The Kosciusko County Royalty Contest is entering its 50th year and has 12 candidates participating in this year’s competition.

Today’s 4-H royalty candidates submit a complete history of their 4-H, school and community leadership, service, and activities and involvement. Blind applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of three judges.  

In June, the judges meet the candidates for 10-minute professional interviews.

The 2018 4-H king, prince, queen and princess will be crowned by the 1968 4-H king and queen (Gary Boggs  and Cathy Bryant Shipley) on July 5, just prior to the opening of the fair.  

Although the contest has taken on a new “look,” it continues to recognize 4-H achievement, leadership and commitment to service. The contest and the royalty court continue to hold a place of high value and tradition in the Kosciusko County 4-H program, according to a news release.

The 2017 4-H king was Hunter Magiera and the 2017 4-H queen was Lacey Helfers.

The 2018 4-H Royalty Contest candidates are Morgan Bruner, Abbigail Curtis, Haley Hoover, Valerie Messmore, Austi Swanson, Madelyn Zimmerman, Reagan Rowland, Jonathon Tate Andrew, Evan Coblentz, Logan Hollar, Isaiah Stouder and Jackson Templin.

Coronation of the 2018 Royalty Court will be July 5 during the annual 4-H Public Fashion Revue.

The fair begins July 8 with several events including the parade at 2:45 p.m.

Below are recaps of all the royalty participants:



Morgan Bruner: Proceeds to 4-H Swine Barn

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers

Number of Years in 4-H: 10

Projects: Swine, Horse and Pony, Beef

School and Grade in the Fall: 2018 graduate of Warsaw Community High School

Parents & Guardians: Chad and Maggie Bruner

Future Plans: Graduate from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology



Abbigail Curtis: Proceeds to 4-H Dairy Barn

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers

Number of Years in 4-H: 9

Projects: Dairy, Swine, Forestry, Junior Leaders, Sport Fishing

4-H Office Held: President, Secretary, Health & Safety, Song Leader

School and Grade this Fall: 2018

Graduate of Warsaw Community High School

Parents & Guardians: Justin and Laura Curtis

Future Plans: Undergraduate studies at Ivy Tech and then enter Purdue University to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness





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Haley Hoover: 4-H Royalty Scholarship, Junior Leaders Scholarship

Club: The Great Outdoors 4-H club

Number of Years in 4-H: 9

Projects: Fine Arts, Recycling, Llama, Dog Poster, Rabbit Poster, Wearable Art, Poultry, Vet Science, Dog, Rabbit, Sheep, Shooting Sports, Wildlife, and Hay

4-H Office Held: President, Vice President, and Treasurer

School and Grade this Fall: Senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School

Parents & Guardians: Jeffrey Hoover and Bethany Hoover

Future Plans: Graduate from college with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science. Plans are to secure employment, purchase a farm, and serve as a 4-H volunteer.



Valerie Messmore: 4-H Possibilities Program

Club: Horse & Pony Club

Number of Years in 4-H: 9

Projects: Horse & Pony, Dairy Steers, Dairy Calf Feeder Steers, Dairy, Photography, and Sheep

4-H Office Held: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Refreshment Coordinator

School and Grade this Fall: Valerie will be a Senior at Warsaw Community High School this fall

Parents & Guardians: Brent and Renea Messmore

Future Plans: Attend Purdue to major in Accounting or Finance  



Reagan Rowland: 4-H Council Scholarship Fund

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers

Number of Years in 4-H: 8

Projects: Dairy Calf Feeder Steers, Beef, Weather, Foods, Photography

4-H Office Held: President, Vice President, Secretary, Song Leader, Health & Safety Leader

School and Grade this Fall: Junior at Warsaw Community High School

Parents & Guardians: Greg and Kassi Rowland

Future Plans: Upon graduating from high school, Reagan plans to attend Purdue University to major in Agriculture Communications and minor in Agronomy



Austi Swanson: 4-H Rabbit Barn, 4-H Dairy Barn, and Fellowship Missions

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers

Number of Years in 4-H: 9

Projects: Rabbit, Dairy, Rabbit Poster, and Gift Wrapping

4-H Office Held: Vice President

School and Grade this Fall: Austi will be a Senior at Warsaw Community High School

Parents & Guardians: Kelley Hollo

Future Plans: Post-Secondary studies in Conservation/Environmental Science or Education at an Indiana college



Madelyn Zimmerman: John Anglin Memorial Show Barn & the Beaver Dam Concession Stand

Club: Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club

Number of Years in 4-H: 9

Projects: Beef, Swine, Foods, Photography, Creative Writing, Create-with-a-Mix, Sewing, Consumer Clothing

4-H Offices Held: President, Vice-President, and Reporter

School and Grade this Fall:  Madelyn will be a Senior at Wawasee High School this fall.

Parents & Guardians: John & Peg Zimmerman

Future Plans: Post-secondary plans include attending Kansas State to double major in Agriculture Communications and Cattle Reproduction



Jonathon Tate Andrew: 4-H Dairy

Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers

Number of Years in 4-H: 6

Projects: Swine, Poultry, Dairy

4-H Office Held: Two terms as Club President

School and Grade this Fall: Junior at Warsaw Community High School

Parents & Guardians: Barry and Rebecca Andrew

Future Plans: Further post-secondary education in college, followed by employment within the dairy industry



Evan Coblentz: 4-H Goat Barn

Club: Syracuse Community Hands, Milford Helping Hands

Number of Years in 4-H: 7

Projects: Poultry, Rabbit, Goat, DCFS, Dairy Steer, Photography, fine Arts, and Miscellaneous Crafts

4-H Office Held:  Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club Secretary

School and Grade this Fall: Junior at Wawasee High School

Parents & Guardians: Allen and Mindy Coblentz

Future Plans: Post-secondary studies in Biology or Biochemistry in a Pre-Med program leading to employment as a Clinical Geneticist



Logan Hollar: 4-H Royalty Scholarship Fund

Club: Milford Helping Hands

Number of Years in 4-H: 7

Projects: Dairy, Beef, Swine, Poultry, Electric, Photography

4-H Office Held: Recreation Leader

School and Grade this Fall:  Junior at Wawasee High School

Parents & Guardians: Mitch and Jaime Hollar

Future Plans: Pursue a PhD in Aerospace Engineering

Isaiah Stouder: 4-H Dairy Barn

Club: Milford Helping Hands

Number of Years in 4-H: 8

Projects: Dairy, Robotics, Collections, Wildlife, Lego, Sport Fishing, Electric, Woodworking, Farm Toy Scene, Dog Poster, and Miscellaneous Crafts

4-H Office Held: Vice President

School and Grade this Fall: Junior at Syracuse Christian Academy

Parents & Guardians: Rich & Naomi Stouder

Future Plans: Entering the United States Marine Corp upon high school graduation and serve 20 years to receive a military pension



Jackson Templin: 4-H Beef Barn

Club: Milford Helping Hands

Number of Years in 4-H: 8

Projects: Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat, Dairy Calf Feeder Steer, Dairy Steer, Recycling, Dog Poster, Create-a-Mix

4-H Office Held: Vice President, Treasurer, and Recreation Leader

School and Grade this Fall: Junior at Wawasee High School

Parents & Guardians: Terry and Karen Templin

Future Plans: Graduate from High School and to major in either Ag Engineering or Agribusiness.