Nine to compete in Wright Co. Fairest of Fair

By Kristen Miller
Staff Writer

There are only 10 days until the new Fairest of the Fair is crowned on the opening day of the Wright County Fair in Howard Lake, Wednesday, July 25.

Two local girls are among the nine candidates vying for the crown of Fairest of the Fair royalty, Melanie Birkemeyer of Montrose and Morgan Kleve of Howard Lake.

Candidates include the following:

Name: Alicia Berg

Age: 18

Hometown: Buffalo

Family: Douglas Berg, Morgan Berg, Lance Berg, and Tyler Berg. Lisa Stocker, Cordell Stocker, and Faith Stocker.

Hobbies and interests: Mock trial, reading, swimming, and sewing.

What do you think are your best qualities? I’m a wonderful listener, and enjoy being around people.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? I have never been to the Wright County Fair, but I have been to the Stearns County Fair.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? The opportunity to be a Wright County Ambassador would be an experience for anyone; I think I am given this opportunity to learn more about Wright County.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? A friend of mine ran for Miss Buffalo and told me of her experience. I decided to run right after the Buffalo coronation, and we would run together.

What is your favorite fair food? First thing is I love food and will try anything once.

Name: Melanie Birkemeyer

Age: 17

Hometown: Montrose (Litchfield)

Family: Kyle Birkemeyer, Jeff and Sue Wheeler, Becca Birkemeyer, Karen and Bryan Wheeler.

Hobbies and interests: Staying active with friends and family, shopping, quilting, and photography.

What do you think are your best qualities? I am a people person. I like to meet new people and try new activities.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? Going to the demolition derby with my brother.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I would like to be given the opportunity because I love to meet new faces and it would be great to promote the Wright County Fair.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? Because I am involved in the fair through 4-H, and I just think it would be a great way to get more involved.

What is your favorite fair food? Corn dogs and malts.

Name: Danielle Enberg

Age: 18

Hometown: Monticello

Family: Dawn and Eric Enberg, Joshua, Cody, Chrysta, Ethan, and Maia Enberg.

Hobbies and interests: I love dancing, and American Sign Language, and hanging out with my friends. Most of all, I enjoy going to the Wright County Fair.

What do you think are your best qualities? I am a very talkative and outgoing person. I also love helping people.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? Winning the talent show in the open class when I was 9 years old.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I have been coming to the fair every day since I was five. I absolutely love the fair, in fact, to me, the Wright County Fair is my Christmas.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? I have watched the coronations every year since I was five. In that time I have seen the program grow so much, and now I feel ready to grow with the program.

What is your favorite fair food? I love the pork chops! Wright County has the best pork chops around, because of a special seasoning they use.

Name: Morgan Kleve

Age: 19

Hometown: Howard Lake

Family: Dan and Julie Kleve, Madeysen (17), and McCall (13).

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy running, swimming, tubing, scrapbooking, and gardening. I love going to and playing sports.

What do you think are your best qualities? I have an upbeat and positive attitude. I am a great people person and have good speaking skills. I am also always trying to help others.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? When my entire family would come to the fair every day and visit every animal barn. Usually it ended up being several times each day. We always had a great time and would bring friends along.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I have a great understanding of events that go on during the county fair, and have lived here all of my life. I also enjoy being a leader, and a positive role model for younger children. I also believe that I have the speaking and social skills that are needed.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet new people and have something fun and exciting to do for the month of July, and hopefully continue all summer. I also felt I could do a great job representing Wright County.

What is your favorite fair food? My favorite fair food is a gyro.

Name: Beth Katherine Maas

Age: 19

Hometown: Maple Lake

Family: Tom and Kathy Maas, three brothers, and three sisters.

Hobbies and interests: Gymnastics, scrap booking, fishing up north, and spending time with family and friends.

What do you think are your best qualities? I am outgoing, friendly, and my friends and family can always count on me.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? My fondest memory of the Wright County Fair is watching my brother Keith place first in the best decorated car for the demolition derby three years in a row.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I would like the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair to help promote the businesses and services in Wright County.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? I decided to run for Fairest of the Fair because I would like the opportunity to learn moire about the cities and history that make up Wright County.

What is your favorite fair food? Mini donuts!

