Hughes
The 2024 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Queen and her court will be selected during the 7 p.m. pageant finals on Saturday, June 8 in the Robbins Auditorium at Columbus East High School. Admission is $3 per person.
Judging will be divided into four divisions. Up to 50 points will be awarded on poise, personality and attire during three-minute interviews conducted prior to the pageant.
In Division 2, a maximum of 10 points will be awarded by judges on how well each contestant represents herself and her personality, while up to 20 points are possible during the professional wear competition. The final division, worth up to 30 points, will be the evening gown competition.
The official opening of the 4-H Fair is Friday, June 21, with the fair continuing through Saturday, June 29. The Bartholomew County Fairgrounds are located off State Road 11, just south of Garden City.
There are 14 contestants competing in this year’s queen pageant. They include:
Contestant: Maggie Wagner
Age: 18
School Information: 2024 Graduate of Columbus East High School and will be attending Ball State University in the fall.
Parents: Josh and Carissa Murphy
Sponsor: Kumon Math and Reading Center and 5-H Home Extension Club
School Activities:
Columbus FFA Chapter 2020-2024
Columbus FFA Reporter 2021-22
Columbus FFA Student Advisor 2023-24
Greenhand degree recipient 2021
Chapter degree recipient 2022
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Bartholomew County Jr. Fair Board 2022- 2024
Bartholomew County Jr. leaders 2017- 19
Happy Faces 4-H Club secretary 2019-2020, Vice President 2021-22, President 2022-23
10-year swine showman
Reserve Grand Champion Farm Construction Toy Scene 2023
Reserve Grand Champion Farm Construction Toy Scene 2022
Champion Farm Construction Toy Scene 2021 Champion Farm Construction Toy Scene 2020
WCC Praise and Worship Team 2019-24
Sunday School Teacher Assistant 2022-24
Contestant: Carlie Menefee
Age: 20
School Information: 2022 Graduate of Columbus East High School and will be a junior at IU-Columbus this fall.
Parents: Patrick and Katie Menefee
Sponsor: Genth Tree Farm
School Activities:
Indiana University Honors Program Student: August 2022- Present
Four-year HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) member: August 2018-May 2022
Student Council Member at Columbus Signature Academy: August 2020-May 2022
Columbus East High School Gymnastics Captain: 2021/2022 Season
National Honor Society Member: August 2020- May 2022
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Fosters litters of kittens from the local animal shelter
Volunteering at the annual parks and recreation youth triathlon
Volunteering as a score runner and timer at Columbus East Gymnastics home meets
Raising money for the March of Dimes
Previous 9-year 4-H member
Contestant: Isabel Niccum
Age: 16
School Information: Junior at Columbus North High School this fall
Parents: Angela and Grant Niccum
Sponsor: Happy Faces 4-H Club
School Activities:
Environmental Club 2022-2024
Key Club 2022-2024
CNHS Theatre 2022-2024
CNHS String Orchestra 2nd Violin 2022-2024
CNHS Women’s Tennis 2023-2024
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Girl Scouts Troop 3585 11th year senior
Happy Faces 4-H Club President
Waynesburg Christian Church Youth Group
Waynesburg Christian Church Youth Group Worship Team
Waynesburg Christian Church Sunday School Assistant
Girls Slow Pitch Softball Summer League
Contestant: Allyson Herold
Age: 18
School Information: 2024 graduate of Columbus East High School and will be attending the University of Indianapolis
Parents: Doug and Tressa Herold
Sponsor: Design Concepts, Speaker Tax Service, and Bubble Creek Design & Woodwork
School Activities:
3 years of Choir/Show Choir
3 years of theater
2 years of varsity bowling
Advanced 3D Art
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
National Art Honors Society
Ten-year 4-Her with the White-Creek Needlers
Seventh Day Adventist Church member
Contestant Name: Delaney Cooney
Age: 17
School Information: Columbus East High School class of 2025
Parents: Craig and Alicia Cooney
Sponsor: 5-H Home Extension Club and Lucky Suns 4-H Club
School Activities:
Columbus FFA (2022-present) and reporter (2023-present)
Columbus FFA East Vice President (2024-2025)
National Honors Society Member (2023-present)
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Bartholomew County Kiddin’ Around 4-H Club, secretary (2023-present)
Bartholomew County Junior Leaders Member (2022-present), reporter
Cummins Recycling Day
Pen Set-Up at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair
Help with project judging at the fair
Bill Rogers Cattle Show set-up, score recorder, and cleanup
Frank Burbrink Memorial Swine Show set-up, show help and clean-up
Contestant: Sidney Johnson
Age: 16
School Information: I will be a junior at Columbus East High School.
