Eight ladies vie for fair queen title

Howard County - Eight deserving young ladies are competing for the honor of being named 2017 "Mighty" Howard County Fair Queen, which is sponsored by Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. Contestants include Samantha Bigalk, Kelly Dietzenbach, Amber Hinck,  Cassie Hosek, Amanda Johnson, Emma Mannery, Abigail Ott and Karissa Stika. 

Coronation is taking place on Wednesday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Scheidel Plaza Stage. The 2017 Mighty Howard County Fair Queen will be crowned by 2016 Queen Kandise Hauber.

 

Samantha “Sami” Bigalk of Cresco is the daughter of Scott and Terra Bigalk. She just finished her junior year at Crestwood High School this year.

She is very involved in her school activities and gives forth 100 percent effort every time and all the time. She is involved with Track, Cross Country and FFA including contests. She is a member of Silver Cord, HEROES and was a leader for the Freshman Respect Retreat. 

She is an active member in FFA, 4-H and HEROES. She is most active in FFA with judging contests, state contests and teaching young children what agriculture is and why it is so important. Sami has also completed at least 120 hours of community service to better our community. 

 

Outside of school, most of her time is spent at the gym at gymnastics with her team but more importantly her family. She loves watching the young girls grow up to be young respectful ladies. Being the oldest, she feels it is her job to be the best she can be, not just in gymnastics, but also in her attitude and how she handles her situations. Her team is very supportive of her and her dreams of being a collegiate gymnast. In her spare time from gym, she works with horses. Sami loves to go to Thunder Road in Decorah. It is a therapeutic riding center where they help people with disabilities. I am supposed to be the one helping the patients ride, but I feel I get more help from them. They show me that there is more to life than perfection. I feel Thunder Road is my therapy too for the happiness I need during that time.

Sami has been involved in 4-H since she was in fifth grade. In that time she has held the secretaries position, the president for two years and am currently the president. Because FFA is only done in high school she has only been in FFA since freshman year. Last year she was elected historian and this year she is currently secretary.

Her hobbies include spending time with her family as much as possible because they are my rock. She loves to spend any time she has at Thunder Road but still have time to train her own horses. She also loves to teach gymnastics and she is always looking for someone interested to help in gymnastics or anything else they need.

Sami’s sponsor is Brent and Patsy Bronner Farms. 

 

Kelly Dietzenbach of Cresco is the daughter of Dale and Julie Dietzenbach. She graduated from Crestwood High School in May of 2017. She plans to attend Iowa State University this fall.

Kelly is involved in Marching Band, Drum Major, Pep Band, Concert Band, Choir, Football Cheerleading, Basketball Cheerleading, FFA, FFA Blood Drive, HEROES, Speech, Cadet Council, Prom Committee, School Musicals, FFA ditch cleanup, Sports Booster can drive, Sing National Anthem at games.

She is a member of the Cresco Merrymaker 4-H for eigh years and member of the Crestwood FFA for four years.

Outside of school she works at Fareway and also helps on her parent's farm, and helps her grandparents bale hay on their farm. She volunteered to help many groups over the years when there are town celebrations making malts and working at food stands. She participated in the 30-hour famine at Notre Dame. Through Cresco Merrymakers she has taken her rabbits to the rest home for residents to enjoy. She has shown poultry, rabbits and participated in the swine program at the Mighty Howard County Fair. 

Kelly lettered twice in Band, made Honor Band twice, several Division 1 ratings in Solo and Group Contests; lettered in Choir twice, received several Division 1 ratings at contest; FFA- received Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, Iowa Degree, lettered four years in FFA held office three years, Secretary twice and Sentinel, received several Proficiency Awards, Gold ratings at State FFA Poultry Contest, numerous other FFA contests on high ranking teams and high placements on individual ranking also, served on nominating committee for the District Officers, received Gold ratings for participation all four years, Iowa FFA Convention Band and Choir; she participated for both football and basketball cheerleading all four years of high school and received letters; 4-H- participated in County Council for four years, held office of Vice President for one year, held offices for the Cresco Merrymakers, have advanced to State Fair many years with many things (Clothing, Educatioal Presentations, Share the Fun), many of her static projects she enters at the Mighty Howard County Fair have advanced to Iowa State Fair over the years; has been on the Honor Roll many times, received Division 1 individual rating in Speech, 2016 Mighty Howard County Fair Queen contest, First Runner Up and Miss Congeniality.

Her hobbies include taking care of her animals that she will show at the fair. She enjoys making projects for the fair. In any other free time, she likes to read, be with friends and spend time outdoors.

Kelly’s sponsor is Dietzenbach Farms.

 

Amber Hinck of Lime Springs is the daughter of Sheila Omar and Tim Hinck. She graduated from Crestwood High School in May of 2017.

She is involved in FFA, Choir, Cross Country, Food & Fitness President. 

She is an active member in 4-H, FFA, Immanuel Lutheran Church Youth Board. 

Outside of school activities include 4-H, 4-H Horse Workouts, Swine Project, FFA Officer commitments, Church Youth Board.

Amber was 2016-17 Reporter FFA Chapter, 2016-17 Food & Fitness President, three year Cross Country Letter, four year FFA Letter, three year Track Letter.

Her hobbies include riding horses, leading others to success in various roles, hunting, four-wheeling, canoeing and kayaking, anything outdoors.

Amber's sponsor is Bodensteiner Implement.

