2013 Putnam County Fair queen contestants: Part I

The 2013 Putnam County Fair Queen contest is quickly approaching.

The contest will take place on Saturday, July 13 at the Fairgrounds Community Building at 7 p.m.

Contestants will be judged on the basis of beauty, poise and personality, which will be determined in both preliminary personal judging and the public contest.

The winner of will represent Putnam County in Miss Indiana State Fair Pageant.

This is the first of four features introducing this year's contestants.

Sabrina Arnold

Fair Queen contestant Sabrina Arnold, 19, is the daughter of Troy and Marsha Arnold of Fillmore. She has a 22-year-old sister, Tabitha.

Arnold graduated from Greencastle High School this May, and she will student dental hygiene at IUPUI in the fall.

In high school, she was a part of NHS, NTHS, HOSA, Latin Club, FCA, PIE, TSLA, Youth for Youth, Teen Court Defense Attorney, youth group, WINGS, student council, SADD. She was also the Key Club vice president, Spanish Club secretary, Science Club president and was a repeating class officer as secretary and president. Arnold participated in varsity cheerleading, varsity tennis, varsity swimming, tumbling and On the Flipside competitive cheerleading. Arnold is currently employed at Dairy Castle.

In the 4-H world, Arnold worked on food projects, sheep, poultry and goats.

She is currently a member at Bethel Baptist Church.

Arnold said fair has always been her favorite week. This will be her 10th year of 4-H, and she wants her final year to be unforgettable, so she entered the queen contest.

She describes herself as determined, diligent, persistent, hardworking, friendly and driven.

When Arnold asked Jesus into her heart and was baptized impacted her the most.

Arnold's best advice to a younger person would come from her favorite song by Lee Ann Womack, "And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance."

Her hobbies include swimming, running, listening to music, shopping and spending quality time with friends and family.

Arnold admires her Nana because family will always be her No. 1 priority.

"Even when life throws difficult obstacles at her, she never questions her faith and finds happiness through God each and every day."

Sarah Woodworth

The 18-year-old Fair Queen contestant Sarah Woodworth, who is from Greencastle, is the daughter of Becky Woodworth.

Woodworth recently graduated from South Putnam this May, and she plans to attend Purdue University.

She participated in varsity golf, student council, NHS, FFA and homecoming court in high school.

Woodworth was a member of teen court as well.

She said she plans to obtain a career in livestock production management and get married. She wants to have three children as well as a Great Dane.

Woodworth said she has always wanted to be a part of Putnam County Queen Court for as along as she can remember. She has always looked up to those girls.

She describes herself as an independent young woman who enjoys being outside -- golfing, showing livestock and spending time with friends and family.

Woodworth's hobbies include golfing, reading, dog training and public speaking.

Advice she would give a younger person would be to be yourself.

"God made you the way you are for a reason -- embrace it," she said.

One of the events in Woodworth's life that has made the greatest impact on here was working at the local Subway for almost two years. She said it's a humbling experience, and she believes that it has made her a kinder person.

Woodworth admires her mother the most.

"My mother is the strongest, most incredible person I know," Woodworth said. "She is beautiful inside and out. I would not be the person I am today without her guidance."

Kathryn Welch

Coatesville Fair Queen contestant Kathryn Welch is an 18-year-old. She is the daughter of Tom and Debbie Welch, and the sister of David Pimlott, 35, Jennifer Pimlott, 33, and Tommy Welch, 20.

Welch graduated from North Putnam High School this May, and she plans to major in pharmacy at Purdue University.

In high school, Welch was the student council president, and participated in Spell Bowl, the Academic tam, Spanish Club, SADD, varsity volleyball, softball and track.

She has been a 4-H member for 10 years. She has been involved with adopt-a-highway, youth group and church.

Since being a 4-H member, Welch has looked up to past queens because they were great role models. She said she believes younger girls can look up her as she looked up to the past queens.

Welch describes herself as positive, outgoing and confident young woman. She said she always smiles and and has a compassionate personality, but she's also competitive and strives to do her best.

Her hobbies include baking, volunteering, shopping and going to the movies.

Her advice to a younger person is "in this world full of hate and violence, remember to find and pursue what makes you happy. Don't let anyone drag you down or try to change you. You are unique and beautiful, embrace yourself."

The event in her life that impacted Welch the greatest was the divorce between her parents.

"It was hard not to take the easy road and fall behind in school, but that motivated me to push myself and strive to achieve every goal I set for myself," Welch said.

The people who Welch admires the most are both of her late grandmothers.

"These women fought through many problems in their lives but never failed to smile and be happy each and every time I saw them," she said. "Perhaps this is why I never wipe the smile off my face."