WNZR was honored to share Knox County Fair conversations throughout this week. We talked with many 4H Miscellaneous Project winners. We talked about their projects, their experiences with 4H and how they felt about representing Knox County at the Ohio State Fair. We also talked about the other projects and shows they were involved with at this year’s Knox County Fair. The 4H Winners shared about their lessons learned in 4H and the memories they have made.
Click HERE to hear the conversations or click on the picture below.
We wish you all GOOD LUCK at the State Fair! We are proud of you!
WNZR was proud to broadcast live at the Knox County Fair Sale of Champions Did you miss WNZR’s broadcast of the 2026 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. You can find an album of pictures on our Facebook page and on the Scrapbook Page of our website wnzr.fm
The unofficial total from the Sale of Champions was over $89,500!
Market Beef
The Grand Champion Market Beef Steer was shown by Kellen Algire of Fredericktown. Kellen is part of the Country Critters 4H Club.
Alumni Roofing bought the animal for a price of $6,000.
The Reserve Champion Market Beef Steer was shown by Kayleen Small of Fredericktown. She is part of the Boots and Banners 4H Club. Kayleen also won 3rd place Overall Carcass.
Small’s Asphalt Company bought the animal for a price of $9,000.
Dairy Market Feeders
The Grand Champion Dairy Market Feeder was shown by Ethan Swendal of Danville. Ethan is part of the Creative Kids 4H Club. Ethan is also the Age 18 Skillathon Winner for Dairy Market Feeders.
Alumni Roofing bought the animal for a price of $3,000
The Reserve Champion Dairy Market Feeder was shown by Gage Robinson of Fredericktown. Gage is part of the Knox Cattle Kids 4H Club. Gage is also the Age 14 Skillathon Winner for Dairy Market Feeders.
Knox Community Hospital bought the animal for a price of $3,750.
Pen of 3 Market Lambs
The Grand Champion Penof 3 Market Lambs was shown by Berta Gomez-Sica of Danville. Berta is part of the Better Livestock 4H Club.
JDC Livestock LLC bought the animals for a price of $3,000.
The Reserve Champion Pen was shown by Joseph Ball from Danville with Better Livestock 4H Club.
Kari Ball Agency purchased the animals for a price of $5,000
Market Lambs
The Grand Champion Market Lamb was shown by Mason Reynolds of Mount Vernon with the Animals R Us 4H Club. Mason was also the Champion Senior Showman and the Age 16 Skillathon Winner for Market Lambs.
A group of buyers bought the animal for a price of $5,000
They included: All Weather Systems Inc., Granville Milling Company, United Producers Inc. and Xtreme Asphalt and Sealcoating
The Reserve Champion Market Lamb was shown by Kinsley Prosser of Fredericktown with the Blue Ribbon Livestock 4H Club. Kinsley is also the Reserve Champion 1st Year Showman.
TK’s Ice Cream bought the animal for a price of $4,500
Turkeys
The Grand Champion Turkey was shown by Brynley Kirkpatrick from Butler with the Clear Fork FFA.
Adena Corporation bought the animal for a price of $2,750
The Reserve Champion Turkey was shown by Carl Dickerson from Fredericktown with the Smokin’ Spurs 4H Club.
Raine Aesthetics bought the animal for a price of $3,750
Market Dairy Steers
The Grand Champion Market Dairy Steer was shown by Ethan Swendal of Danville with Creative Kids 4H Club. Ethan is also the Age 18 Skillathon Winner for Market Dairy Steers.
Didinger Crop Services bought the animal for a price of $3,500
The Reserve Champion Market Dairy Steer was shown Ethan Swendal of Danville with the Creative Kids 4H Club. Ethan was also 4th Place Overall Carcass.
A group of buyers bought the animal for a price of $5,500
They included: Killbuck Savings Bank of Danville and Howard, The Magers Family and Swendal and Son Trucking.
Market Goats
The Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Nash Stull of Fredericktown. Nash is part of the Country Critters 4H Club. He is also the Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman.
Knox Community Hospital bought the animal for a price of $3,500
The Reserve Champion Market Goat was shown by Taylor Meade of Warsaw. Taylor is part of the Danville FFA.
Nick Blanchard bought the animal for a price of $3,500
Broilers (Chicken)
The Grand Champion Broilers (pen of 3) were shown by Daisy Cline of Howard with the Contender’s 4H Club. Daisy was also the Reserve 1st Year Showman.
Park National Bank bought the animals for a price of $4,500
The Reserve Champion Broilers were shown by Abigail Untied of Walhonding with the Clinton Clovers 4H Club.
Trillium Farms bought the animals for a price of $3,500
Market Hogs
The Grand Champion Hog was shown by Carder McConachie of Mount Vernon with the Blue Ribbon Livestock 4H Club. Carder was also the Light Weight Division Champion.