 

Cassie Hosek of Elma is the daughter of Jim and Wendy Hosek. She just finished her sophomore year at Crestwood High School this year.

She is involved in Band, Choir, Jazz Band, FFA, HEROES, Softball, Volleyball, Silver Cord. 

She is an active member in FFA and 4-H. 

Outside of school she is a waitress at Tel-u-wut, Rodeo, and community service.

Cassie was a two-time Band Letter, one-time FFA Letter, Academic Letter, Vice President of Crestwood FFA, President of Flying Hoofs, Assistant Section Leader (Band).

Her hobbies include Rodeo, sports, music, spending time with family and friends, camping, fishing, traveling, reading and writing, and going to concerts.

Cassie’s sponsor is Master Plastics.

 

Amanda Johnson of Cresco is the daughter of Sue Johnson. She just finished her junior year at Crestwood High School this year.

She is involved in Choir, Band, Silver Cord, Musicals, Respect Retreat Leader. 

She is an active member in 4-H, Church Group, CCT. 

Outside of school she is active in CCT.

Amanda was on the National Honor Society, Lettered in Band for three years.

Her hobbies include Music, Drawing, Reading, Painting, Writing.

Amanda’s sponsor is Tech Geek 2.0 and Selling Quest.

 

Emma Mannery of Cresco is the daughter of Robin Schluter. She just finished her junior year at Crestwood High School this year.

She is involved in volleyball and loves sports of all kinds. She has been involved with volleyball since seventh grade. There is something special about waking up early for tournaments and spending every day with not only your teammates but your best friends. She is also a manager for the high school wrestling team and has been since freshmen year and she absolutely loves cheering the guys on and being a part of the team. She was also selected to be a Respect Retreat Leader last year where she participated in the "Freshmen Love Yourself Orientation " as a leader and helped set up fun activities and games to help the freshmen class bond and  feel welcomed into the high school. 

She is an active member and loves being in 4-H. She has been a part of it since fifth grade, one of her favorite things to do is show horses and take part in the horse project. Showing and making projects are the things she looks forward to in the summer. She also loves meeting new people and spending time with all the local 4-H kids. She is also a part of Team Howard County which is a horse knowledge team, who competes in many competitions such as Hipology, and quiz bowl. She is also involved in SEMSCA Saddle Club, which is a horse showing association throughout Minnesota. She loves showing horses and meeting all the people at the horse shows. 

Outside of school she works at Kwik Star in Cresco, she loves her job and all her co-workers. She has learned so many people skills, and also gained a whole new confidence level working in a people based job. She also has her own little business of watching barns for people away on vacation, cleans stalls for some of the barns too.

Emma had an amazing opportunity to compete at the National 4-H Western Roundup in Denver, Colorado. Her horse knowledge team qualified to compete in Quiz Bowl by winning at the state level. They placed fifth at the national level. Some achievements she has accomplished at Crestwood High School include receiving many awards throughout her volleyball career, and lettering. She also lettered three years in academics and wrestling managing. She has held many offices throughout her 4-H career as well.

Her major hobby is horses. She has been riding horses since she can remember. Her mom is horse crazy, and she got the obsession she currently has seven horses at her farm. She has been showing since fifth grade and loves moving and working with her horses as one. She rides at a barn in Preston, Minn. called Solberg Quarter Horses. Her coach Dan Solberg has helped her and really pushed and given her many opportunities. Another hobby she has is drawing. She loves art and the natural feeling it provides. She doesn't consider herself a Picaso but drawing helps her relax from all the stress of showing and the pressures of school. 

Emma’s sponsor is Cresco Motor Company.

 

Abigail “Abbey” Ott of Cresco is the daughter of Andy Ott and Amanda Henkes. She graduated from Turkey Valley High School in May of 2017. She plans on attending college in the fall to study nursing.

She is involved in Band, Choir, Speech, Drama, FFA, Teens Against Tobacco Use, Cheerleading, Basketball, Golf, Trapshooting. 

She is an active member in 4-H, FFA, Teens Against Tobacco Use. 

Outside of school she is active in 4-H.

Abbey was president in 4-H, on the Honor Roll, and played on the basketball team that were back to back State Basketball Runner-ups. (2016 & 2017).

Her hobbies include playing high school sports, working on the farm, shopping, being with friends and family.

Abbey’s sponsor is Reicks View Farms.

 

Karissa Stika of Cresco is the daughter of Ron and Elaine Stika. She just finished her junior year at Crestwood High School this year.

She is involved in Band-six years, Choir-five years, Golf-three years, Contest Speech-three years, Silver Cord-three years. 

She has been an active member in 4-H-seven years, Millennium Master 4-H Club-seven years, Youth Committee-two years, Howard County Council-three years, Region 4 Camp Counselor-two years, Crestwood FFA-three years, Girl Scouts, Troop 75-12 years, Faithful Followers-three years. 

Outside of school she is a CNA, Pizza Maker, Stable Hand.

Karissa was on the National Honor Society, Band Letter-three years, Academic Letter-two years, Treasurer of Millennium Masters-five years, Secretary of Youth Committee-two years, Assistant Treasurer of Crestwood FFA: 2016-2017, Historian of Crestwood FFA: 2017-2018.

Her hobbies include being outside, horseback riding, being involved in multiple activities and organizations. 

Karissa’s sponsor is Fireman's Inn, Ridgeway.