Sydney Brooks, 19, Waupaca, was named the 2017 Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair on June 25.
Five contestants participated in the competition that took place at the Manawa Masonic Center.
The Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair serves as the official ambassador of the Waupaca County Fair, representing and promoting the Fair at local events throughout the year. The Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair also makes daily appearances during the week of the fair.
Brooks is the daughter of Ron Brooks and formally showed horses at the Waupaca County Fair as a 4-H member.
She currently attends the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay but will be transferring to UW-Madison in fall 2017 to pursue a degree in dairy science. She hopes one day to have a role in her family’s dairy farm in Waupaca.
This summer she is a dairy marketing intern for Genex, a cattle genetics organization headquartered in Shawano.
“I would like to bridge the gap between exhibitors and people attending the fair,” Brooks said. “Connecting the two would give fairgoers insight into the tremendous effort exhibitors put into their projects and animals. I believe it’s important to appreciate the exhibitors as well as the support from the local community.”
The selection process included an individual interview, group interview and a variety of on-stage questions.
Other contestants included: Ashley Acker of New London, Carmen Abel of Readfield, Emily Bauer of Scandinavia and Victoria Zahn of Manawa.
Brooks will officially be crowned on Thursday, Aug. 24, during the Waupaca County Fair.
She succeeds 2016 Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair Kristi Sawall.
“It has been such an honor to be able to serve as Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair,” said Sawall. “I have met so many new people along my journey while being able to promote the fair I love. I can’t wait to see where my new found skills will take me.”
Over the past year Sawall attended numerous events including the Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention in January where she competed for the Wisconsin Fairest of Fairs, the official ambassador of the Wisconsin State Fair, and was named fourth-runner-up.
For 144 years, the Waupaca County Fair has been the much-anticipated summer, family-friendly event in the Waupaca County area.
The annual event will be held Aug. 23-27 at the Waupaca County Fairgrounds in Weyauwega.
Visit waupacacountyfair.org for more information aor follow the Waupaca County Fairest of the Fair and the Waupaca County Fair on Facebook.