BROWNSTOWN — Abigail “Abby” Stuckwisch grew up at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.
She was involved in Jackson County 4-H for 10 years and showed pigs, and she also enjoyed walking around the fairgrounds in Brownstown visiting all of the exhibit buildings during the last week of July.
She also said it was cool to see the fair queen court walk around and represent the fair in that way.
This week, she will see the fair from that perspective, as she was crowned the 2022 Jackson County Fair queen during Sunday night’s pageant at the grandstand.
“I think Jackson County is so lucky to have such a beautiful fair that we do, and I felt like having grown up at the fair, this was my way to be able to represent the fair and all that it is for everybody here in Jackson County,” the 19-year-old Brownstown woman said of why she entered the pageant for the first time.
She was one of 13 contestants in this year’s pageant who did interviews with the three judges Sunday afternoon and modeled professional wear and formal wear in the evening.
Once the votes were tabulated, Valeria Ramirez, 18, of Seymour was announced as Miss Congeniality; Addison “Addie” Shelton, 18, of Freetown was named second runner-up; Alexus “Lexi” Morris, 18, of Seymour was first runner-up; and Stuckwisch was chosen the 65th fair queen.
“I have no idea what to think,” Stuckwisch said minutes after receiving a bouquet of roses, a trophy, a sash, a cloak and a crown.
“I was hearing the court announced and I was like, ‘Every single one is so deserving, so good,’” she said. “Then I was just like, ‘OK, who’s next?’ and then it was my name, and I was just astounded. I was so extremely happy, but I was so surprised at the same time.”
Stuckwisch was sponsored by Brownstown Central FFA. The 2021 Brownstown Central High School graduate spent the past year serving as an Indiana FFA officer, filling the role of southern region vice president.
“I had a lot of friends travel here this year to come, I had a couple friends that traveled from out of county to come and watch this tonight, and just hearing them talk about our fair and what it means and just knowing that our fair is known to be so good, to be able to represent something so big here in our county, I’ve grown up here, this is my home, this is where I want to be my whole life,” she said. “To be able to represent our county in this way, it’s so special to me, right in my heart.”
She wasn’t able to be at the fair last year due to her duties as an FFA state officer, so she’s ready to join her court for a variety of activities this year. The fair runs through Saturday.
“Being able to just spend the whole week at the fair, to be able to live that way, to be able to interact with the younger kids who are going to be involved in the fair in their 10 years of 4-H, interact with the public who is coming to see agriculture and 4-H here at the fair, I’m just really excited to be able to be that person to interact with them and to truly make the fair what it is,” Stuckwisch said.
Her message to fairgoers: “Please come and find me sometime at the fair. I would love to talk to you, love to be able to talk about the fair with you and celebrate with you.”
Ramirez was all smiles when emcee Blake Hackman announced she was selected Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. She was sponsored by White River Machine and Repair.
“I feel like I won everything,” she said, smiling. “They are amazing. I love all of those girls, and I’m so glad that they picked me as Miss Congeniality.”
She and Morris both graduated from Seymour High School in June.
“I’m not from Jackson County, so I do have a different experience than people that were born here,” Ramirez said. “I did come when I was around 7 years old from Mexico, and Jackson County really has shaped who I am today, and I really wanted to represent that here in Jackson County.”
Since she already knows the other court members, Ramirez said she’s looking forward to a great week at the fair.
“I want to learn so much from them because they all do 4-H and they do animals and stuff, and I didn’t really experience the animal part, so I’m really looking forward to all of the animal shows and things like that,” she said.
Morris also was excited to hear her name called as first runner-up. Her sponsor was Kum Join Us Extension Homemakers Club.
“I was like, ‘No way they just said that,’” she said, smiling. “I think it’s awesome. I was really excited throughout the whole day, so to be able represent Jackson County, it’s crazy, it’s exciting.”
Morris said the first thing she and her family always do during fair week is attend the queen pageant, and she has dreamed of being on the stage for as long as she can remember.
“With explaining it to my parents, I said, ‘Throughout a lot of different aspects of the fair, people have helped me get ready and have helped me win competitions, helped me win shows. Now, it’s my turn to help them go through the pig shows and go through the tractor pulls,’” she said. “I think it’s a great living to serve opportunity.”
Shelton graduated from BCHS in May. Her pageant sponsor was the All Seasons Garden Club.
“I did the contest because I work as a lifeguard at the Brownstown Pool and I see a lot of kids that don’t have a lot of role models, and my family has always been in education and they see a lot of kids that don’t have a lot of people to look up to, so I really wanted to do it for those kids who don’t have a good home life,” she said.
She will have that opportunity as a member of the fair queen court.
“It’s awesome. It’s amazing. It means the world to me,” Shelton said. “I can remember seeing fair queens walking around and having no idea who they are, but I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh! A princess. I want to go take a picture.’ I’m so honored, I’m so blessed, I’m so thankful and I’m so excited for this week.”