Taylor Vance doesn’t limit herself to just one project at the Knox County Fair. Between livestock, gardening, clothing, and helping behind the scenes, she enjoys being involved wherever she can.
WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger recently talked with Taylor, a member of the Knox County Junior Fair Board and the 2026 Junior Poultry Ambassador, about what keeps her coming back to the fair each year.
Although Taylor originally lived in Muskingum County, she recently moved to Mount Vernon and is now a freshman at Mount Vernon High School. She serves as secretary of the Clinton Clovers 4-H Club, has been involved in 4-H for six years, and is in her second year on the Knox County Junior Fair Board.
Helping with livestock shows has become one of her favorite parts of fair week. Last year, she had the opportunity to announce one of the shows, an experience she said went well, and she’s excited to help again this year.
Taylor also has a full slate of projects. She’ll be exhibiting market turkeys, fancy chickens, fancy ducks, a gardening project, and a clothing project.
One of her favorite projects involves her ducks, which originally came from Texas. She started with three birds and has continued growing her flock over the past year. She said keeping them clean and ready for competition can be one of the biggest challenges leading up to the fair.
When the Knox County Fair concludes, Taylor won’t have much time to slow down. She’ll head directly to the Ohio State Fair to continue exhibiting her projects.
Looking back on her years in 4-H, Taylor said one of the greatest things she’s gained isn’t just experience showing animals—it’s the friendships she’s made. She believes those relationships will last a lifetime.
Taylor also reflected on being named Junior Poultry Ambassador last year and shared the reaction of one of her teachers, who wasn’t surprised to see her take on the role.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
Ellie Boggs enjoys being involved in many different parts of the Knox County Fair. Whether she’s helping exhibitors in the goat barn, showing her own projects, or working on a writing project, she likes finding new ways to grow through 4-H.
WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger recently talked with Ellie about serving as a Knox County Junior Fair Board liaison, her fair projects, and the experiences that have shaped her along the way.
Ellie is from Mount Vernon and will be a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School this fall. She is a member of the Down on the Farm 4-H Club and has been involved in 4-H for four years. After serving as a fair ambassador last year, she is now in her second year on the Junior Fair Board and is serving as the Goat Liaison.
In that role, Ellie helps keep the goat barn running smoothly by assisting with shows, making sure things stay organized, and helping exhibitors throughout the week. She’ll also be exhibiting a pack goat, a project that she said has become one of her favorites. During the interview, she also reflected on winning Grand Champion with her goat in a previous year.
Ellie said she’s especially looking forward to helping on sale day and spending time around the cattle shows during this year’s fair.
In addition to her livestock projects, Ellie is entering a writing project. She explained that she’s writing a book and plans to submit its first two chapters for the fair. She said a BookTuber inspired her to begin writing, and her work-in-progress currently carries the title I Love You Forever?
Outside of the fair, Ellie stays active as the reporter for her school’s FFA chapter, where she helps with photography and social media. She also works at a local swimming pool and is working toward becoming a manager.
Looking back on her time in 4-H, Ellie said the program has helped her become more confident and develop leadership skills. One of her favorite memories came when she won Grand Champion with her goat, a day she said brought her a great deal of joy.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
Planning for the Knox County Fair isn’t just about preparing his own projects for Reece Landers. As a first-year member of the Knox County Junior Fair Board, he’s also helping prepare for one of the county’s biggest events of the year.
WNZR’s Josiah Styer recently sat down with Reece to talk about his involvement in 4-H, his responsibilities on the Junior Fair Board, and what he’s looking forward to during fair week.
Reece, who is from Centerburg, attends the Knox County Career Center, where he is studying precision machining. He is a member of the Liberty Livestock 4-H Club and has been involved in 4-H for nine years.
As a Junior Fair Board member, Reece helps plan and prepare for the fair by attending meetings and assisting with projects leading up to fair week. He said he’s especially looking forward to the rodeo, helping with the pig shows, and being involved with the turkey show.
