By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
KEOKUK COUNTY – “If I had to sell the Keokuk County Expo Fair to somebody for 30 seconds, I would like to talk about the community we have around here, and talk about the fact that, when I walk into the fair, I know anybody I see in that exhibit hall or in the extension office or in the barn, is a helping, willing hand. And that I know that every face I see when I walk in there, and I know I’m bound to have a good conversation and find somebody that I haven’t talked to in a while. Every time I come to the Keokuk County Expo Fair, it is a blast, and I never want to leave,” said Carley Clarahan during the Expo Queen Contest, after being asked how to sell the Expo Fair to someone.
Clarahan, a 16-year-old Pekin student from Martinsburg, was crowned Expo Queen on July 17. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Casey Clarahan. Clarahan is a member of Patriotic Panthers, Seamrippers United, the Pekin FFA, and the Keokuk County Council. She also participates in Volleyball, Football and Wrestling Cheer, Quiz Bowl, Band, and Competition Dance. Her hobbies include competition dance, sewing and reading.
“This means the absolute world to me. I’ve been dreaming about doing this since I was a little girl, and I came to every queen show and I loved every single one. I looked up to all the previous fair queens, like Brookyln Hemsley, Mason Clarahan…It meant everything to me and seeing that I got to be here tonight and be the queen makes my heart happy. I get to show everybody what Keokuk County can do…I’m absolutely ecstatic. It was such a hard competition. I had the best group of girls and I could not have asked for a better group…(I am) a little nervous but mostly excited (about the State Fair). I heard from Mason that it’s a whole lot of fun and she met a lot of new friends,” said Clarahan after being crowned queen.
Competing against Clarahan were Ayla Banes of Hedrick, Makenzie Belvel of Sigourney, and Madelyn Sieren of Wellman. Sieren was the first runner up. Belvel was named Miss Congeniality.
The Expo in Sigourney is one of the county’s two fairs, the other being the Keokuk County Fair held in What Cheer. The Keokuk County Fair also named its own queen, Hailey Brackelsberg of What Cheer, on July 10. She was the only contestant. Brackelsberg, who is set to be a Senior at Tri-County next year, is involved with the National Honor Society, SICL Art Show, and High School Play. Her interests include drums, clarinet, drawing, painting, debating, video games and fishing.
“My sister Tori ran in 2017, so I wanted to try it because she did…It’s a little nervewracking. I’m not a very big social person, but it’s something to break it…I’m really nervous (about the State Fair) but I think I’ve got it,” said Brackelsberg.
Rounding out the crownings in the two fairs are Riley Wehr and Brexton Bruns, who were the Expo Little Miss and Little Mister, and Huxlee Fobert and Rhea Price, who were the Fair Little Miss and Mister.