Name: Sara Marquette

Age: 17

Hometown: Buffalo

Family: Parents Lisa and Perry, Craig (21), Aaron (24), and Amy (11).

Hobbies and interests: 4-H, FFA, drum line, sewing, lifeguarding, showing animals, and lamb industry.

What do you think are your best qualities? My best qualities are being friendly, kind and caring to all, supportive and always having a positive attitude, and a smile on my face.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? My fondest memory was when I was very young. I entered a trio of flowers at the children’s’ fair. I received an orange smiley face ribbon, and was overjoyed! I had won a ribbon! This opened the door to many more wonderful opportunities. To this day, I still show, and love it. I also have my first ribbon hanging up on my wall to remind me of the wonderful event.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I think I should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador because I have been coming to the for the past 17 years. The fair has given me many wonderful opportunities and I would like to give all the help and knowledge I gained back. I love the fair and will give it a positive image. I want to help support the fair in a positive way, and work towards one goal: attendance and fun at the fair.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? I decided to run for Fairest of the Fair because the fair has played an enormous part of my life for the past 17 years. I wanted to give back to something I truly love, and hopefully encourage others to attend this wonderful event. Being able to show animals and general exhibits has let me gain knowledge to inform others.

What is your favorite fair food? Shaved ice. It’s cool and refreshing.

Name: Emily Mattson

Age: 18

Hometown: Buffalo

Family: Karen and Henry Mattson, Eric and Emily.

Hobbies and interests: 4-H, National Honor Society, Students Stepping Up, volleyball, vacation Bible school leader, sports, drawing, music, riding horses, reading.

What do you think are your best qualities? I’m determined, reliable, hard-working, friendly, and have a positive attitude.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? Winning champion in fashion review. Winning wasn’t why it is my fondest memory though, it is what I learned about myself from that experience that makes it memorable.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I think my knowledge of the fair and leadership skills will be a positive asset to the team representing the Wright County Fair.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? The fair has been a place that taught me leadership, and is a community that welcomed me in. I would love to be given the chance to represent the fair which has helped me grow over the years.

What is your favorite fair food?

I love it all, it’s one of the things I look forward to. But if I had to choose, I would pick the Boy Scouts’ chocolate malts.

Name: Alyssa Tryggeseth

Age: 17

Hometown: Buffalo

Family: Steve and Cathy Tryggeseth, Buzz Tryggeseth, and Nick Kosson.

Hobbies and interests: Varsity cheerleading captain, National Honor Society member, Minnesota Patriot Guard, Students Stepping Up, assistant director and lead instructor of a modeling school.

What do you think are your best qualities? I’m outgoing, personable, fun, easy going, confident, a perfectionist, leader, dedicated, motivated, and bubbly.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? When my friends were crowned as princesses and queen at coronations over the years.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I believe that I am well spoken, and confident, and I feel those qualities would help me to be a positive representative of the Wright County Fair. Most importantly, I want to be a role model to girls, and show them that dreams really do come true.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? After watching so many of my friends run, and how they inspired me, I knew that when I came of age, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

What is your favorite fair food? Corn dogs! They are so yummy, especially with ketchup.

Name: Kellee Williams

Age: 17

Hometown: Buffalo

Family: Allen and Kelli Jo Williams (dad and step-mom), and Darlene Williams (mom). Sisters Kalyn and Kassi, and stepbrothers Dalton, Grant, and Derek.

Hobbies and interests: Mock trial, sewing, and tennis.

What do you think are your best qualities? I think I’m a good listener. I like talking with my friends and helping them with their problems. But at the same time, I am good at arguing, hence why I want to be a lawyer.

What is your fondest memory of the Wright County Fair? I have never been to the Wright County Fair, I’ve only been in Buffalo for two years. I’m excited to go.

Why do you think you should be given the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Wright County Fair? I like to meet new people and help out in different areas (community service), which is a big part of being an ambassador. I think I would do a great job challenging this commitment.

Why did you decide to run for Fairest of the Fair? I recently ran for Miss Buffalo, and had a great time during Buffalo Days, meeting new people, and getting to know the other candidates. I thought this would be a great opportunity to try again.

What is your favorite fair food? I love funnel cakes, except they are messy!