BROWNSTOWN — Talk to any member of this year’s Jackson County Fair Queen court and each would tell you everyone of the 15 young women competing for the top spot deserved it.

Unfortunately there could only be one queen and that’s an honor that went to Carly Kaiser of Seymour at the end of the contest Sunday on the opening day of the fair.

First runner-up was Lilian Stogdill of Brownstown, second-runner-up was Camryn Thompson of Brownstown and Erin Lee of Brownstown was Miss Congeniality.

Kaiser said she was just stunned to hear her name called as the 2024 fair queen at the end of the program in the grandstand.

“I could not believe it,” she said. “Every single one of these girls has the qualities to be Jackson County Fair queen, and I was just honored that the judges selected me to be a representative of our amazing county … and join a great organization of women through this program.”

Kaiser said the hardest part of the competition was the waiting after each candidate had a five-minute interview Sunday afternoon with the three judges.

“It was a really great moment to get to know the girls and just bond and have a great time,” the 2023 Seymour High School graduate said. Kaiser is attending the University of Kansas.

Fair week is always a busy and long one for the queen and her court along with the escorts.

“A lot of fun memories, though,” Kaiser said. “I’m looking forward to it. Growing up as a little girl, I always looked up to the fair queens. What significant role models they were. I love that opportunity to be that role model for little kids in our community as well.”

Kaiser was a 10-year 4-H member and showed livestock and was very involved in the 4-H program.

“I know a lot about this fair,” she said.

Stogdill said she was ecstatic after being named first runner-up.

“I’m so happy for Carly,” she said. “She definitely deserves this. She is a queen of Jackson County.”

Stogdill said she woke up Sunday and prayed it was going to be a great day.

“It turned out to be a wonderful day,” she said. “With all of these beautiful candidates, I knew everyone was going to be a great choice.”

Stogdill said the hardest part of the day for her was probably getting into her dress for the formal wear portion of the contest.

“But nothing was really hard about this day,” she said. “It flew by. It was so much fun. I wish I could relive it over again.”

Thompson, who graduated from Brownstown Central and is now studying elementary education at the University of Southern Indiana at Evansville, said she was so excited to be a member of the court.

“I have grown up watching all of the girls and they are so pretty,” she said. “I always just wanted to do it. I always said, “I’m not a pageant girl” but I wanted to give it a shot and make new friends.”

She said the interview portion of the competition was the hardest part.

“It was not what I expected,” Thompson said. “It was only five minutes but it was tough.

She also she would tell anyone young girl that they should compete in the contest when are old enough to do so.

“You will not regret it,” Thompson said. “It was just so much fun to get dressed up again.”

Lee said she was absolutely so excited.

“I can’t believe I am on the court,” she said. “I am excited for this opportunity to represent my county and there’s a great group of girls with me so we are going to have a fun week. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

Lee, who is a 2022 Austin High School graduate and attending Indiana University studying to be a speech pathologist, said she didn’t expect to be a part of the court on Sunday.

“Every day you wake you just be kind and that’s really what Miss Congeniality is about. So I’m excited to hold this title.”