Crowning a queen: 10 Jasper County Fair Queen candidates compete for title

10 candidates are vying for the crown and the honor of serving as the 2023 Jasper County Fair Queen. From all corners of the county, these 4H and FFA members have many interest but share the love of the fair.

The candidates will gather June 24 at the Newton Community Theater to compete for the title. The public is invited to attend and cheer on the girls along with giving a final farewell to 2022 Jasper County Fair Queen Lauren Zaabel.

The 2023 candidates are:

Majesta Vos — Reasnor

Majesta Vos is the 17 year old daughter of Meldon and Eloise Vos of Reasnor. She is an eight year member of the Killduff Hotshots 4H Club. She will be a senior this fall at Lynnville-Sully High School, where she participates in FFA, band, choir, sports and Honor Society. She enjoyed being raised on a family farm and is active in her church. She has learned many things through 4H while participating in the horse, home economics, horticulture, communication and citizenship projects. A highlight of each summer has been the Jasper County Fair. She would like to be the Jasper County Fair Queen to be a good role model, to help carry on fair traditions, to help others have fun memories at the fair and to represent Jasper County wherever she goes.

Holly Zahurones — Baxter

Holly Zahurones is the daughter of Dale and Beth Zahurones. She is home-schooled, dual enrolled in Baxter Community Schools. She participates in FFA, 4H, County Council, softball and volleyball. She is the youngest of four siblings. She grew up at the Jasper County Fair, what a way to grow up. Even though she was young, she was able to participate in fair activities. Because she has such a great fair community, her parents encouraged her to explore and participate in all the Jasper County Fair has to offer. The fair is where she learned a lot of life lessons and made friends for life. It has been a big part of her life and one of her favorite parts of the year. Her goal is to give back to the fair in helping the youth learn to love the fair the way she does.

Morgan Hansen — Baxter

Morgan Hansen, daughter of Brock and Robin Hansen,is running for Jasper County Fair Queen this year. She has three siblings who all help within the sixth-generation family farm. She finished up her junior year at Baxter High School and started preparing for Senior year. She is actively involved in 4H, FFA and softball. Morgan wants to represent the Jasper County Fair as queen so she can be a positive role model for those looking up at the royalty and create lifelong memories while meeting the expectations and responsibilities required. Morgan ran last year (2022) and was selected as Princess. It opened her eyes to another side of the fair that she had not experienced. The hard work and dedication of volunteers is amazing to be included in and really puts into perspective how much dedication fair royalty possesses for their county.

Trinity-Ann Hanson — Newton

Trinity-Ann Hanson is the daughter of Lance and Tracy Hanson. She is an active member in the Sherman Sunbeams 4H club and the Newton FFA chapter. She attends Newton Senior High School, where she was a cheerleader and will be wrestling. She would like to represent the Jasper County Fair as queen because the county fair is always a fun time and being someone to represent that would be a great honor. She has always looked to the older kids at the fair and finally being and older kid herself, means other younger kids are looking up to her. She would like to be a good example and show the youth that you can do anything.

Jocelyn Harder — Baxter

Jocelyn Harder is the daughter of Eric and Laura Harder. Jocelyn attends Baxter Community School where she is involved in FFA, Wrestling, Cheer, Track, Big Bolt Little Bolt mentoring and National Honor Society. She would like to represent the Jasper County Fair as the queen because she is looking for new opportunities and she believes that being Fair Queen will help her develop leadership skills as well as public speaking skills.

Eleigh Davis — Monroe

Eleigh Davis a 2023 graduate of PCM High School. Next fall, she plans to attend Wartburg College in Waverly. While there, she will be participating in golf as well as one of the choir ensembles on campus. Eleigh is the daughter of Janice and Tom Davis and is involved in various activities at school, in 4H and in her community. Eleigh would like to be the Fair Queen so that she could be a good role model for young children that are both involved in 4H and for those who are not.

Hope Bonham — Prairie City

Hope Bonham is the daughter of Kevin and Loretta Bonham. She is a student at PCM High School and she is involved in cheer, dance, 4H, FFA (serving as vice president), trapshooting, band and National Honor Society. Hope wants to represent Jasper County as the queen because she strives to make everyone involved. She is a hard worker and reaches to better herself and those around her. Hope wants to help anyone and everyone with every chance she gets.

Libbie Keith — Newton

Libbie Keith is the daughter of Craig and Angie Keith. She is 17 years old and a junior at Newton Senior High School. She is in the Sherman Sunbeams 4H Club and FFA. Libbie has been dancing for 15 years. This fall will be her fourth year of cheer. She has also been a member of the Newton Cardinals Girls Varsity Bowling team for three years and has also played the flute since 5th grade. Libbie currently works at the Parkview Animal Hospital as a kennel tenant. Libbie wants to become the Jasper County Fair Queen because she remembers seeing previous Jasper County Fair Queens as a little girl and she strives to be just like them. She wants to influence little girls to do what they put their minds to just like she did and to let them know that they can be very involved, yet still achieve goals.

Sage Jimenez — Prairie City

Sage Jimenez is the daughter of Jessica and Randy and Bobbi Jo. Sage goes to Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. Sage is a cheerleader at her school and is in ROTC. She enjoys volunteering with the veterans Bingo on Fridays. Sage wants to represent Jasper County because she wants to more involved with the activities at the Jasper County Fair.

Alyssa Bassett — Sully

Alyssa Bassett recently graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School Class of 2023. Alyssa’s parents are Kara and Chris Warrick and Jeremy and Erica Bassett. Alyssa is very involved in 4H and FFA. She has been involved in volleyball and National Honor Society throughout her high school career. Alyssa has always been active and participated at the Jasper County Fair from a young age and would love to be a role model for other youth. Alyssa knows that she would be able to represent Jasper County in a positive way.