Parents: Ben and Melissa Johnson
Sponsor: Kamman Farms
School Activities:
Student Assembly Officer – 2 years
Vice President of Promotions for HOSA – 2 years
Student Government – 1 year
Design and Photography Editor of the Columbus East Newspaper – 1 year
Student Tour Guide – 1 year
High School Hero Presenter – 1 year
National Honor Society – 1 year
C4 Biomedical Pathway Student Ambassador for the 2024-2025 school year
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
1st place winner of the Strategies for Youth Voices Contest
2022 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Princess Runner-Up
2023 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Princess
Volunteer for the Litter Box Kitty Rescue
Volunteer for Columbus Regional Hospital in HR Support
Studio 1492 Photography Representative
10-year Girl Scout with silver and bronze awards
8-year 4-H member
Contestant: Kali Estep
Age: 17
School Information: I will be a junior at Columbus North High School
Parents: Jamie and Ashley Estep
Sponsor: Estep Family
School Activities:
2 years – Track and Field
2 years – Basketball
5 years – Cheer with Columbus Power Elite
Prom Committee
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Collected money for the elderly people in the nursing home for Christmas gifts.
Volunteer for Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund
Contestant: Alexa Lanam
Age: 16
School Information: I will be a junior at Columbus North High School
Parents: Eric and Sarah Lanam
Sponsor: Kiddin’ Around Goat Club
School Activities:
HOSA member
C4 Nursing student enrolled in dual credit courses with Ivy Tech
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
8-year member of Kiddin’ Around 4H Club
IDGA (Indiana Dairy Goat Association) member – 2022 Youth Representative Runner Up – Four-time Champion Jr. and Intermediate Showman of the Year. ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association) member – Ten-year member – 2021 Best Jr. Doe in Show Indiana State Fair – 2021 National Champion Intermediate II Showman – 2020 National Dairy Goat Jr. Judging Champion
ABGA (American Boer Goat Association) member
Appaloosa Horse Club member and owner
Contestant: Kyleigh Wolf
Age: 17
School Information: I will be a senior at Columbus North High School
Parents: Daniel and Amber Wolf
Sponsor: Dan and Amber Wolf
School Activities:
Columbus North Varsity Cross country and Track and Field (3, continuing onto 4 years)
Columbus North Student Assembly (3, continuing onto 4 years, with one year as secretary)
National Honors Society (1 year)
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
9-year Bartholomew County 4-H member
The Arc of Bartholomew County Volunteer
Oasis Youth Group at Community Church of Columbus
Contestant: Grace Lykins
Age: 18
School Information: 2024 graduate of Columbus East High School and will be attending Ball State University in the fall.
Parents: Brent and Alison Lykins
Sponsor: (not listed)
School Activities:
Columbus East JV soccer
Columbus East Varsity Swimming
Columbus East Varsity Diving
Columbus East Varsity Throwing on the track team
National Honors Society
C4 Ambassador
C4 Leadership Team
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Involved in church service acts
Girl Up Stem Night
Contestant: Charleston Gelfius
Age: 16
School Information: I will be a junior at Hauser High School
Parents: Justin and Chatney Gelfius
Sponsor: Gelfius Farms
School Activities:
Volleyball
Track
Cheerleading
Yearbook
Sunshine Society
FFA
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Grace Assembly of God
Prayer breakfast
Mission trip work in El Salvador
Contestant: Molly Bray
Age: 18
School Information: 2024 Graduate of Columbus East High School and will be attending Ball State University
Parents: Karen and Jeff Bray
Sponsor: Sophia’s Bridal and Tux
School Activities:
C4 Ambassador for Family and Consumer Science and Fashion and Textiles (2021-2023)
C4 Ambassador Leadership Team (2023-2024)
National Honor Society Member (2022-2024)
National Honor Society Leadership Council (2023-2024)
Family Career and Community Leadership of America (FCCLA) Member (2021-2024)
C4 FCCLA President (2022-2024)
Member of Columbus East High School International Thespian Society Troupe #1233 (2022-2024)
Actress in Columbus East High School Theater productions (2021-2023)
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Community Church of Columbus Youth Group Worship Team (2020-2024)
Contestant: Annie Hughes
Age: 18
School Information: I am a 2024 graduate of Columbus East High School and will be attending Butler University
Parents: Lisa Shafer, Jerry Hughes and Brooke Hughes
Sponsor: Home Hectics and Merrimakers 4-H Club
School Activities:
Show Choir (Mixed and Treble group)
Best Buddies (Vice President)
National Honors Society
Student Government
After Prom Committee
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Girls Scouts
Youth Group (St. Peter’s Lutheran, Grace Lutheran, and First Christian)
St. Peter’s Venture Praise Band
4-H
Contestant: Ella Engelau
Age: 18
School Information: I am a 2024 Graduate of Columbus North High School and will be attending Murray State University
Parents: Ed and Erin Engelau
Sponsor: New Design Homemakers Club
School Activities:
FFA (2020-2024)
C4 Leadership Team (2022-2024)
National Honor Society (2022-2024)
Community Involvement and Extracurriculars:
Ten-year 4-H Member
Junior Staff at Camp Lakeview
Youth Rep ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod Council
President of Luther League
