Et cetera : Meet the 2012 Benton County Fair Queen candidates

Christine Ballard

Felicia Hertle

Gabriell (Gabby) Breja

Jackqulyn Winter

Natalie Hanson

Taylor Jo Arens

Willow Huber

Hannah Brecht

Eight young ladies have entered the 2012 Benton County Fair Queen contest, although one of them (Willow Huber) will be at the Girls Nation event that week, and will not be among those interviewing with the judges.

The candidates this year include:

Taylor Jo Arens

Taylor is the daughter Dan and Dena Arens. She has two brothers, Tyler and Nathan. She lives outside of Belle Plaine on the family farm. Currently Taylor attends Belle Plaine High School, where she just finished her sophomore year. She is involved in FFA, 4-H, Win with Wellness, Student Council, softball, cross country, basketball and track.

In Cross Country she lettered her freshman and sophomore years. In basketball, she received a Varsity participation Award and Rising Star Award. In track, she has lettered both freshman and sophomore years and received the Weightlifting Award. In softball, she lettered pre-Freshman and freshman years and received the Coaches Award Both years.

In FFA she has received the Star Greenhand Award and other miscellaneous awards. She also held the position of Treasurer for 2 yrs. In 4-H she has received the Farmers Savings Bank and Trust Award, Most Improvement Member and Outstanding Member throughout the club. She has held the position of Historian for 3 yrs and 2yrs on the Leadership Team. She has shown horses for 2 yrs and beef for 4 yrs.

In her free time she likes to spend time with her family and friends and just be on the farm.

Gabriell Breja

Gabriell is the daughter of Dave and Mary Breja of Keystone. Gabriell has two siblings, Melissa and Joshua. Gabriell graduated from Benton Community High School in Van Horne in May. She was involved with FFA, 4-H, Track and Field, Show Choir, and Choir. She has been involved in 4-H for 9 years and held several offices: President, Vice President, Reporter, Photographer and Treasure. She has done community projects with her 4-H Club such as planting flowers at a nursing home, filling bags to send to Africa, Food Drives, and Making Blankets for the local fire states. Gabby has also been involved in FFA for 4 years, during which she has received several different awards such as; Placement in Beef Production, Outstanding Sophomore and Junior, the DEKALB award and the Iowa Degree. She has been involved in Track and Field for 6 yrs where she threw Shot and discus. She was involved in choir for 4 yrs involved in Jubilations for 3 yrs. and her senior year she was involved in Celebration. She volunteered at a daycare from 2007-2008 and currently is working there today. She also stays busy training her show calves which she will show at the County and State Fairs. Gabriell is planning on attending Hawkeye Community College for Animal Science and then transfer to Iowa State which at that time she is planning on working with her FFA advisor to receive here American Degree.

Christine Ballard

The daughter of Bill and Lori Ballard, Christine has two older brothers and lives outside of Watkins. Christine is 17 yrs old and just graduated from Benton Community High School. This fall she plans on attending Kirkwood Community College, majoring in Horticulture and Ag-Business after that she may transfer to Iowa State University to continue her education. She is a member of the St. Patrick's Church in Watkins where she has been a mass server for several years. She is a member of the Florence Hawkeyes 4-H club for 9 yrs where she has held several offices including reporter, communication secretary, and secretary. She has been on several committees including the Historian book, Fair Book and Recreation. She has participated in many community service projects like card making and weeding the flower gardens at school. She has shown cattle, rabbits, chickens and goats. She participated in a working exhibit at the Iowa State Fair. Christine has participated in the Clothing Selection and the $15 challenge the last 6 yrs. She has been a member of the Benton County 4-H Youth Council for 3 yrs. She has been an active member of the Benton Community FFA Chapter, and has held the office of Reporter and was President this past year. Christine's freshman year she was selected a Star Greenhand. Attended the Washington Leadership conference in Washington D.C. Her sophomore year she ran for District Office. She participated in almost all activities that her chapter had so she earned enough points to be Points Leader for her chapter in her sophomore, Junior and Senior Years. She was Chairman of the concession Stand for the Spring Livestock Show for 2 yrs. While in FFA she participated in many community service projects including Adopt A Highway, Salvation Army bell ringing and collecting food for the food banks. She has volunteered at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion for the past 6yrs working on the ground train and exhibiting gas engines and tractors.