Preparing his turkey for competition takes time and consistency. Reece said he gets his bird ready for the show by spending time walking it and making sure it’s well fed throughout the summer.
Once the fair is over, Reece plans to continue working, make new connections, and enjoy the rest of his summer before returning to school. He said one of the biggest lessons 4-H has taught him is responsibility, especially when it comes to caring for animals.
Reece also shared one of his funniest fair memories. While showing a rabbit one year, it jumped off the table and took off running around the show ring.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
Whether she’s answering questions, helping exhibitors, or preparing her own animals for competition, Luci Byler enjoys staying busy during fair week.
Luci recently joined WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger to talk about her role as a Knox County Junior Fair Board liaison, her years in 4-H, and what she’s looking forward to at this year’s Knox County Fair.
Luci, who is from Brinkhaven, will be a sophomore at Loudonville High School this fall. She is a member of the Barnyard Bunch and Dreamcatchers 4-H clubs and has been involved in 4-H since she was nine years old. This is her second year serving on the Knox County Junior Fair Board.
As a liaison, Luci helps keep events running smoothly by assisting with livestock shows, supporting other liaisons, helping animal caretakers, and answering questions from exhibitors and fairgoers. She currently serves as a horse liaison and enjoys being available to lend a hand whenever it’s needed.
While she enjoys helping behind the scenes, Luci is also preparing for competition herself. This year she’ll be exhibiting both her horse and sheep at the Knox County Fair, and she’s especially looking forward to the sheep shows because she enjoys watching other exhibitors compete.
Preparing for the show ring takes plenty of work. Luci said she studies horse patterns, watches other exhibitors to learn from them, and spends a great deal of time practicing before fair week arrives.
Outside of 4-H, Luci is also involved in FFA and will continue participating in those activities during the upcoming school year. She also plans to exhibit her sheep at the Ohio State Fair after the Knox County Fair concludes.
Reflecting on what 4-H has taught her over the years, Luci said one of the biggest lessons has been learning to do what’s best for herself instead of letting others tell her what to do.
She also shared one of her funniest fair memories—a time when her horse nearly ran over the judge during a show.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
While many fairgoers only see the events taking place in the show ring, Logan Daubenmire enjoys being part of the work that helps make those events happen.
Logan recently joined WNZR’s Josiah Styer to talk about his years in 4-H, serving on the Knox County Junior Fair Board, and the livestock projects that keep him busy throughout the year.
A Mount Vernon High School senior, Logan is a member of the Knox County Career Center FFA Chapter. He has been involved in 4-H for eight years and is serving his fourth year on the Knox County Junior Fair Board.
As a board member, Logan helps announce shows, steps in wherever help is needed, and assists with caring for some of the animals during fair week. He said he’s especially looking forward to this year’s truck and tractor pull, along with the livestock shows.
Logan is also involved in the Limitless Livestock Show, which he described as a great opportunity for participants. Along with that event, he’ll be exhibiting dairy beef feeders and dairy beef steers during the fair.
When the fair comes to a close, Logan stays involved by helping with auctioneering before turning his attention to the upcoming school year, when he’ll assist with landscape competitions.
Reflecting on his time in 4-H, Logan said one of the biggest lessons he’s learned is the importance of putting in the work to achieve success. He also said one of his favorite memories was joining the Junior Fair Board and getting to know the other members.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
While many people see the Knox County Fair through the eyes of an exhibitor or spectator, Ava Page also gets to experience it behind the scenes.
Ava recently joined WNZR’s Sue McDonald to talk about serving on the Knox County Junior Fair Board while preparing her own projects for this year’s fair.
A Bladensburg native, Ava is a senior at East Knox High School and is enrolled in the College Credit Plus program through Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is active in the Outsiders 4-H Club and East Knox FFA, has participated in 4-H for five years and FFA for three years, and is now serving her second year on the Junior Fair Board.
