This is the first year the crowning has been held in conjunction with the fashion revue. Previously contestants were crowned during the opening night of the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo.
The king contestants were Ryan Hummel, Greg Harris and Karl Janke.
The queen candidates were Jaycelyn Barten, Jessica Massie, Beryl Billingsley, Kaitlynn Martin, Marie Aker and Casity Smith.
The 2009 Central Kansas Free Fair king and queen, Austin Abeldt and Elizabeth Forsyth, were present to assist with the crowning.
Jaycelyn Barten, 17, of the Jolly Jayhawkers 4-H Club, was crowned queen. She is the daughter of Jim and Charlotte Barten. She will be a senior at Hope High School this fall.
Greg Harris, 18, a member of the Holland Sunflowers 4-H Club, was crowned king. He is the son of Kevin and Rosemary Harris. He will be a freshman at Kansas State University this fall. This is the second consecutive year a Holland Sunflowers 4-H Club member has been crowned king.
It was a night of great achievement for Barten, who also won reserve champion in girls purchased garments during the fashion revue.
“It’s very exciting. I was surprised,” Barten said after the crowning. “It will be fun going to the different events. I’ve lived in Dickinson County all my life and have always looked up to the fair queen. I’m excited to take part in that tradition.”
Harris said that he was encouraged to become a king candidate after his brother, Sam Schrak, won in 2000.
“When he was fair king, it showed me what it would be like,” Harris explained.
“It’s really an honor to be the king,” Harris said. “Everyone’s looking up to you.”
Both royalty have been very active in 4-H and their communities.
“These are the elite 4-Hers,” said Erin Johnson, king and queen superintendent.
The queen’s first attendant was Kaitlyn Martin, 17, a Solomon Wranglers 4-H Club member. Beryl Billingsley, 18, of the Navarre Boosters 4-H Club, was selected as the queen’s second attendant.
The king’s first attendant was Karl Janke, 17, of the Chapman Shamrocks 4-H Club. The king’s second attendant was Ryan Hummel, 18, of the Jolly Jayhawkers 4-H Club.
A parting word from the newly crowned CKFF queen -
“I look forward to seeing everyone at the fair!”