For this week’s Friday Favorites we shared our favorite memories with a family dog! This comes in honor of the WNZR annual Dog Costume Parade happening at August First Friday.
Our crew is very excited for this cute and cuddly event!
For this week’s Friday Favorites we shared our favorite memories with a family dog! This comes in honor of the WNZR annual Dog Costume Parade happening at August First Friday.
Our crew is very excited for this cute and cuddly event!
Marcy sat down with Lacey Filkins, the Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon!
Lacey gives us the rundown on everything happening at August First Friday. Not only does she highlight the schedule but she also gives us the details on street closures and the parking situation.
WNZR’s annual Dog Costume Parade is highlighted tonight and we hope to see you there. Come sign up at WNZR’s tent up on the public square!
The City of Mount Vernon hosted a luncheon on Thursday 7/31/25 to honor their employees. The Workforce Development Employee Awards honored our city workers for their dedication to make Mount Vernon a fantastic place to live and work.
Workers reaching milestones were honored – from 5 years up to 30 years of service. The retirees of this last year were recognized. Also, new employees were announced.
Congratulations to Jonny May for 30 years of service. He works in the Public Works Department.
Click HERE to hear Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr share comments on this special event.
You will find pictures of the event and a list of our wonderful City Employees below.









WNZR talked with several 4H winners about their Miscellaneous Projects for the 2025 Knox County Fair. These students are now representing Knox County at the Ohio State Fair! We say congratulations and wish them the best of luck as they represent our county.
Click HERE or use the link below to hear from these outstanding students!
Here are the 2025 Ohio State Fair representatives who placed 1st in the Miscellaneous Projects. Congratulations and Good Luck!
Companion Animal, Cat-1: Cora Ruckman
Companion Animal, Pocket Pets: Emma Ruckman
Companion Animal, Self-Determined: Rebekah Mandau
Creative Arts, Getting Started in Art – Sr.: Destinee Dickerson
Creative Arts, Scrapbooking – Sr.: Lainey Dunham
Creative Arts, My Favorite Things – Sr.: Blake Hegemier
Creative Arts, self-Determined: Davanee Hart
Food and Nutrition, Yeast Breads on the Rise: Alice Ulrey
Food and Nutrition, Cooking on My Own: Addison Mostaka
Food and Nutrition, Global Gourmet: Micah Phillips
Food and Nutrition, Beyond the Grill: Reese Hubbard
Food and Nutrition, Let’s Bake Quick Breads – Jr.: Lucy Maleszewski
Food and Nutrition, Racing the Clock to Awesome Meals – Jr.: Abigail Proctor
Healthy Living, Staying Healthy: Abby Williamson
Healthy Living: First Aid in Action – Jr.: Jase Kieffer
Natural Resources, Outdoor Adventurer – Beginning Fishing: Jolene Rice
Natural Resources, Outdoor Adventurer – Intermediate Fishing: Anson Wenger
Natural Resources, Ohio Birds – First Year: Layla Robinson
Natural Resources, Geology – Can You Dig It?: Madelyn Untied
Natural Resources, Shooting Sports, Rifle – Sr.: Memphis Hart
Natural Resources, Shooting Sports, Archery – Jr.: Josie Michalak
Natural Resources, Shooting Sports, Archery – Sr.: Kendall Taylor
Natural Resources, Safe Use of Guns – Jr.: Wyatt Schirtzinger
Natural Resources, Basic Archery – Jr.: Ivan Ulrey
Photography, Photography Basics – Book 1: Lucas Roth
Photography, Photography Master: Savannah Tabor
Quilting, You Can Quilt – Jr.: Ryleigh Scarpitti
Self-Determined – Jr.: Rhett Mandau
Rockets, Rockets Away – Bottle Rockets: Brooklyn Bruff
Knots, Not Just Knots – Jr.: Jolene Rice
Vet Science, All Systems Go!: Luci Byler
Woodworking, Measuring Up – Jr. Unit 1: Kaden Carpenter
Workforce Preparation – Here, There, Ag Careers are Everywhere: Jocelyn Tabor
Workforce Preparation, Self-Determined: Clara Kost
Clothing, Terrific Tops: Phoebe Hults
Clothing, Clothing for Middle School: Callie Shultz
Clothing, Sundresses and Jumpers: Kate Gottke
Clothing, Shopping Savy – Jr.: Josie Snyder
Clothing, Dress Up Daywear: Bella Byler
Clothing, Sew Fun – Jr.: Kensleigh McClellan
Clothing, Em*bel*ish: Luci Byler
Clothing – Ready Set, Sew Active!: Madison Seng
WNZR was proud to broadcast live at the Knox County Fair Sale of Champions
Did you miss WNZR’s broadcast of the 2025 Sale of Champions? Good News!
