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.
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.
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)
For Phoebe Hults, the Knox County Fair is more than just a summer tradition—it’s a chance to reconnect with family, friends, and the 4-H community.
WNZR’s Josiah Styer recently sat down with Phoebe, a member of the 2026 Knox County Junior Fair Board, to talk about traveling from New York each summer to take part in the fair.
Phoebe lives just outside New York City and attends school in the Bronx, but every summer she comes to Knox County to stay with her grandparents and participate in 4-H. She’s been a member of the Clinton Clovers 4-H Club for eight years and is serving her third year on the Junior Fair Board.
During the fair, Phoebe helps with livestock shows, cares for the barns, and assists with setting up booths. She also exhibits rabbits, goats, and broilers while bringing several still projects, including knitting and a Pantry Panic project.
Her Pantry Panic project gave her the opportunity to research food insecurity by visiting food pantries in both New York and Knox County, giving her a unique perspective on how communities work together to help those in need.
When summer comes to an end, Phoebe will head back to New York to prepare for another school year and field hockey season.
She says 4-H has helped her step outside her comfort zone while teaching her just how much work goes into raising and showing animals. And when asked about her favorite part of fair week, her answer was easy—Sale Day.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
On Monday, Stella the Dachshund, held on to her title as the fastest Wiener Dog at the Knox County Fair. For the third year in a row, she has taken first place in the races here in Mount Vernon. Her brother Sterling placed 2nd in the race, followed by Oakley. WNZR’s Josiah Styer talked with the proud owners of these amazing dogs. Click HERE to hear the conversations.
For many fairgoers, a trip to the Knox County Fair isn’t complete without stopping at the Little Red Barn for a Porkette sandwich. This year, the tradition reaches a major milestone.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart recently caught up with Lee Myers of the Knox County Pork Council to talk about the organization’s 50th anniversary and what’s new at the Porkette Barn during this year’s fair.
Myers says the Pork Council has been serving its famous Porkette sandwiches since 1976, when members first began selling them at the Fredericktown Tomato Show. Fifty years later, the Little Red Barn remains a favorite stop for fair visitors.
To celebrate the anniversary, the Pork Council is offering a new punch card promotion. For $20, visitors receive five sandwich-and-drink punches. Once the card is filled, guests can return it to be entered into a daily prize drawing held throughout the fair. Myers says the prizes are being kept a surprise.
Early risers can also enjoy a breakfast Porkette topped with egg and cheese, available each morning until 11 a.m.
Need help finding the Porkette Barn? Just follow the painted white hog hoofprints that begin near the livestock areas and lead visitors straight to the Little Red Barn.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
Joshua Davidson may be in his first year on the Knox County Junior Fair Board, but he’s already discovering what makes the fair such a rewarding experience.
WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger recently sat down with Joshua to talk about his involvement in 4-H, serving on the Junior Fair Board, and what he’s looking forward to at this year’s Knox County Fair.
Joshua attends Riverview Middle School and will be entering eighth grade this fall. He’s been a member of the New Horizon 4-H Club for four years and says joining the Junior Fair Board has given him a chance to become more involved with the fair.
One event he’s especially excited about is the truck events, and he shared how he prepares throughout the year for his 4-H project.
Joshua says one of the biggest lessons he’s learned through 4-H is to never give up, even when things don’t go as planned.
When asked about his favorite fair memory, Joshua smiled as he remembered bringing his goose to the fair and seeing how excited everyone was to meet it.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
Most people come to the Knox County Fair to watch the shows. Lia Wolf enjoys something a little different.
Whether she’s helping in the barns, answering questions, or pitching in wherever she’s needed as a member of the Knox County Junior Fair Board, Lia says some of her favorite moments happen behind the scenes, long before ribbons are handed out.
WNZR’s Josiah Styer recently caught up with Lia to talk about life on the Junior Fair Board, raising livestock, and why she hopes to one day become a veterinarian.
Originally from Chile, Lia moved to Mount Vernon several years ago and is now a homeschooled junior. She’s been involved with the Down on the Farm 4-H Club for six years and is serving her second year on the Junior Fair Board.
