Tama County Fair Queen Candidates

Lillian Howard Lillian is the 16 year old daughter of Michael and Juliet Howard of rural Clutier. She recently completed her sophomore year at North Tama High School in Traer. During Lillian’s two years of high school she has participated in: volleyball, basketball, softball, chorus, band and AAU volleyball. She is also is a member of the North Tama Academic Decathlon team and the National Honor Society. Lillian has been elected junior class treasurer for the 2009-2010 school year and participates in the Talented and Gifted program at North Tama. Lillian is also an active member of her community. She attends 4-H and BASIC (Brothers and Sisters In Christ) meetings regularly and helps with community projects in both. These include: Helping Hands Day, serving meals, Clutier Easter Egg Hunt, donating to local charities and the Adopt a Highway Program. To occupy her free time, Lillian volunteers in her community, babysits and loves to take care of her animals. In the future, Lillian plans to attend Iowa State University. Her chosen majors are veterinary science and molecular biology. She also hopes to minor in genetics.

It will soon be “State Fair Time” and visitors to the Iowa State Fair will see a beautiful group of accomplished young women competing for a title of 2009 Iowa State Fair Queen. One of four young ladies from Tama County will be among them. Lillian Howard, Rose Koester, Nora Seda and ShayLynn Williams will be competing at the Tama County Fair in the hope of representing our county at the State Fair competition. The crowning ceremony will take place in the show ring at the fair grounds in Gladbrook at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.

2008 Queen Kelsey Upah, daughter of Duane and Gail Upah of Clutier, helped the candidates prepare for the competition at a workshop held in Toledo in June. Kelsey shared her experiences at the Iowa State Fair competition last year and prepared the group for interviews and group discussions which will be a a part of the judging. The girls all had their photos taken prior to the work shop by Deb Wacha at Wacha Photography. the girls also got to practice makeup and skincare in a presentation by Anne Dengler.

Judging will take place on Sunday, July 19 at the Methodist Church in Gladbrook. Judging is based upon 1/3 leadership, citizenship and contributions to the community, 1/3 on personality and current events awareness and 1/3 on poise. Each candidate will participate in a 15 minute group discussion and in a 10 minute private interview with three judges.

A Gladbrook 4-H Club and the Fair Queen Committee will team up to serve a light luncheon at 3 p.m. after which the girls will each give a short prepared speech. The judges will then retire to make their decision, placing their choice in a sealed envelope which will be opened at the crowning ceremony at the Tama County Fair. Anyone who would like to attend the luncheon and speeches should RSVP to Anne Dengler by July 15 at 319-479-2504.

Flowers and various gifts will be awarded to each of the contestants. The new queen will receive a $250 scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to Des Moines where she will compete against other county queen contestants for the honor of being crowned the Iowa State Fair Queen for 2009.

Rose Koester Rose is the daughter of Steve and Marcia Koester of Gladbrook and a 2009 graduate of Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School. While in high school, Rose’s activities included: volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, softball, band, chorus and National Honor Society. She served as captain of her volleyball, basketball, and soccer teams her senior year. In her community Rose was president, reporter and photographer of the Gladbrook Gals and Guys 4-H club. She has also been on the Tama County 4-H Council for the past two years. Rose is a member of the Untied Methodist Church and has been active in her youth group serving as secretary and vice-president. This past summer she took a mission trip with her church to Rosebud, South Dakota. As a active member in her community she has volunteered with helping with camps, Corn Carnival, theater, and many clean up days throughout the community. Rose has worked for Monsanto in Beaman for the past three summers. She will be attending Iowa State University in the fall majoring in Pre-diet and Exercise. After five years she will receive her Master’s and Bachelor’s degree as a Registered Dietitian and Exercise Specialist.

Meet the 2009 Tama County Fair Queen Contestants: See the candidates bios on page 8

Nora Seda Nora is the 16 year old daughter of William and Marla Seda of rural Traer and will be a senior at North Tama High School in the fall. In high school, Nora’s activities include: basketball, volleyball, golf, softball, concert band, marching band, pep band, jazz band, chorus, show choir, band council, vocal council, student council, Spanish club, publications, NHS, JEL and TAG. She served as President of Spanish club, Vice President of student council and on the Executive Board of NHS her junior year. She also served as her class treasurer her freshman year and secretary her junior year. Nora participated in the school musical “Grease” and had the lead in the school play “Krazy Kamp”.In her community, Nora served as librarian, teen leader and Vice President during her 8-year membership of the Buckingham Boosters 4-H Club. She was chosen to attend Girls’ State in the summer of 2009. She is an active member of her church helping with the children’s readings, various church activities and serving as an alter server. In her spare time, Nora enjoys babysitting and spending time with her friends. She also enjoys playing sports and lifting weights. Nora’s future plans include attending a four-year college after she graduates from high school in the spring of 2010.

ShayLynn Williams ShayLynn is the 17 year old adopted daughter of Dale and Terri Williams of rural Clutier and a senior at North Tama High School. While in high school, ShayLynn’s activities included: drama club, band, chorus, volleyball, track and color guard. ShayLynn was also active in Art Club, JEL Club and Spanish Club. ShayLynn was on the Prom committee and a volleyball manager. ShayLynn is an Honor Roll student and is highly respected by both teachers and peers. In her community, ShayLynn is very active entertaining and ministering to the elderly and handicapped people of Tama County. She has volunteered in this way monthly for eight years at several locations. ShayLynn being adopted from Tama County D.H.S. believes it is her duty to give back to her community. ShayLynn has been in a family singing group that sings for the community theater and fund raising for community day care. She is active in her church youth group and preached a sermon on abstinence to her church congregation, she also assists in teaching Sunday school. In her spare time ShayLynn helps at home, with 13 brothers and sisters there are plenty of chores like milking the family cowand cooking. ShayLynn can bake the best banana bread and churn great homemade butter, and if there is a spare second or two she might even sew on her brothers shirt buttons. ShayLynn’s plans are to attend Faith Baptist Bible College where she hopes to major in missions with