Courtney Kuemin Cass fair queen
Published 12:24 pm Sunday, July 28, 2013
Courtney Kuemin of Cassopolis and Libby Hein of Niles reign over the 162nd Cass County Fair opening today as queen and runner-up. They were crowned Saturday night in the Agnes Gregarek Building from six contestants.
CASSOPOLIS — Courtney Kuemin, 17, is younger than the 19th annual Cass County Fair queen contest.
Courtney, a senior at Ross Beatty High School, this week will be showing draft horses, lambs and rabbits.
Her favorite part of the fair is “getting around and meeting people,” so this should be her best week ever.
Lillian Tone won fair princess from 11 contestants, with Kaitlyn Hartsell runner-up. Her twin sister, Kiersten Hartsell, was 2012 fair princess. There were no king or prince entries for the 19th and 10th annual contests.
After high school, “I want to become a large animal vet and a zoo vet,” she said Saturday after being crowned by 2012 queen Meghan Lahti from six hopefuls, including Runner-Up Libby Hein, daughter of Ron and Leona Hein and a 2013 Niles High School graduate; her sister, Ele Hein, a Niles High School senior; Kayla Ringle, a 2013 Marcellus High School graduate; 2013 Niles High School graduate Lizzy Wolkens, who won the $100 entrepreneur gift card for obtaining more than $200 in sponsorships; and Edwardsburg freshman Lynze Jankoviak.
Courtney, daughter of Brian and Melody Kuemin, intends to attend Hope College in Holland, then Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
The Legacy 4-H member started showing as a pee wee at 6 and “never stopped.”
“A couple of serious accidents” motivate Courtney “to keep trying and never give up.”
“No guys would go for” king, “but that’s okay,” she said. “We’ll make do and girls will rule.”
Libby enjoys art, playing saxophone and playing volleyball. Contestant 1 describes herself in three words as optimistic, intelligent and motivated.
Elizabeth and queen first runner-up Nicole Irwin crowned princess runner-up Kaitlyn Hartsell while Kiersten Hartsell, assisted by Meghan Lahti, bannered princess Lillian Tone.
Lillian’s greatest experience at the fair was finishing first exhibiting a heavyweight market hog. The Marcellus sixth-grader is the daughter of Rachael and Joe Tone. She enjoys softball, basketball, taking care of her animals and riding bikes.
Lillian was described as hard-working, athletic and helpful.
Kaitlyn, a Cassopolis seventh-grader, is the daughter of Todd Hartsell and Michell Outlaw. Her hobbies include working with her animals, playing softball, archery and hunting. Athletic, smart and helpful describe Kaitlyn, who said her role models, her parents, “are doing a great job so far.”
Emelyn Tucker, Howard Elementary sixth-grader; Courtney Konrath, Edwardsburg seventh-grader; Adanna Collett, Cassopolis Sam Adams Elementary School fifth-grader; Courtney Sobieski, Cassopolis fifth-grader; Layla True, Eastside Connections School in Niles; Kassidy Binns, Dowagiac eighth-grader; MaKayle Weedon, Paw Paw fifth-grader; Madison Weedon, Paw Paw fourth-grader; and Erin Quigg, Edwardsburg fourth-grader, also competed for princess.
Older girls were asked what at the fair they have not yet experienced, but would like to.
Libby said it would sitting in the dunk tank as a great way to share a hot day with friends.
Courtney, contestant 3, said she hopes to witness a professional draft horse pull.
Departing king Cameron Hayden will be exhibiting cattle, hogs and market lambs, “which I haven’t shown since I was about (princess first runner-up Elizabeth Lahti’s) age, so that should be interesting.”
