Beyond the Barn: Sharing My Love of the Fair – Mariah Martin, Dane County Fairest of the Fair

By Mariah Martin, 2015 Dane County Fairest of the Fair
As an 11-year 4-H member, when July comes around it only means one thing:  the Dane County Fair. My family spent eight of my 11 years showing dairy and rabbits and completing sewing, cake decorating, art, photography and many other projects.

This year, instead of walking through the barn in my white show clothes, I will through in a crown and sash as the 2015 Dane County Fairest of the Fair. My reign began in April after an afternoon of interviews and will continue through the next year.  One of the main reasons I ran for Fairest of the Fair is because the county fair has given me so many different and unique experiences and opportunities.  I wanted to give something back to the event.

As Fairest of the Fair, I serve as the official ambassador of the Dane County Fair, appearing at numerous events such as Breakfasts on the Farm, Madison Mallards baseball games, activities at the Madison Children’s Museum, and many more. At these events, you can find me handing out fliers, making paper crowns with children, or advocating for the fair letting everyone know what kind of great events we have happening this year.

The busiest part of my year will be the week of the Dane County Fair, which takes place July 15 to 19 in Madison, Wisconsin.  I will be busy handing out ribbons, assisting in judging, announcing our nightly entertainment, and just being a friendly face to greet attendees and answer their questions.

The 2015 fair has many events to highlight, such as our Master Showmanship Contest, Little Britches Show, Aussie Kingdom, a visit from pop star Jordin Sparks, and much more. For more information visit our website www.danecountyfair.com

Another great opportunity I will have through this experience is the chance to compete for the 2016 Wisconsin State Fairest of the Fairs. In January, I will head to the fairs convention to participate in three days of intense interviews – formal interviews, group interviews and even dinner interviews! I am so excited for this awesome experience and can’t wait to meet a lot of new people and learn a lot through the process.

I am also excited to continue my reign as Fairest of the Fair and to experience all the events that have yet to come. Being Fairest of the Fair allows me to share why I am passionate about the Dane County Fair, share my past experiences, be an advocate for agriculture, and gain many new skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I cannot wait to give a voice to an event that has given so much to me.