MONROE - Tess Zettle, Juda, said she won the Green County Fairest of the Fair competition this year only because she had one thing that put her over the top of her competitors.
"Believing I could," she said.
Zettle, 19, daughter of Brian and Kim Zettle, was crowned Green County Fairest of the Fair Saturday, May 26 at the Green County Ag Chest's Breakfast on the Farm held near New Glarus.
She becomes the official ambassador, media spokesperson and host of the 2012 Green County Fair. In January, she will compete to become the next Wisconsin State Fair "Fairest of the Fair."
Believing she could win doesn't mean Zettle didn't have some doubts.
"I was in complete shock," she said. "I honestly didn't think I would win; there was so much tough competition."
Going up against Zettle in the Green County Fair competition were Alicia Gordee, daughter of Ron and Kelly Gordee, Argyle; Andrea McGowan, daughter of Rolly and Patty McGowan, Blanchardville; Kristin Rupnow, daughter of John and Marilyn Rupnow, Monroe; and Theresa Wyss, daughter of Randall and Pamela Wyss, Monroe.
In that split second between hearing her name and realizing she'd won, Zettle looked at her mother.
"Mom was already in tears," she recalled.
Kim Zettle had encouraged her daughter to enter the competition; she sent an application to her at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where Tess is studying animal science with an emphasis in dairy.
Zettle said she was excited to learn the Green County Fair Board had approved the return of the Fairest of the Fair program after a 13-year hiatus. She thought, if she could win the competition, it would give her an opportunity to do some things she really loves - talking to people and promoting agriculture.
"Oh, my, gosh, I thought it was great," she said.
Zettle grew up on her parent's dairy farm, which has remained close to her heart. "I enjoyed it; it was just fun," she said.
As a member of the Juda Jolly Juniors 4-H Club since age nine, she concentrated on dairy cattle, fruits and vegetables, and photography.
The duties of her new position as Fairest of the Fair, to promote the vast agricultural and educational opportunities available at the fair, as well as its commercial, cultural and social aspects, falls right in line with her future aspirations to enter a career field in agriculture.
Zettle was crowned by Hayley Barker Jordan, the last Green County Fairest of the Fair to be crowned in 1999.
The crowning took place a little later than planned that day. Julene Elmer, coordinator of the local competition, had gotten stuck in a muddy field on the way to the event and called in to say she was on her way.
"We asked her if we could just go ahead with the program," Zettle said, "and she said we could - but she had the crown and the banner."
Although her crown is new, Zettle inherited the original crown storage basket covered with the name plates of past competition winners, a keepsake Jordan held on to for 13 years.
"It's really amazing to see all the past names," Zettle said.
Jordan went on to be named Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair the January following her crowing. Zettle will be the first person in Green County since Jordan with the opportunity to compete in the state program this coming January.
Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair is a joint venture of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the State Fair Park.
Zettle will, of course, be at the Green County Fair, July 18-22, but she will probably not be in one place. She asks that people look for her - she will be the one wearing the white sash with black trim and, once again, bearing the title "Fairest of the Fair."
"Believing I could," she said.
Zettle, 19, daughter of Brian and Kim Zettle, was crowned Green County Fairest of the Fair Saturday, May 26 at the Green County Ag Chest's Breakfast on the Farm held near New Glarus.
She becomes the official ambassador, media spokesperson and host of the 2012 Green County Fair. In January, she will compete to become the next Wisconsin State Fair "Fairest of the Fair."
Believing she could win doesn't mean Zettle didn't have some doubts.
"I was in complete shock," she said. "I honestly didn't think I would win; there was so much tough competition."
Going up against Zettle in the Green County Fair competition were Alicia Gordee, daughter of Ron and Kelly Gordee, Argyle; Andrea McGowan, daughter of Rolly and Patty McGowan, Blanchardville; Kristin Rupnow, daughter of John and Marilyn Rupnow, Monroe; and Theresa Wyss, daughter of Randall and Pamela Wyss, Monroe.
In that split second between hearing her name and realizing she'd won, Zettle looked at her mother.
"Mom was already in tears," she recalled.
Kim Zettle had encouraged her daughter to enter the competition; she sent an application to her at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where Tess is studying animal science with an emphasis in dairy.
Zettle said she was excited to learn the Green County Fair Board had approved the return of the Fairest of the Fair program after a 13-year hiatus. She thought, if she could win the competition, it would give her an opportunity to do some things she really loves - talking to people and promoting agriculture.
"Oh, my, gosh, I thought it was great," she said.
Zettle grew up on her parent's dairy farm, which has remained close to her heart. "I enjoyed it; it was just fun," she said.
As a member of the Juda Jolly Juniors 4-H Club since age nine, she concentrated on dairy cattle, fruits and vegetables, and photography.
The duties of her new position as Fairest of the Fair, to promote the vast agricultural and educational opportunities available at the fair, as well as its commercial, cultural and social aspects, falls right in line with her future aspirations to enter a career field in agriculture.
Zettle was crowned by Hayley Barker Jordan, the last Green County Fairest of the Fair to be crowned in 1999.
The crowning took place a little later than planned that day. Julene Elmer, coordinator of the local competition, had gotten stuck in a muddy field on the way to the event and called in to say she was on her way.
"We asked her if we could just go ahead with the program," Zettle said, "and she said we could - but she had the crown and the banner."
Although her crown is new, Zettle inherited the original crown storage basket covered with the name plates of past competition winners, a keepsake Jordan held on to for 13 years.
"It's really amazing to see all the past names," Zettle said.
Jordan went on to be named Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair the January following her crowing. Zettle will be the first person in Green County since Jordan with the opportunity to compete in the state program this coming January.
Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair is a joint venture of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the State Fair Park.
Zettle will, of course, be at the Green County Fair, July 18-22, but she will probably not be in one place. She asks that people look for her - she will be the one wearing the white sash with black trim and, once again, bearing the title "Fairest of the Fair."