You can find the full broadcast HERE or click on the Link below.
Listen in as WNZR’s Joe Rinehart talks with the Grand Champions and Reserve Champion winners from this year’s Knox County Fair. You can also hear Marcy Rinehart give results from each animal sold. Thanks to all the buyers that participated.
The unofficial total from the Sale of Champions was over $85,850!
(These are preliminary results. We apologize if any buyers are not included. We will be getting final results from the Knox County Junior Fair soon. Please keep checking back for updates).
Market Beef
Dairy Market Feeders
Pen of 3 Market Lambs
Market Lambs
Turkeys
Market Dairy Steers
Market Goats
Broilers (Chicken)
Market Hogs
Market Rabbits
Congratulations to these special award winners that were announced at the Sale of Champions:
The Junior Fair Sales Committee presented a Hall of Fame award this year.
This award recognizes individuals and organizations that go above and beyond normal efforts to benefit the sale, the Junior Fair and most importantly the Knox County Youth involved in 4H and FFA.
The 2025 recipient is: Tom Holten, East Knox Vocational Agriculture and FFA Instructor
David Greer Award from Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club:
1st place for a $500 scholarship – Logan Whitney
2nd place for a $250 scholarship – Ansley Daubenmier
3rd place for a $100 scholarship – Dalton Bailey
Knox County Junior Fair Outstanding Exhibitors:
Market Beef – Lane Dugan
Beef Feeder – Jayce Enix
Dairy Market Feeder – Taylor Tyson
Market Dairy Steer – Kadence Magers
Market Goat – Ana Steel
Rabbit – Annalia Wolf
Sheep – Mason Reynolds
Swine – Hannah Creasap
Poultry – Grant Vance
Knox County Junior Fair Ambassadors:
Senior Beef Ambassador – Brandon Hogg
Junior Beef Ambassador – Leah Weiser
Senior Dairy Ambassador – Sierra Shields
Junior Dairy Ambassador – Alexia Wine
Senior Goat Ambassador – Lauren Neighbarger
Junior Goat Ambassador – __________________________
Senior Rabbit Ambassador – Sophie Wolf
Junior Rabbit Ambassador – Annalia Wolf
Senior Sheep Ambassador – Caitlin Ball
Junior Sheep Ambassador – Brooklyn Bruff
Senior Swine Ambassador – Kennedy Auker
Junior Swine Ambassador – Briley Cline
Senior Poultry Ambassador – Adysson Gearhart
Junior Poultry Ambassador – Taylor Vance
2025 Horse Queen – Madison Ruhl
2025 Horse Princess – Lily Laufer
2025 Junior Fair Queen – Kennedy Auker
2025 Junior Fair King – Michael Brady
2025 Little Miss Knox County -Kiaria Hammons
2025 Little Mr. Knox County – Will Meyers
Cattleman’s Awards:
Dairy Beef Herdsman: Greg Wilson
Beef Herdsman: Lane Mussard
Market Dairy Steer Grand Champion Carcass: Alayna Wittel
Market Dairy Steer Reserve Champion Carcass: Connor Shields
Beef Grand Champion Carcass: Ava Snively
Beef Reserve Champion Carcass: Bailee Smith
Beef Feeder – Bred, Born, and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Malachi Goodwin
Beef Feeder – Bred, Born and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Bailee Smith
Dairy Market Feeder – Bred, Born, and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Austin Robinson
Dairy Market Feeder – Bred, Born and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Gage Robinson
Market Beef – Bred, Born, and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Brandon Hogg
Market Beef – Bred, Born and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Lane Mussard
Market Dairy Steer – Bred, Born, and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Austin Robinson
Market Dairy Steer – Bred, Born and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Austin Robinson
Senior Fair Board Scholarships:
The Senior Fair Board presented two $200 scholarships. These scholarships are for 2025 graduates and had an essay-driven application.