As a board member, Ava helps keep events organized throughout fair week. She said her responsibilities include making sure shows run smoothly, helping people get where they need to be, and assisting with the overall management of fair activities.
In the show ring, Ava will be exhibiting Dutch and Dwarf Pavilion breeding rabbits. She is also entering a woodworking project after building a stool. She said preparing her rabbits includes making sure they are well-fed and properly groomed before competition, while her woodworking project required many hours of hard work.
Although much of her summer has been spent preparing for the fair, Ava said her family was able to take a trip to Alaska before the busy season began.
She is especially looking forward to this year’s rabbit show and enjoys seeing the hard work of exhibitors come together during fair week.
Reflecting on her years in 4-H, Ava said the program has taught her responsibility. She also shared that one of her favorite memories has been spending time at the fair with her sister, who also serves on the Knox County Junior Fair Board.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
WNZR’s Josiah Styer recently sat down with Sophie Wolf, a member of the Knox County Junior Fair Board and a 2026 Knox County Junior Fair Queen nominee, to talk about her involvement with the fair, her future plans, and the lessons she’s learned through 4-H.
Sophie is originally from Chile, South America, but now lives in Mount Vernon. After taking a gap year, she will begin classes this fall at Central Ohio Technical College, where she plans to study Radiologic Technology.
She has been a member of the Down on the Farm 4-H Club for five years and has served on the Knox County Junior Fair Board for the past three years.
As a Junior Fair Board member, Sophie helps prepare for the fair throughout the year. Her responsibilities include planning meetings, organizing activities, helping run livestock shows, and assisting with animal weigh-ins. She said she’s especially looking forward to this year’s rough truck competition and demolition derby.
Sophie also talked about becoming a candidate for the 2026 Knox County Fair Queen. She discussed the application process and the opportunities the Fair Queen has to represent the Knox County Fair. If selected, she said she would encourage people to attend the fair, support the different shows, and visit other county fairs to gather ideas that could benefit Knox County in the future.
This year, Sophie will be exhibiting market and breeding rabbits, market broilers, and a pack goat. Like many exhibitors, much of her time leading up to the fair is spent preparing and caring for her animals.
Looking back on her years in 4-H and at the fair, Sophie said one of the biggest lessons she has learned is to take opportunities when they come and to be willing to lead when given the chance.
Whether or not she is crowned Fair Queen, Sophie said she plans to celebrate with her family because enjoying the experience is what matters most.
She also shared a lighthearted story about transporting her goats to the fair in the back of her family’s Suburban since they don’t have a truck.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography
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
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
The Grand Champion Market Beef Steer was shown by Austin Frazier of Fredericktown, part of Fredericktown FFA. Â
A group of buyers bought the animal for a price of $6,500
They include Elite Insurance, CJS, Boyd Brothers and Alumni Roofing
The Reserve Champion Market Beef Steer was shown by Charley Beheler of Fredericktown. She is part of the Knox County Career Center FFA. Charley was also the Senior Showman and Master Showman.
Didinger and Son Crop Service bought the animal for a price of $7,000.
Dairy Market Feeders
The Grand Champion Dairy Market Feeder was shown by Logan Whitney of Danville. Logan is part of the Creative Kids 4H Club.
Small’s Asphalt & Paving and John Hinderer bought the animal for a price of $4,500
The Reserve Champion Dairy Market Feeder was shown by Taylor Tyson of Mount Vernon. Taylor is part of the KC Draft Horse & Pony Club.
John Hinderer and Small’s Sand & Gravel bought the animal for a price of $5,000.
Pen of 3 Market Lambs
The Grand Champion Penof 3 Market Lambs was shown by Charley Beheler of Fredericktown with the Knox County Career Center FFA.
Beheler Excavating and Alumni Roofing bought the animals for a price of $5,000.
