The top five queen candidates and their senior escorts pictured: Kenadi McClarnen and Brennan Vaughan, Shayfer Cumro and Jakob Manning, Arrison Lowe and Brogan Dunlap, Lillian Bowen and Hunter Bohling, Adisen Fischer and Ethan Boatright. Photo by Sandy Stalder.
The Richardson County Fair kicks off tonight, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 with the traditional crowning of the fair king and queen. The program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Ted Harshbarger of rural Humboldt will crown the king and queen. Harshbarger is a 1974 graduate of Southeast Consolidated and a 1977 graduate of Peru State College. He served as a senior escort in fall of 1973. His mother Louise Peterson Harshbarger was queen in 1941. Harshbarger has had many roles at Peru State College were he serves on many boards and organizations, more recently he serves as the Executive Director of the Peru State College Foundation.
Richardson County Queen votes as of September 3, 2024 were, Arrison Lowe 143,319,701; Shayfer Cumro 74,900,101; Lillian Bowen 67,859,389; Adisen Fischer 51,876,851; Kenadi McClarnen 34,261,662; Macy Vrtiska 21,631,511; Hannah Lindsey 14,628,343; Jorja DeJonge 13,739,782; Erynn Anderson 11,462,964; Maddie Bredemeier 9,709,790.
Top five queen candidates
Kenadi DeAnne McClarnen, 17 is the daughter of Dennis and Kendi McClarnen of Dawson. She has two sisters, Paxton and Kenna and one brother Colt who was a senior attendant last year. She is the granddaughter of Renald and Rene Rademacher of Pickrell, and a great granddaughter of the late Willa and Walt Moyer of Humboldt. Kenadi is involved in basketball, FFA, FCA, One Act, and mentoring. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, spending time with family, working as a nursing assis-tant at Colonial Acres, and waitressing at Titan Diner on Sunday mornings. After high school, Kenadi plans on going into the medical field but is undecided on her career choice. Her family royalty started with her cousin Luke Moyer who was a junior attendant in 1986. In 1990, her father, Dennis McClarnen, was a senior attendant with her cousin, Mark Gaede, being a junior attendant. The following year, 1991, Kenadi’s aunt Lori was the Richardson County queen runner up. In 1995, her cousin Josh Moyer was a senior attendant. In 2003, her cousin Kelly Moyer was crowned the Richardson County Fair queen.
Shayfer Danielle Cumro is a Junior at HTRS High School. Shayfer is the daughter of Dan and Tiffini Cumro and granddaughter of the late Martian and Ardyce Cumro, Roger and the late Dyann Herr, and David and Nancy Charkowski. Shayfer has three siblings, Nathon, Logan and Rhylie. And a nephew, Ayden. Her brother Nathon was a senior attendant in 2010. Shayfer is involved in basketball, national honor society, stu-dent council, dance, cheer, one act, speech, mentoring, band, yearbook, and FFA. Shayfer enjoys hanging out with friends, dancing at Little Steps Dance Studio, and spending time with her family. After high school, Shayfer plans to attend college, where she will dance and study business.
Arrison Marie Lowe, 17 is the daughter of Wade Lowe and Chelsy Kress of Humboldt. Arrison is the granddaughter of Bonnie Muse and the late Walter Lowe of Humboldt and John and Jane Kress and the great-granddaughter of David Wenzl, all of Steinauer and the great granddaughter of Shirley Wilhelm of Verdon. Arrison has two brothers, Britton and Triton Gorman of Table Rock. Arrison is a senior at HTRS. Arrison is a proud Titan employed at Colonial Acres nursing home in Humboldt. Arrison loves working with and building relationships and connections with the residents she cares for. She enjoys spending time with her friends, shopping, sleeping, and having fun. After high school, Arrison plans to attend Southeast Community College to pursue a degree in Radiologic Technology.
Lillian Jo Bowen is a junior at HTRS High School and the daughter of Quentin and Mandy Bowen, of rural Humboldt. She has a younger brother, Bradyn, who is a freshman at HTRS, and a sister, Evelyn, who is in kindergarten. Lillian’s paternal grandparents are Brad and Susan Bowen, while her maternal grandparents are Joe and Kitty Nemechek and Susan and Greg Keholm, all residents in the Humboldt area. Lillian’s father, Quentin Bowen and her aunt Nichole Bowen-Leech were a senior escort and queen attendant in 1997 where Nichole was crowned queen. Her mother, Mandy Nemecheck-Bowen, was crowned Queen in 1998. Lillian was also a junior attendant in the 2013 coronation. Lillian is an avid sports enthusiast, participating in volleyball, basketball, and track. She has successfully qualified for state track for the past two years and holds the current school record in the 800 meter run. Lillian also enjoys being a part of the speech team and one-act. She is active in National Honor Society, is secretary for the class of 2026, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) , FFA, band, youth mentoring, and mock trial. When not involved in school activities, Lillian likes spending time with her family, cruising with friends, and riding four-wheelers with her brother. After high school she plans to attend college where she wants to pursue athletic training or physical therapy.