This summer she’s showing rabbits, goats and broiler chickens, giving her plenty to keep track of during fair week. While visitors may only see the finished product in the show ring, Lia says preparing animals is something that takes place every day throughout the year.
Lia says raising livestock has taught her responsibility, but it has also shown her the importance of patience. Animals don’t always cooperate, and learning to work through those moments has helped shape her as a person.
She also enjoys being someone her younger siblings can look up to. Seeing them learn from her reminds Lia of the trust she works to build with her own animals every day.
Asked about one of her favorite fair memories, she didn’t mention winning a ribbon. Instead, she smiled while remembering the teamwork of getting livestock pens ready before the fair opened—a reminder that some of the best moments happen before the crowds ever arrive.
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.
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)
For Meira Bryant, serving on the Knox County Junior Fair Board is about more than organizing events—it’s about being someone others can count on.
WNZR’s Sue McDonald recently spoke with Meira about her leadership roles, her livestock projects, and the lessons she’s learned during seven years in 4-H.
Meira, a recent graduate from Fredericktown, is a member of the Red Brush 4-H Club and has spent the past three years on the Junior Fair Board. She currently serves as secretary while also holding the roles of Goat and Poultry Liaison.
As secretary, Meira helps keep the board organized and works to set a positive example for younger members. In her liaison roles, she’s available to answer questions, assist exhibitors, and step in whenever help is needed throughout fair week.
When she’s not helping others, Meira is preparing her own projects. This year she’s exhibiting broiler chickens, dairy goats, and market goats. She explained that getting animals ready for competition takes months of work, including daily care, exercise, and making sure they’re healthy before entering the show ring.
Now that she’s graduated, Meira is looking toward a career in healthcare. She plans to earn her phlebotomy license and hopes to begin working in clinics or hospitals.
Looking back on her time in 4-H, Meira says one of the biggest rewards has been the friendships she’s built with fellow Junior Fair Board members while spending countless hours together in the barns.
She also shared a memorable lesson from her first year showing goats. After putting in months of preparation, her goat had other ideas once it entered the ring—a reminder that no matter how much you prepare, animals sometimes have plans of their own.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
While fairgoers often see the shows and competitions, there’s another group working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Sierra Shields wears several hats on the Knox County Junior Fair Board, serving as a liaison, Dairy Ambassador, and leader for fellow exhibitors.
WNZR’s Sue McDonald recently sat down with Sierra to discuss her many responsibilities, her livestock projects, and the lessons she’s learned through years of involvement with 4-H and FFA.
Sierra, of Howard, is a senior at Danville High School and also attends the Knox County Career Center in the College U Business program. She’s a member of the Creative Kids 4-H Club and Danville FFA. She has been involved in 4-H for eight years, FFA for four years, and has spent the past three years serving on the Junior Fair Board. She has also served as Dairy Ambassador and a liaison for four years.
As a liaison, Sierra acts as a communication link between exhibitors, parents, and visitors, helping answer questions and keep events running smoothly. As Dairy Ambassador, she represents the dairy industry while encouraging younger members to become involved in agriculture.
This year, Sierra said the Junior Fair Board has placed extra emphasis on animal care and safety by providing exhibitors with clear guidelines for barn walkthroughs and making sure livestock receive proper care throughout the week.
Beyond her leadership roles, Sierra is busy in the show ring. At the Knox County Fair she’s exhibiting market dairy steers, market dairy feeders, and a market hog. She’ll continue her summer at the Ohio State Fair, where she’ll also show sheep and additional cattle.
Preparing animals for competition is a year-round commitment. Sierra explained that exhibitors spend months helping animals become comfortable around people while making sure they’re healthy and ready for the show ring. She credits her younger siblings for helping with chores and daily responsibilities throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Sierra plans to return to the Career Center’s College U Business program while pursuing internship opportunities. Her long-term goal is to attend Wilmington College and earn a master’s degree in animal science.
Reflecting on her years in 4-H and the Junior Fair Board, Sierra said one of the biggest lessons she’s learned is the importance of staying true to yourself and treating others with authenticity. One of her favorite fair memories is competing in showmanship alongside her older brother.
Click HERE to learn more about the Knox County Fair!
(Photo Credit: Jenelle Doup, Saved by Grace Photography)
