The 2023 Tama County Fair Queen, Adelyn Sienknecht, center, pictured with this year’s Tama County Fair Princess Emily Hulme (left) and 2022 Tama County Fair Queen Kaylynn Murty (right) on Tuesday, July 11 at the fairgrounds in Gladbrook following the crowning ceremony. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Miss Adelyn Sienknecht, 2023 Tama County Fair Queen has been representing Tama County at fair activities, parades and other activities throughout the year. Her reign will soon be coming to an end.

Sienknecht, the daughter of Randy and Melissa Sienknecht, is the seventh consecutive Tama County Fair Queen hailing from what’s been dubbed the ‘Spanky’s Dynasty’ by owner Mandy Boldt – queen candidates who have worked for Spanky’s Restaurant and Catering which currently operates out of the diner space within the Tama Livestock Auction facility in Tama.

A senior at North Tama High School, Sienknecht’s activities have included volleyball, basketball, track, softball, band, the fall play, National Honor Society. She has served as the Vice-President of both her FFA and 4-H clubs as well as the Vice President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the band. Adelyn has also served as the Vice President for the Mid Iowa Youth Beef Tam and is active in advocating for the beef industry. She was the Tama County Beef Queen for 2022-2023. In her community, Adely has assisted with many Junior Auxiliary programs and held positions with the 3rd district Junior Auxiliary. In her spare time, she can be found working in the barn with her 4-H beef cattle and goats or on the volleyball court or softball field. Adelyn’s future plans are to attend a 4-year university and study in an ag related field.

The Tama County Fair Queen Committee is taking applications for the 2023 Tama County Fair Queen. The contest is open to girls who are at least 16 years of age and not more than 21 on August 10, 2024.

The Tama County Fair Queen Contest is judged in three distinct areas: Personality, Community Involvement and Leadership, and Poise and Beauty. Contestants do not have to be 4-H members but need to be active in at least one community group.

Contestants will participate in a queen contestant workshop in June. Photos for publicity purposes will be taken at this time. Contest judging will take place July 10. The Tama County Queen will be crowned on Tuesday, July 16 at the Tama County Fair. The first-place winner will receive an all-expense paid four-day trip to Des Moines to represent Tama County in competition with other candidates for the title of Iowa State Fair Queen.

Prizes include gift certificates, t-shirts, complimentary photos and gift bags for all candidates and a $500 scholarship for the Queen.

The Tama County Fair Queen Committee would like to encourage young ladies in Tama County to participate in this competition for the chance to proudly represent Tama County at the Iowa State Fair.

To request an application, please contact Mandy Lekin at 641-751-3021, the Tama County Extension Office, or any of the Tama County high schools’ guidance offices.

Application forms must be completed and postmarked no later than June 1, 2024.