Five vie for County Fair Queen Title

BRITT - The Hancock County District Fair is underway! A highlight of the fair will be the crowning of the 2025 Fair Queen Wednesday, July 23, at 5:30 p.m. Contestants are Ava Dirks, Brinley Hiscocks, Emily Boothroyd, Emma Schumacher, and Meara Kudej.

(Editor's Note: A complete schedule of events for the 2025 Hancock County District Fair is inside today's edition of The Leader)

Ava Dirks

Ava Dirks,, 17, will be a senior at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura this fall. The daughter of Jared Dirks, Ava is active in FFA, National Honor Society, FCCLA and in student government at GHV. She is a youth member of Pheasants Forever. She has participated in volleyball, soccer and archery. 

Her FFA activities include Bacon Buddies, Agvocate volunteer, Courtesy Corps, Feed the Farmer Day, Ag Awareness Day and Garner Ag Day, among others. She has received numerous FFA awards.

Other community activities are: cancer awareness bake sale for FCCLA, blood donor drive for NHS, Student Council activities.

Ava is a Humane Society volunteer, teacher assistant for Garner Community Christian Child Care, Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt and Avery Theater volunteer.

Brinley Hiscocks

Brinley Hiscocks will be a senior at West Hancock High School. At school, Brinley was a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, and speech. An honor student, she served as class president this past school year and was named to the dean's list at NIACC.

Brinley is a member of the Britt Broncos 4-H Club where she is club secretary. She has helped with annual maintenance and preparations of the fair grounds and participated in various public service debris removal initiatives. Brinley is involved with raising and showing cattle for 4-H.

Her other activities include babysitting, food server at Big Brad's Barbecue, and participating in her church youth group.

Emily Boothroyd

Emily Boothroyd, 16, is a student at West Hancock High School. The daughter of Bonnie and toby Boothroyd, is a member of the Britt Broncos 4-H and West Hancock FFA. She is 4-H club treasurer for the Britt Broncos and a past secretary. She is treasurer for the 4-H County Council 2025-26 and Photographer from 2025-2025.

For the West Hancock FFA, Emily is Vice President (2025-26) and a former FFA reporter (2024-25).

She has earned numerous 4-H and FFA awards and participated in many volunteer community service projects and activities for both organizations. Emily recently was a Vacation Bible School preschool teacher and assisted with placing flags at local cemeteries for Memorial Day. She was a summer youth volleyball coach in 2024.

Other work experience was at Gifts Sew Sweet, Titanium Lunchbox and at the Britt Food Center.

Emma Schumacher

Emma Schumacher, 16, is the daughter of Vahn and Sara Schumacher of Garner. Emma will be a junior at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura where she is involved in FFA, FFCLA and Student Council.

As an FFA member, Emily served as secretary and participates in many FFA community activities during the school year. FFCLA activities include the Father-Daughter Spring Dance.

Emma is a member of the County 4-H Council were she is a media instructor. She volunteers during the year for various Extension Office and fair events. She is a member of the 4-H Horse Project group.

She is also member of the Interact Club (the youth organization for Rotary). Interact Club members help with many community activities throughout the year. She is member of St. Boniface Faith Formation and help start a girl's Bible study group.

Meara Kudej

The daughter of Jeff and Robin Kudej, Britt, Meara Kudej, 17, attends West Hancock High School. An honor student, Meara is involved in the West Hancock Student Council, FFA Chapter, class officer, pep club, speech, basketball and track (2022-23).

Meara volunteers for the Eagle Buddies program at West Hancock High School, Bacon Buddies at the Hancock County Fair, Britt Summer Meal, community FFA garden, and Veterans Pen Pal program. She is a member of the Britt Broncos 4-H Club. 

Meara teaches Sunday School, assisted at the Britt Food Bank. She made and delivered care packages for the homeless in Chicago while on a family vacation, and care packages for an orphanage in Honduras.

Her work experience includes lifeguarding at the Britt Aquatic Center and as a part-time teller and customer service at First State Bank.

Princess Contestant

The Hancock County Fair Princess contest will be at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.