MONROE - Tess Zettle, Green County's Fairest of the Fair, was back home Thursday, exhausted from the 2013 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs competition during the 90th Annual Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention Jan. 6-9 in Wisconsin Dells.
Zettle competed against a field of 40 contestants from throughout Wisconsin. In the end, Steffani Koch representing the Dodge County Fair took home the coveted Fairest of the Fairs crown.
Zettle said her experience at the competition was "amazing."
"I learned so much in these last couple of days," she said late Thursday, taking a brief break from her chores on the Juda farm of her parents, Brian and Kim Zettle.
Besides learning etiquette and how to turn negatives into positives, Zettle said, competitors got to know each other and about their county fairs.
Having to present a random, on-the-spot advertising pitch for antique tractor pulls didn't throw Zettle off her game.
"Fortunately, Green County had one of those last year, so I knew what I was talking about," she laughed.
One group judging session focused on problems so many fairs are facing: Attendance and entertainment.
"I know what our fair board is facing," she said, adding that she was also comforted knowing other fair boards are saddled with similar problems.
The Green County Fair Board restarted the Fairest of the Fair program last year, after a 13-year hiatus, and Zettle said she is pleased the board and so many businesses and craftsmen jumped into the program to help her, including filling her county basket featuring local products and services, which was auctioned off at the convention.
"I would love to help the next girl who enters the county's Fairest of the Fair competition," she added. "She doesn't even have to ask; I'll be more than willing."
Zettle will retain her county crown until May when the next Fairest of the Fair is chosen. Julene Elmer directs the Green County program.
Steffani Koch will serve a one-year term beginning immediately, as a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Association of Fairs. Her responsibilities include making appearances at fairs throughout the state, working with media, and promoting the educational, social and economic importance of Wisconsin's Fair Industry. Koch is the daughter of Franklin and Debra Koch of Mayville, and is a first-year Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Individuals interested in competing in the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs contest may contact their county or district fair board for more information, or visit www.wifairs.com.
Zettle competed against a field of 40 contestants from throughout Wisconsin. In the end, Steffani Koch representing the Dodge County Fair took home the coveted Fairest of the Fairs crown.
Zettle said her experience at the competition was "amazing."
"I learned so much in these last couple of days," she said late Thursday, taking a brief break from her chores on the Juda farm of her parents, Brian and Kim Zettle.
Besides learning etiquette and how to turn negatives into positives, Zettle said, competitors got to know each other and about their county fairs.
Having to present a random, on-the-spot advertising pitch for antique tractor pulls didn't throw Zettle off her game.
"Fortunately, Green County had one of those last year, so I knew what I was talking about," she laughed.
One group judging session focused on problems so many fairs are facing: Attendance and entertainment.
"I know what our fair board is facing," she said, adding that she was also comforted knowing other fair boards are saddled with similar problems.
The Green County Fair Board restarted the Fairest of the Fair program last year, after a 13-year hiatus, and Zettle said she is pleased the board and so many businesses and craftsmen jumped into the program to help her, including filling her county basket featuring local products and services, which was auctioned off at the convention.
"I would love to help the next girl who enters the county's Fairest of the Fair competition," she added. "She doesn't even have to ask; I'll be more than willing."
Zettle will retain her county crown until May when the next Fairest of the Fair is chosen. Julene Elmer directs the Green County program.
Steffani Koch will serve a one-year term beginning immediately, as a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Association of Fairs. Her responsibilities include making appearances at fairs throughout the state, working with media, and promoting the educational, social and economic importance of Wisconsin's Fair Industry. Koch is the daughter of Franklin and Debra Koch of Mayville, and is a first-year Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Individuals interested in competing in the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs contest may contact their county or district fair board for more information, or visit www.wifairs.com.