TD Landscape purchased the hog for a price of $4,250
The Reserve Champion Hog was shown by Addison McGuire of Centerburg with the Animals R Us 4H Club. Addison was also the Heavy Weight Division Champion, Showmanship Winner for Age 14, and Master Showman.
A group of buyers bought the animal for a price of $9,000
They included: Fredericktown Chevrolet, Fox Swim Solutions, Barb Family Farm, KN Excavation, Forman Realtors, and Forman Realtors-Jennifer Fielding
Market Rabbits
The Grand Champion Rabbits (Market Fryers) were shown by Macy Miller of Mount Vernon with the Down On The Farm 4H Club.
Smithhisler Meats bought the animals for a price of $3,750
The Reserve Champion Market Rabbits were shown by Annalia Wolf of Mount Vernon from the Down on the Farm 4H Club.
THR Creekside Home Inspections bought the animals for a price of $2,750
There was one 4H member with MULTIPLE ANIMALS in the Sale:
Ethan Swendal had the: 1. Grand Champion Dairy Market Feeder – sold for $3,000 2. Grand Champion Market Dairy Steer – sold for $3,500 3. Reserve Grand Champion Market Dairy Steer – sold for $5,500 Ethan’s Sale Total: $12,000
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 2026 recipient is: Larry Hall, long-time 4H Educator with the OSU Extension Office of Knox County
David Greer Award from Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club: Presented in honor of David Greer and his legacy of serving the community. He has served as a trustee and Vice President of the Knox County Historical Society and secretary for the Knox County Ag Museum. His background is in teaching including 16 years at Danville High School. He served for many years as a volunteer with many 4H programs in Knox County. The scholarships were presented by Wendi Fowler, Mike Copley, and Crystal Snell-Tomes from Kiwanis. $500 scholarship – Lane Dugan $250 scholarship – Austin Frazier
2026 Knox County Fair Royalty:
2026 Junior Fair Queen – Sophie Wolf
2026 Junior Fair King – Will Stokes
2026 Little Miss Knox County – Hallie Johnson
2026 Little Mr. Knox County – Karsten Tedrow
2026 Horse Queen – Luci Byler
2026 Horse Prince – Michael Carpenter
Knox County Junior Fair Outstanding Exhibitors:
Market Beef – Bailey Smith
Beef Feeder – Cade Strausbaugh
Dairy Market Feeder – Taylor Tyson
Market Dairy Steer – Ethan Swendal
Market Goat – Brock Mason
Rabbit – Blake Hegemier
Sheep – Sutton Reynolds
Swine – Addison Parker
Poultry – Bristol Hegemier
Turkey – Kennedy Black
Knox County Junior Fair Ambassadors:
Junior Poultry – Teegan Riddle
Senior Poultry – Adysson Gerhart
Senior Rabbit – Sophie Wolf
Junior Goat – Isabel Lewis
Senior Goat – Meira Bryant
Junior Swine – Priscilla Smith and Matilda Sulzer
Senior Sheep – Isabella Byler
Senior Dairy – Sierra Shields
Senior Beef – Lane Dugan
Junior Beef – Zoey Shelley
Horse Queen – Luci Byler
Horse Prince – Michael Carpenter
Knox County Cattleman’s Awards: The Knox County Cattlemen’s Association presented a $500 scholarship to a student pursuing college or technical school education. The recipient is a current cattle exhibitor at the Knox County Fair pursuing their field of study in a post-secondary institution, preferably studying agriculture, specifically Animal Science. The applicant’s family will be current members of the Knox County Cattlemen’s Association. 2026 Scholarship Recipient: Lane Dugan from Fredericktown
Cattleman’s Awards:
Dairy Beef Herdsman: Austin Robinson
Beef Herdsman: Lane Dugan
Market Dairy Steer Grand Champion Carcass: Austin Robinson
Beef Feeder – Born, Bred and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Malia Goodwin
Beef Feeder – Born, Bred and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Cade Strausbaugh
Dairy Market Feeder – Born, Bred and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Gage Robinson
Dairy Market Feeder – Born, Bred and Raised sed Reserve Champion Award Winner: Austin Robinson
Market Beef – Born, Bred and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Austin Frazier
Market Beef – Born, Bred and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Malachi Goodwin
Market Dairy Steer – Born, Bred and Raised Grand Champion Award Winner: Austin Robinson
Market Dairy Steer – Born, Bred and Raised Reserve Champion Award Winner: Gage Robinson
Senior Fair Board Scholarships: The Senior Fair Board presented two $200 scholarships. These scholarships are for 2026 graduates and had an essay-driven application. 2026 Winners: Raegan Blanchard and Kenlee Fairall
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.
Kinsley Prosser and Haley Unger 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.
