Nine teens are vying to be named 2017’s 4-H king, queen or princess.

Thursday evening, the “royal” candidates were announced. The king, queen and princess will be crowned at 6:30 p.m. July 6 during the public fashion revue and awards night at the Kosciusko County Extension Office, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw.

This year’s 4-H royalty contest candidates are Abigail Blackburn, Lacey Helfers, Morgan Keirn, Kara Kline, Valerie Messmore, Carolyn Pitt, Madison Wagoner, Madelyn Zimmerman and Hunter Magiera.

The Kosciusko County Royalty contest started in 1968 with the 4-H Junior Leaders selecting their king, Gary Boggs, and queen, Cathy Bryant Shipley.

Almost 50 years later, 4-H Royalty candidates submit a complete history of their 4-H, school and community leadership, service, activities and involvement. Blind applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of three judges, according to information provided by Purdue Extension. Later this month, judges will meet the candidates for 10-minute professional interviews. Crowning will take place July 6, just three days before the opening of this year’s fair.

The 2016 4-H king was Connor Sausaman, and the queen was Ashley Beer.

Following is brief information provided on each royalty contestant:

• Abigail Blackburn has been involved in 4-H for nine years. Her clubs include Junior Neighbors 4-H Club and Kosciusko County 4-H Junior Leaders. Her projects include photography, cake decorating, crafts, gift wrapping, create-with-a-mix and goats. 4-H offices held include vice president, treasurer, secretary, health and safety, and recreation.

This fall, she will be a senior at Warsaw Community High School. The daughter of Rick and Zona Blackburn, she plans to attend college and get a degree in human resources.

• Lacey Helfers also has been involved in 4-H for nine years. Her clubs include Milford Helping Hands and Kosciusko County 4-H Junior Leaders. Her projects include photography, fine arts, dairy foods, poultry, Junior Leaders, entomology, fashion revue, wearable art, creative writing and crafts. 4-H offices held include Junior Leaders vice president for two terms, recreation leader and secretary.

The daughter of Jeff and Michelle Helfers, she will be a senior this fall at Wawasee High School. Her future plans are to attend college to major in visual arts education and minor in theater production and design.

• Morgan Keirn is a 10-year 4-H member and has been a part of the Horse and Pony Club. Her projects include horse and pony and dairy calf feeder steer. In 4-H, she’s held the offices of treasurer and president.

Keirn will be a freshman this fall at Purdue University where she will major in pre-veterinary medicine. She is the daughter of Shannon and Claudia Keirn.

• Kara Kline, a nine-year member of 4-H, has been a part of the Silver Lake Rambling Farmers 4-H Club. Her projects include crafts, rabbit posters, swine, sheep and rabbit. Her offices have included reporter and health and safety.

This fall, she will be a senior at Manchester High School. The daughter of Duane and Rickell Kline, she plans to attend college to major in animal science and play volleyball.

• Valerie Messmore has been a part of 4-H for eight years, and the Horse and Pony Club and Pierceton Hayseeds 4-H Club. Her projects include horse and pony, dairy steers, dairy calf feeder steers, dairy and sheep. 4-H offices she’s held include vice president, two terms as treasurer, health and safety leader and refreshment coordinator.

A junior at WCHS this fall, she plans to attend Purdue or Butler universities to major in accounting. Brent and Renea Messmore are her parents.

• Carolyn Pitt, a Firm Foundations 4-H Club member, has been in 4-H for nine years. Her projects include goat, poultry, cat, dog, sheep, swine, horse and pony, beef, dairy, rabbit, llama, llama poster, fine arts, woodworking, cake decorating, crafts and collections. In 4-H, she’s served as president, vice president, treasurer, historian and devotions leader.

A homeschooled student, she is a senior and the daughter of David and Ami Pitt. She would like to develop her cake business, take post-secondary courses from Grace College and Ivy Tech, coach volleyball and become a 4-H leader.

• Madison Wagoner, a nine-year 4-H member, is a part of the Lucky Lassies and Lads Club. Her projects include beef, photography, creative writing, recycling and horse and pony. She’s served as vice president.

A recent WCHS graduate, she will major in physical therapy at the University of Indianapolis this fall. Her parents are David and Tammi Wagoner.

• Madelyn Zimmerman has been a 4-H member for eight years and in the Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club. Her projects include beef, swine, foods, photography, creative writing, create-with-a-mix, sewing and consumer clothing. She’s held the 4-H offices of vice president and reporter.

A junior at Wawasee this fall, her post-secondary plans are to attend Kansas State to pursue a degree in beef and agriculture education. She is the daughter of John and Peg Zimmerman.

• Hunter Magiera, who is in Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club, also is a 10-year member of 4-H. His projects include dairy calf feeder steers and dairy steers. 4-H offices held include senior advisor.

The Wawasee High School graduate plans to attend Purdue University this fall and major in agriculture systems management. His parents are Ranee Tom and Brent Sabin.