The Reserve Champion Pen was shown by Joseph Ball from Danville with Better Livestock 4H Club. Ashton was also the Grand Champion Bred, Born & Raised and Reserve Senior Showman.
A group of buyers purchased the animals for a price of $5,000
They included: Tim VanDyke, Knox Community Hospital, Park National Bank, CJS, Small’s Farms and Small’s Sand & Gravel.
Market Lambs
The Grand Champion Market Lamb was shown by Ashton Anderson of Mount Vernon with the Animals R Us 4H Club. Ashton was also the Grand Champion Bred, Born and Raised and Reserve Senior Showman
TD Landscape bought the animal for a price of $3,000
The Reserve Champion Market Lamb was shown by Kellen Algire of Fredericktown with the Country Critters 4H Club. Â
Andy Brenner, State Senator bought the animal for a price of $2,250
Turkeys
The Grand Champion Turkey was shown by Carl Dickerson from Fredericktown with the Smokin’ Spurs 4H Club.
Beheler Excavating and Alumni Roofing bought the animal for a price of $2,500
The Reserve Champion Turkey was shown by Tucker Tedrow from Mount Vernon with the Blue Ribbon Livestock 4H Club.
TD Landscape bought the animal for a price of $3,750
Market Dairy Steers
The Grand Champion Market Dairy Steer was shown by Greg Wilson of Danville with Creative Kids 4H Club.
Granville Milling, Levi Hostetler and THR Home Inspection bought the animal for a price of $5,750
The Reserve Champion Market Dairy Steer was shown by Connor Shields of Danville with the Creative Kids 4H Club. Connor was also the Reserve Champion Carcass and Reserve Junior ShowmanÂ
Didinger and Son Crop Service bought the animal for a price of $2,500
Market Goats
The Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Sophia Carpenter of Howard. She is part of the Country Critters 4H Club.Â
Alumni Roofing and Beheler Excavating bought the animal for a price of $3,000!
The Reserve Champion Market Goat was shown by Nash Stull of Fredericktown. Nash is part of the Country Critters 4H Club.
A group of buyers bought the animal for a price of $7,350
They included: NC Energy, Small’s Farm, Knox Community Hospital, Kari Ball Insurance and Revere Roofing Company
Broilers (Chicken)
The Grand Champion Broilers (pen of 3) were shown by Ally Bonvillain of Mount Vernon with the Anything Goes 4H Club.
Trillium Farms bought the animals for a price of $3,500
The Reserve Champion broilers were shown by Adrian Clutter of Howard with the Fur Feathers and Friends 4H Club.
Kari Ball Insurance, Small’s Sand & Gravel and Didinger and Son Crop Service bought the animals for a price of $3,000
Market Hogs
The Grand Champion hog was shown by Matilda Sulzer of Mount Vernon with the Smokin’ Spurs 4H Club. Matilda was also the Heavy Weight Division Champion and Junior Showman for Ages 9 & 10
Owl Creek Title Agency purchased the hog for a price of $7,000
The Reserve Champion hog was shown by Hannah Creasap of Fredericktown with the Blue Ribbon Livestock 4H Club. Hannah was also the Reserve Heavy Weight Division Champion, Junior Master Showman for Age 11, and Age 11 Skillathon Winner.
John Hinderer Honda bought the animal for a price of $3,500.
Market Rabbits
The Grand Champion Rabbits (Market Fryers) were shown by Annalia Wolf of Mount Vernon with the Down On The Farm 4H Club.
The Ruckman Group Auctions and Appraisals and Park National Bank bought the animals for a price of $3,000
The Reserve Champion Rabbits were shown by Dawson Staley of Fredericktown from the Blue Ribbon Livestock 4H Club.
Clearfork Buyers Club bought the animals for a price of $2,750
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
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:
Daily effort and commitment
Setting a positive example for others
Showing passion for their project despite being perceived as the underdog.
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. Â
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
Rise and Shine 