Hannah Brecht

Hannah is the daughter of Deb and Randy Brecht of Norway and has two older brothers, Taylor and Aron. Hannah goes to high school at Benton Community where she will be a senior. After graduating she wants to go to the University of Iowa for a degree in journalism and mass communications. Hannah may also go for a minor in photography. She is extremely busy all year round, no matter what season it is. During the school year she is very active in the Benton Blazers dance team. During the fall she is a varsity football cheerleader. She participates on the yearbook committee where she takes pictures, edit, write articles, and even does some traveling for some marketing and sponsorships. This past year she has even taken on the role of becoming a show choir photographer, which she enjoys quite a bit. She uses her extra time to become a boys’ soccer manager.

At school she has won two academic awards and has lettered three times in dance team and once in varsity cheerleading. In her freshman year of high school she was only an alternate for the dance team, but she performed so often that she was presented with a letter.

Outside of school she takes extra dance lessons with Christine’s Dancers in Van Horne. She is currently employed at the daycare at Frontier Natural Products, an organic company located in Norway. She recently took on a weekend job as extra help at Bloomsbury Farm whenever she is needed, and has met a lot of close friends this way. Hannah spends any other time I have riding and taking care of my horse, which she is very passionate about. During the last couple years she has taken on barrel racing, which she has found another passion for.

Hannah is also a singer. She started as a nine year old girl singing karaoke and from then on she has competed in many contests and has sang at the county fair several times through Share The Fun, and has made it to state fair every time. After Hannah's graduates she would like to join a band, or do whatever she can do to pursue singing even further. She loves to be on stage with all eyes on her, and just sing her heart out.

In her community, Hannah is always eager to help out neighbors when she can. After the recent storm that went through Benton County she was eager to help out some neighbors with a devastating loss.

She has been in 4H since fourth grade, which has given her the chance to learn so much. She runs the concession stands for the Norway Bandits, which is coached by my father, and she is a well known babysitter around town.

Natalie Hanson

Natalie is the daughter of Robert and Maureen Hanson of La Porte City and will be a senior at Union High School in the fall. Natalie has five younger siblings, Mitchell, Wesley, Gabriel, Olivia and Jillian. She is involved in numerous activities including FFA, Band, Jazz band, Student Council, Nation Honor Society, Basketball, Talented and Gifted, Speech and Drama, Honor Roll and the Silver Cord volunteering program at Union. Natalie has taken on leadership role in her school by serving as the President of the La Porte-Dysart FFA Chapter, the Senior Class President, and the President of National Honor Society, Drum Major of the marching band and Student Council President. She has helped to organize blood drives and given blood as a part of her student council participation. Outside of school, she volunteers as Sunday school music teacher at her church and is the president of her church youth group. In addition, Natalie is serving as the secretary of the Northeast District FFA. She has participated in several contests through FFA including State Public Speaking and National Dairy Foods. She has been a Benton County 4-H Member for 8 yrs and exhibits Brown Swiss Dairy cattle as well as a variety of home economics projects at the Benton County Fair. She is a member and current president of the Bruce Boosters 4-H Club and is a Benton County 4-H Youth Council Member. Natalie has also exhibited her cattle and several home economics and communications projects at the Iowa State Fair. Upon graduation, she is tentatively planning to attend Iowa State University, majoring in Agricultural Engineering..