Adisen Rose Fischer is currently a Senior at Falls City Sacred Heart. If you have visited the Indian Cave State park over the past few years, you’ve more than likely been greeted with her warm smile at the front booth. Adisen has been employed at the Indian Cave State Park for the past two years. She enjoys nature and camping, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, shooting archery and fishing. As a senior at FCHS she has been actively involved on the volleyball Team and is currently serving as the captain for the Cheerleading and Dance Teams. Adisen also participates in the One Act Play pro-duction, the Speech and Journalism Teams. Adisen is a member of the St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Falls City. She focuses a great deal of her time on her faith and her academics, maintaining a high GPA and her spot on the Green Honor Roll each semester. Adisen is a 12 year member of the Happy-Go- Lucky 4-H Club. She enjoys a variety of activities with 4-H including showing livestock, horse shows, archery, horticulture, welding, modeling, baking, sewing and taking pride in her leaderships roles for the younger 4-H’ers. Adisen previously served on the Youth 4-H council and is the current president of her club. Adisen enjoys teaching and providing guidance in the 4-H world to her younger twin brothers. In 2024 she won the Elite Round Robin Showmanship Award. Adisen is the daughter of Nick Fischer and Becky and Justin Vonderschmidt of rural Falls City. Siblings include her six yr old twin brothers; Dax and Cooper Vonderschmidt. Her Father, Nick works for the Nebraska Game and Parks and her, Becky is an Addictions Therapist at Blue Valley Behavioral Health, and Justin is a heavy equipment operator and owner of Vonderschmidt Lawn Irrigation. Paternal Grandparents are Phil and Janis Fischer. Great Grandparents include the late Simon and Lois Lantzy, and Walter and Lucille Fischer. Bonus Grandparents include John and Beth Vonderschmidt. Maternal Grandparents are Pam Dungan and the late Leonard “Wally” Dungan. Her great-grandparents are the late Wallace and Connie Dungan of Oklahoma; Maxine and the late Norman Kuker of Barada. Her Great Grandfather Norman was the recipient of the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award by the Knights of AKSARBEN Foundation for 100 years of continuous farm ownership. Past queen, royalty includes cousins, Emma Shubert and Chelsea Shubert. Adisen will graduate with Cum laude honors in 2025 from Falls City Sacred Heart and plans to pursue a career by following her interests in Livestock and Agriculture. She plans to attend college to obtain her degree in Agricultural Science and Natural Resources with an emphasis on Agriculture Education and Business. Following college Adisen anticipates returning to the Richardson County area to develop her career and raise a future family.
After tonights crowning the fair will continue throughout Saturday night with many events to look forward to.
Thursday through Saturday, DC Lynch Carnival rides, concessions and other vendors will be set up around the city square/park.
The parade will be held each morning (Thursday through Saturday) at 11:00 a.m.
On Thursday, September 12, the Ag Building will open to enter exhibits at 8:00-noon. Judging will be at 1:00 p.m. Enter goats and sheep at Powell Pavilion at 8:00 a.m.-judging will be at 1:00 p.m. The Sidewalk Chalk Art contest will begin at 1:00 and judging will be at 2:00 p.m. The Southeast Community Band performance will be held at 6:15 p.m. and the AKSARBEN Farm Family awards will be held at 7:30 p.m.
The Fireman’s Bingo will be held daily before and after the free acts under the tent.
The free acts will perform daily at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Billy Troy will perform Thursday, High Heel will peform Friday and Them UKE Boys will perform Friday.
On Friday the Ag building will be open-enter poultry at Powell Pavillion before noon-judging will be at 1:00 p.m. The kiddy tractor pull will be held at 4:00 p.m.
On Saturday, the Ag building will open – enter Dairy and Beef cattle at Powell Pavilion before noon with judging at 1:00 p.m. The Antique Tractor Show will go on throughout the day on the lot west of the Methodist Church beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Quad County Museum will be open for tours all three fair days from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The City of Humboldt Auditorium will be open every day for restrooms.
The free act entertainment is sponsored by the Richardson County Agricultural Society and the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce.
