By Carol McIntire
Editor
July 15, 2008

FAIR ROYALTY. Front row (from left) King Wesley Jones and Queen Michelle Bryan. Standing behind from left: First Runner-up to the King Brian Granger, 2008 Ohio Fair Queen Bethany Baird, and First Runner-up to the Queen Ashley Evanich.

Tuesday was a special day for Wesley Jones in more than one way.
Not only was Jones crowned the 2008 Carroll County Fair King, it was his father’s birthday and he was wearing the tie pin of his late grandfather, Lester Jones.

Jones, the 17-year-old son of Alan and Cheryl Jones of 1144 Andora Rd., Carrollton, is active within junior fair organizations as well as in the community.

He is a nine-year member of Snoopy’s Friends 4-H Club and three year member of Teen Leaders. He has taken dog and still projects over the years.  He has been a camp counselor for several years and is a member of the Junior Fairboard.  He is active in several organizations at Carrollton High School, where he will be a senior this fall. Football, the high school and Bell-Herron Middle School musical stage crew, Prayer Warriors and the high school Relay For Life team are a few of his school activities. He is a member of the Carrollton First United Methodist Church where he is member of the youth group and Bible study.

Jones says his greatest accomplishment as a 4-H members was to be named to the 2007 Outstanding Court.

Michelle Bryan, a 2008 graduate of Carrollton High School, was crowned queen. The 17-year-old is the daughter of Earl and Tonya Bryan and Margie Bryan of Kensington. She plans to attend Mt. Union College this fall and major in chemistry. As a 4-H member, she is active in the Teen Leaders and Junior Fairboard. She is a member of the 2007 Outstanding Court and is a 10-year honor member.

At Carrollton High School, she was a member of the school newspaper and yearbook staff, marching and concert bands, danceline, fall play, Students Against Destructive Decision (SADD), Academic Hall of Fame for four years, National Honor Society and graduated in the top 10 in her class. She is also a member of St. John’s Catholic Church Youth Group.

Ashley Evanich was named the runner-up to the Queen.

Evanich, 17, is the daughter of Rudy and Judie Evanich of Paris.  She is a 10-year member of the Minerva K-9 Crew and Snoopy’s Friends 4-H Clubs.  During her 10-years in 4-H, she has taken dog obedience and showmanship projects for eight years, clothing projects, vet science, creative arts and creative writing.  She has represented Carroll County numerous times at the Ohio State Fair with her dogs where she has placed in the top 15 for five years and earned Ohio State Fair Grand Champion Dog in 2004.  She has attended 4-H camp for nine years, Ohio 4-H Sea Camp in 2004 and has served as a camp counselor for four years.  She has been news reporter, recreation leader, secretary, president and vice president of her local club.  She is a member of the junior fair board and is a five-year honor member.

Brian Granger was named runner-up to the king. Granger,

The 19-year-old son of Larry and Tayo Granger of Apollo Rd., Amsterdam is a member of the Cows R Us and Teen Leaders 4-H groups. As a 4-H member, he is active on the Junior Fairboard, and has been a camp counselor for several years. He helped plan 4-H camp this year. He is a 2008 graduate of Carrollton High School and plans to attend Kent State University this fall. He was a member of the CHS Club and French Club at CHS, as well as the Close-Up group which visited Washington D.C. during his senior year.

He is a member of Harsh Memorial United Methodist Church where he active in the youth group.

The winners were crowned by the 2008 Ohio Fair Queen Bethany Baird of Fayette County.

The contest was coordinated by Karla Wells with assistance from her husband, Mark, and mother, Barb Walton. The winners were presented with prizes donated by various area businesses and individuals.