Felicia Hertle

The daughter of Loraine & William Bruns of Cedar Rapids and Kevin & Teresa Hertle of Keystone. Felicia has a sister Alexandria, and three step-brothers: Travis Devin, and Tanton; and a half-sister, Brook. Felicia is a graduate of Kennedy High School, where she has been an honor student. She is involved in Volleyball, Golf, Iowa Elite Cheerleading, Softball, Cheerleading for School along with Best Buddies and the "One Campaign". Felicia has taken dance at Cooling's Dance Center in Vinton since she was 3 yrs old. She plays piano, trumpet, flute, and the clarinet. Felicia is an active member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Newhall and a member of the Eldorado Young Master Farmers 4-H Club since the 4th grade. Several of her projects have gone to the Iowa State Fair and she has received county honors in Home Economics classes and Showmanship Winners with her horses. Felicia has received the Citizenship Award, the Leadership Award and the "I Dare You" Award. She was also elected as a Benton County Council Member for the school year of 2011-2012. She will be attending Kirkwood Community College in the fall and then transfer to a 4-yr college. She will be studying Astronomy and Education. Over the last term of High School she made pillow-case dresses for the girls in Africa and pillow-case boy shorts for the boys. She was also on the 4-H focus Council this year to help make 4-H a better program. Felicia works at the Long Branch Restaurant, and when she is not working she loves to have fun and make people around her laugh.

Jackqulyn Winter

Jackqulyn is the daughter of John and Sheri Winter of Van Horne. Jackqulyn is 17 yrs old and in the 10th Grade.

She is involved in 4-H for 3 years and in FFA 1 yr. where she has received many awards such as the Greenhand Degree, Member of the month, 2012 Specialty Animal Production Proficiency Award in placement, and Gold Leadership Award.

She is a volunteer at the Witty Kitty's Iowa Humane Society. In 2008 she helped with trapping and spaying and neutering feral flood cats. Jackqulyn also helps her friend Aspen at her llama farm with their llamas. She has been in two musicals and one plays a t her school. Jackqulyn was also involved in mixed choir this year. Next year she will be in concert and Women's choir.

Willow Huber

The daughter of Jim and Conni Huber, Willow has two sisters, Rose and Ivy. She is 17 yrs old where she attended Vinton-Shellsburg High School. Next year she will be transferring to Benton Community High School, where she will be involved in Show Choir, Chamber Choir, and Madrigals. She will also continue her participation in FFA 3 yrs, theater, band, color guard and both large group and individual speech. Outside of school she is involved in 4-H for 10 yrs, Girl Scouts for 13yrs and music, and playing outside. She has been involved in the fair ever since she was little starting with Clover Buds and the open divisions contests.

In FFA, Willow has served the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA chapter as the chapter Secretary and also the Northeast District FFA as the Southwest Vice-President. Willow has participated in both the national FFA Chorus and has competed on Iowa's National Floricultural team. These opportunities have allowed many other doors to open in Willow's life by giving her the knowledge and confidence to set goals and strive to achieve them. This year, Willow found a love for politics while serving as the Iowa House of Representative as a House Page. She is now volunteering for multiple campaigns both in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. Willow has also been very active in her 4-H club and has shown rabbits and the fair for 8yrs and poultry for 2 yrs. She also has shown Photography, Food and Nutrition Projects, and participated in Share the Fun. This has allowed Willow to see the importance and amount of time and effort that is needed to successfully run an event like the fair. In her free time (which isn't a lot) Willow loves canoeing, eating, pretending she can play guitar, singing, dancing, blowing bubble, shopping, and writing. In the future Willow plans to attend a four year college for theater Arts or Politics.

"On behalf of the Benton County Fair Board we would like to recognize and congratulate Willow Huber for being selected to attend Girl's Nation in Washington, DC.," says Angie Becker, who organizes the Queen contest "Due to the conflict of attending Girls Nation Willow will not be able to participate this year. We wish her the BEST OF LUCK in Washington,D.C."

The American Legion Auxiliary Girl’s Nation is a unique experience held every summer in the nation’s capital is designed to provide practical insight into how the federal government works, to instill a sense of pride and loyalty in America and create friendships and memories that last a lifetime. Participants are known as “senators” and are selected from the 49 Girls State sessions held across the country. At the state level, the girls focus on responsible citizenship and study local, county and state government processes. Two outstanding citizens are then chosen to represent their state at Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.To be selected Willow was first nominated by her mock Girl’s State city and then interviewed by a selection board. A key component of the Girls Nation program involves mock senate sessions complete with caucusing and debating of bills. Topics ranging from personal to political interests ensure that the debates are lively and passionate.

Campaigns are held to elect party officials, a Girls Nation president and vice president. The Girls Nation president is invited to attend and speak at the American Legion Auxiliary National Convention.