• 2026 High School Graduate OR • Exhibitor that 2026 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.
Taylor Thorne was recognized with the “Love Like Linda Scholarship” and received a $1,000 scholarship.
NEW FOR 2026 – POMONA GRANGE SCHOLARSHIP The Pomona Grange gave two $200 scholarships for qualified individuals who attend a technical school and have the intention of continuing their education and/or occupation in the agricultural industry.
2026 Scholarship Winners: Kenlee Fairall and Raegan Blanchard
Another NEW Scholarship was awarded based on this year’s theme for the Knox County Fair. The Building for a Stronger Tomorrow Award was presented to Will Stokes, this year’s Junior Fair King.
Thanks to our partners for helping us bring you live results from this year’s Sale of Champions.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon, stopped by The Morning Thing to talk about tonight’s exciting event – July First Friday.
She shared a highlight of all the fun activities and how the downtown business district will celebrate this theme – Party Like it’s 1776!
Lacey shared details on parking, food, entertainment, the Experience Mount Vernon Passport and how your family can have fun tonight.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.
WNZR will be there tonight! Look for Big Blue near the Dog Fountain on South Main Street. Click HERE for more details about tonight’s event and our prize basket for tonight.
The Morning Thing shined the spotlight on June First Friday today. We are excited to partner with Experience Mount Vernon for this special event.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon shared all the details of tonight’s event with us. She gave us highlights on the schedule, parking, food, family activities, bike valet and the theme. Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click the link below.
Come enjoy a fun summer evening with WNZR. It’s time to “Shake, Rattle & Roll” in downtown tonight! For more details, go to https://www.experiencemv.org/ You can see a map of the event, list of exhibitors and parking information below.
WNZR went “On The Road with Big Blue” to the Mount Vernon Farmer’s Market to talk about the 2026 Click It or Ticket Campaign. This is a safety initiative to educate the public about the importance of seat belt safety. We talked with representatives from local law enforcement:
Deputy Tom Queen from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Jared Myers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Officer Jackie Nauman from the Mount Vernon Police Department
Community Risk Reduction and Inspector Ross Wind from the Mount Vernon Fire Department
Click HERE to hear our conversation or click on the link below.
They shared some eye-opening stats on seat belt usage and how important it is to buckle up. We also talked about the importance of seat belts in all scenarios including summer travel, nighttime driving, and with teen drivers. They shared common misconceptions of seat belt usage including the interaction with air bags, proper child restraints and booster seats, and the importance for back seat passengers to buckle up.
One of the safest choices YOU can make is to buckle up! Buckle up all the time – for short trips and long trips, and in every seating position. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/SeatBelts
September First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon focuses on education with Back-to-School night.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart spoke with Experience Mount Vernon’s Lacey Filkins about the happenings at the event including the “Are You Smarter than a 5h grader” contest between teachers and college administrators.
There will also be a street show from “Six Miles to Nellie,” food and fun!
Click HERE to learn more about September First Friday!
September First Friday’s theme is “Back to School”! MVNU Faculty members encourage you to join the focus on education in downtown Mount Vernon. Families are invited to participate in the education activity and department fair located in the Public Square. From 6pm to 9pm, you be able to visit multiple tables hosted by MVNU Departments. You and your kids will get the chance for hands-on learning and exploration. Find out more about MVNU and have some FUN this Friday 9/5 from 6pm – 9pm.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with these professors: Click HERE to hear their conversations. Dr. Jose Oomman – Engineering – This department will offer tours of the newly renovated Hunter Wright Hub for Engineering and Computer Science. Stop by the basement of 18 East Vine Street. Dr. Jon Bosley – Environmental Biology – Stop by their table to see rocks, minerals, fossils, plants and other items related to biology. Dr. Dawn McKee – Communication Sciences and Disorders – Stop by and pick out a gently used book and a children’s book about stuttering. Find out about MVNU’s Speech Therapy Services. Dr. Rachel Young – Social Work – Their table will focus on self-care! Stop by to pick up your own self-care bag! Professor Amy Dubusky – Education – Stop by their table and make an origami bookmark. You can also sign up for a book giveaway and a book bundle. Dr. Deb Garee – Nursing – Stop by their table and pick up a sensory bag filled with health care items. They will also be giving away gently used children’s books.
Don’t forget to stop by Big Blue and see talk to students in the Communication & Media (Digital Media) Major. You can be part of a live broadcast, sign up for a great prize basket and sing our Birthday song!
We will see you and your family this Friday from 6pm – 9pm in downtown Mount Vernon!
We got to chat with several members of the Teen Advisory Counsel about their program and the upcoming Color Run! Their members tell us all about the TAC, why they are involved, and they highlight the fun event coming this weekend!
To learn more about the TAC or their Color Run, click HERE!
Rise and Shine 