2025 Winners: Catlin Ball and Taylor Thorne
Gage Moody Heart and Soul Award:
This award is sponsored by JDC Livestock and is dedicated to Gage Moody’s memory. It aims to recognize individuals who demonstrate the following qualities:
Macee Samples and Logan Daubenmier each were recognized with the Gage Moody Heart and Soul Award, and each received a $750 scholarship.
The Junior Fair Board also received a check for $500 from Farm Credit Mid-America. This check was given for their Stock the Trailer collection for a local food pantry. They are still collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations. You can drop off donations at the main Fair Board Office. Our Knox County Junior Fair Board is competing against other Junior Fair Boards across Ohio.
Love Like Linda Scholarship:
The family of Linda Dowalter is pleased to announce the establishment of the “Love Like Linda Scholarship.” “Love Like Linda” is an inspiring concept encouraging individuals to embrace a life filled with compassion, kindness, and selflessness. It embodies the idea of living with an open heart, much like Linda – she was a mom, sister, aunt, and grandma, who was known for her unwavering love and generosity. Loving like Linda means actively listening to others, showing empathy, and offering support without expecting anything in return. It’s about positively impacting the lives of those around you, whether through small acts of kindness or significant gestures of support. By adopting this mindset, we can cultivate deeper connections and create a more compassionate world, one interaction at a time. The Dowalter Family is honored and pleased to present this scholarship to someone who embodies the personality Linda exhibited every day of her life and encouraged others to exhibit as well.
This nonrenewable scholarship will be issued to one individual meeting the following criteria.
• 2025 High School Graduate OR
• Exhibitor that 2025 is their last year of eligibility
• Good Standing 4H or FFA Member
• Will be or is currently attending a two- or four-year technical school or university/college
The applicant was required to write an essay answering the following prompt: “What the characteristic selflessness means to me”.
They were also required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation from non-family members explaining how the applicant exhibits selflessness.
Ansley Daubenmier was recognized with the “Love Like Linda Scholarship” and received a $1,000 scholarship.
Thanks to our partners for helping us bring you live results from this year’s Sale of Champions.
– The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities
– The Knox County Career Center
– Revere Roofing Company
– The Ruckman Group Auctions and Appraisals
– Valley ATV
– Wendys of Mount Vernon
For our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts share their favorite memories from the 2025 Knox County Fair.
Marcy and Xander got some time to chat with Christian artist Tauren Wells!
Tauren is performing at the Ohio State Fair on Monday, July 28th and we super excited about it. It is truly inspiring to listen to Tauren tell us a little about his life and his heart for God.
We highlight everything including his church, his new book, and even his remix of “Take It All Back” with Skillet!
To get tickets, click HERE!
There is a lot to see at the Knox County Fair, including Grange Booths! We shared the award winning Grange booths and talked about the pop stands.
The winners:
Morgan Grange No. 829
Morgan Jr. Grange No. 920
We also got to speak with Cindy Campbell who is the Deputy of Knox County Granges, more about Granges themselves and what the pop stands do!










