engaged in the lesson. For theme wear, Colbert dressed up as Daphne from “Scooby Doo.”
Alyssa was sponsored by Auto Park Chevrolet, Buick, GMC. In her speech she discussed how she joined cross country. For theme wear, she dressed up as a surfer being eaten by a shark in honor of “Jaws.” For her on-stage question, Alyssa stated she would rather be stuck in an elevator with wet dogs instead of boys with body odor since she has multiple dogs.
Madelyn Zimmerman, 2020 Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen, gave her last speech as queen prior to the crowning of the 2021 queen. In the beginning of her speech, she removed her crown and sash, stating, “Regardless of my title, at the end of the day, I am still Madelyn.” She discussed finding her passion for agriculture at a young age and how that brought about some challenges she had to face with her peers growing up. In an attempt to have a new start, she came to the call out meeting for the pageant, despite having no pageant background. However, she worked hard and practiced and ended up being crowned Miss Kosciusko. Following her speech, Zimmerman received a standing ovation.
The pageant was open to ladies age 13-21 who either live in or go to school in Kosciusko County or bordering counties. Those in the Teen division were age 13-17. Those in the Miss division were age 18-21. There were five teen contestants this year and seven Miss Kosciusko contestants.
Each contestant competed in four categories: interview, evening gown and on-stage question, professional wear and a one-minute prepared speech on any topic of their choosing. The interview was worth 40%, the prepared speech worth 15%, the formal wear and on-stage question worth 20%, professional wear was worth 10% and theme wear worth 15%.
Master of ceremonies for the pageant was Kaytlyn Adkins. Judges for the pageant included Nancy Dirck, Connie Hunsberger, Norene Norris and Sheal Dirck.
As Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen, Colbert will also participate in the 2022 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant.