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The Clark County Fair always provides a festive atmosphere during the late days of June. 

Throughout the week, several pageants, competitions, and more were showcased. 

Among them were pageants to decide 2024’s Miss Clark County, Tiny Miss & Mister, Tiny Tot Miss & Mister, Little Duke & Duchess, Prince & Princess, Little Miss & Mister, Miss & Mrs. Clark County Fair, Miss Pre-Teen Clark County, Miss Teen Clark County, and Miss Teen Clark County Fair. 

While recent George Rogers Clark High School graduate and 2023 Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky Madelyn Goeing took home honors as 2024, Miss Clark County, other contestants with Winchester roots also were victorious.

Addison Taylor, an incoming freshman at George Rogers Clark High School, was named Miss Teen Clark County. 

“I honestly didn’t think I was [going to] get an award. I was just here to have fun,” Taylor said. “This is my first pageant…I’m super happy that I will get to represent my county.” 

Morgan Boley, an incoming sophomore at GRC, was named Miss Teen Clark County Fair. 

Also voted as Miss Congeniality, she will go on to represent Clark County in the state competition. 

“It’s my third year competing, and I’ve always wanted to represent my hometown at the state level,” Boley said. “Just getting to win and watching all my hard work be put together…is awesome!” 

Taylor and Boley each competed in a field of 12 contestants – including many from surrounding counties – with the voting based on categories of evening gown wear, cocktail wear, and interview skills. 

Elsewhere, a number of livestock shows took place. 

In addition to a Central Kentucky District Youth Beef Show, Horse Show, Open Goat Show, Rabbit Show, Open Swine Show, Open Sheep Show, and Bluegrass District Sheep Show, a Poultry Show was featured. 

Sam Miller, who runs a small hobby farm in Irvine, attended and participated in the poultry show with his son, Benjamin. 

Among others, they entered a Japanese Bantam chicken breed.

“I really like the competitions and showing my chickens,” Benjamin Miller said. 

“There’s actually a standard of perfection. The American Poultry Association has a book they update every few years,” Sam Miller said. “For large fowl and bantams, they will have what your perfect bird should look like. They’ll give the weight, the height, the color pattern, what color the legs should be, what color the beak should be [and more]…all of the breeders across the nation try to reach that standard of perfection.” 

Young kids could even enjoy fun with barnyard animals through events such as mutton-busting. 

Similar to bull riding, mutton busting at the Clark County Fair allows children ages four to eight – with a 60-pound weight limit – to ride sheep for as long as they can hold on. 

“It varies from .2 seconds to eight seconds. [It] just depends how good they hold on,” said farmer T.J. Yazell, who helped supply some of the sheep. “[We’re] glad to have it and come out and do it for the kids.” 

Fair exhibits for 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Home Economics were also present for others to see. 

While 4-H exhibits included a wide variety – such as wood science and photography – many FFA entries were part of a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. 

Home economic entries included foods such as breads and pies, horticulture, needlework, and much more. 

As the fair continues, Clark County and outside citizens will have plenty more to explore.