Bekah Mandau is taking on plenty during her first year on the Knox County Junior Fair Board.

WNZR’s Josiah Styer talked with Bekah about preparing for the Knox County Fair, the animals she plans to show, and what she has learned through four years in 4-H.

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Bekah lives in Utica and will be a freshman this fall. She was born in South Carolina and is a member of the Future Go-Getters 4-H Club.

This year, she is bringing market and breeding sheep, along with market and breeding rabbits and several other projects. She said preparing for the show ring means making sure her animals stay healthy and look their best.

Bekah is also helping with different Junior Fair Board responsibilities as fair week approaches. She is especially looking forward to the rough truck event and the open show.

Once the fair is over, she plans to continue caring for her animals, spend time with friends, and get ready for the school year. Her goals include doing well in class and staying focused.

Bekah said 4-H has helped her become more open-minded and taught her to listen to other people’s ideas.

One memory that still makes her laugh came while serving as a camp counselor, when she ended up taking a pie to the face and spent the cleanup time talking and laughing with a friend.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)

Remi D’Andrea has helped introduce something different to the Knox County Fair: showing geese.

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talked with Remi about her six years in 4-H, her work on the Junior Fair Board, and the responsibility that comes with preparing animals for competition.

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Remi is from Fredericktown and will enter eighth grade this fall. She is a member of the Red Brush 4-H Club and helps the Junior Fair Board prepare the grounds, keep events running smoothly, and make sure visitors enjoy their time at the fair.

She is looking forward to showing her goose again this year. Remi said she was the first exhibitor to bring a goose to the fair and hopes her experience encourages more young people to consider waterfowl projects.

Her preparation also includes learning how to position and present animals in the show ring. With pigs, she said exhibitors must adjust because each animal gains weight differently and may require a different approach when learning to walk it.

After fair week, Remi is looking forward to school and camps. She said 4-H has taught her responsibility and how to adapt when an animal does not respond exactly as expected.

One of her favorite memories came during her first year, when her waterfowl project earned Grand Champion.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)

Reagan Blanchard has spent years caring for animals, but this fair season is also giving her new opportunities to grow as a leader.

WNZR’s Sue McDonald talked with Reagan about serving on the Knox County Junior Fair Board, preparing for the Junior Fair Queen competition, and her plans to study veterinary medicine.

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Reagan is from Fredericktown and recently graduated from Fredericktown High School and the Knox County Career Center, where she studied in the College U Business program. This fall, she plans to attend the University of Findlay to begin working toward becoming a veterinarian.

She has been involved in 4-H for eight years and serves as president of the Fur, Feathers and Friends 4-H Club. At this year’s fair, she is showing breeding and market rabbits.

Reagan also serves as the small animal liaison on the Junior Fair Board. In that role, she helps exhibitors learn how to properly care for their animals and makes sure people have the information they need during fair week.

As a 2026 Junior Fair Queen nominee, Reagan prepared a speech for the Junior Fair Breakfast and completed interviews as part of the selection process. She said she wants young fairgoers, including Little Miss Knox County, to see someone who cares deeply about the fair and its traditions.

Outside of 4-H, Reagan has shown horses for several years and participated in marching band, track and field, and bowling.

After a recent trip to Florida, Reagan returned ready for fair season. She has also been working with Fredericktown City Hall and Riverside Dairy.

Reagan said one of the biggest lessons she has learned is that growth requires stepping beyond what feels comfortable. Running for president of her 4-H club pushed her into a new role, but it also helped her become more confident.

Some of her favorite Junior Fair Board memories are the quieter moments spent talking with other members and getting to know them better.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)

Adysson Gerhart has a full schedule both in and out of the Knox County Fair.

WNZR’s Sue McDonald talked with Adysson about serving as the 2026 Poultry Ambassador, taking on the role of Junior Fair Board treasurer, and balancing her education with nine years in 4-H.

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Adysson is from Fredericktown and attends the Knox County Career Center as a senior. She is also a sophomore at Central Ohio Technical College, where she is studying business technologies. When she graduates in May, she expects to earn both her high school diploma and associate degree.

She is a member of the Barnyard Bunch 4-H Club and is serving her second year on the Junior Fair Board. This is her first year as treasurer, a role that adds another level of responsibility during fair week.

As Poultry Ambassador, Adysson helps represent the poultry program and works with exhibitors. She is also showing market broilers and explained that much of the preparation involves keeping the birds healthy and making sure they are properly fed.

Away from the poultry barn, Adysson is looking forward to the opening ceremony and the antique tractor pull. She has competed in the tractor pull herself, earning both first- and second-place finishes in the classes she entered.

After the fair, Adysson plans to continue working and help her boyfriend on his family farm.

She said one of the biggest lessons she has learned through 4-H is how to push herself outside her comfort zone and become more comfortable in unfamiliar situations.

One of her favorite Junior Fair Board memories came after last year’s fair, when members were finally able to relax together, eat pizza, and play cards.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)

Blake Hegemier’s fair season will not end when the Knox County Fair closes. After competing locally, he plans to travel to Nevada for an American Rabbit Breeders Association competition.

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talked with Blake about preparing animals for the show ring, serving as the 2026 Rabbit Liaison, and what he has learned through 4-H.

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Blake is from Morrow County and is a homeschooled senior. He is a member of the Red Brush 4-H Club and is serving his second year on both the Knox County Junior Fair Board and as Rabbit Liaison.

During fair week, Blake helps prepare for events and assists others involved in the rabbit program. He is especially looking forward to the rabbit and poultry shows.

Getting animals ready for competition requires careful work. Blake explained that rabbits must be cleaned without damaging their fur, while preparing poultry also includes bathing the birds before they are shown.

One of Blake’s favorite fair memories came during his first year, when he won showmanship with a breeding rabbit. He said his time in 4-H has also taught him to keep working through failure rather than giving up.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)

Leadership didn’t end when Michael Brady’s year as Knox County Junior Fair King came to a close.

WNZR’s Sue McDonald recently caught up with Brady to talk about his continued involvement with the Knox County Junior Fair Board, where he now serves on the leadership team representing FCCLA and animal conduct for 2026.

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A senior at East Knox High School and the Knox County Career Center, Brady is studying health technology while working toward becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Through FCCLA, he has developed leadership and public speaking skills that he now brings to the fair.

One of his priorities this year is improving animal health and welfare during fair week. Brady says the leadership team has worked to address issues seen in previous years while helping ensure animals receive the care they need.

He’s also helping create behind-the-scenes content for the Junior Fair Board’s social media channels, giving fairgoers a closer look at everything happening throughout the week.

Away from the fairgrounds, Brady enjoys coaching high school volleyball and is considering continuing his playing career at Mount Vernon High School.

When asked about his favorite fair memories, Brady didn’t hesitate to mention the rodeo, great food, and cooling off with a cold drink on a hot summer day.

His advice for young 4-H members is simple: be willing to step outside your comfort zone, because that’s where personal growth begins.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)