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)

Leah Weiser’s fair experience stretches far beyond the show ring.

The Mount Vernon teen earned recognition as a miscellaneous project winner at the Knox County Junior Fair with three very different projects: Your Thoughts Matter Senior, Leadership 1, and You Can Quilt Senior. Along with those achievements, she’s also organizing a new beef grooming clinic to help younger exhibitors.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart recently sat down with Leah to discuss her award-winning projects, her passion for helping others, and what keeps her so busy during fair week.

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Leah, a member of the Clinton Clovers 4-H Club, has been involved in 4-H for seven years and will be a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School this fall.

One of her projects focused on mental health awareness. Through Your Thoughts Matter Senior, Leah researched topics surrounding mental health, watched and analyzed how those issues were portrayed in the movie Juno, interviewed a counselor, created educational posters, and learned how to recognize warning signs that someone may be struggling. While she doesn’t plan to pursue a career in mental health, she said the project gave her a much better understanding of the challenges many people face.

Her second project explored leadership. As president of her 4-H club, Leah studied different leadership styles and learned the importance of listening to others before making decisions. She said one of the biggest lessons was realizing that good leaders don’t simply make popular decisions—they make the best decisions for the group.

Leah’s third project combined creativity with family tradition. Earlier this year, she learned to quilt alongside her grandmother, working through instructional books while developing new skills. She completed two quilts, including one that will advance to the Ohio State Fair. Although she won’t be able to attend state judging because of her responsibilities at the Knox County Fair, she’s proud of the work she accomplished in just a few months.

Outside of her miscellaneous projects, Leah has a full schedule during fair week. She’s exhibiting three cows, a cow-calf pair, a breeding heifer, and a market goat named Chuck. She’s also serving on the Junior Fair Board while organizing a new beef grooming clinic designed to help younger exhibitors learn the basics of preparing cattle for the show ring. The clinic takes place Monday at 5 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building.

When she does get a chance to relax, Leah admits one of her favorite fair traditions is visiting the Steak Shack for an Italian sausage or steak sandwich. She especially appreciates that the Knox County Cattlemen’s Association showcases locally raised beef through the popular fair attraction.

Looking back on her years in 4-H, Leah says the experience has taught her patience, respect, and the value of stepping outside her comfort zone. She encourages younger members not to be afraid to try something new because, even when things don’t go as planned, there are always people willing to help.

Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!

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