Lauren Johnston crowned Miss Putnam County 2016

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Miss Putnam County 2015 Kristen Stevens crowns the new Miss Putnam County Lauren Johnston. Lauren is the daughter of Rick and Cammie Johnston.


Lauren Elizabeth Johnston was crowned the 2016 Putnam County 4-H Queen Saturday from a field of six contestants. As the new Ms. Putnam County, Johnston plans to implement a princess program "so that little girls can feel as I beautiful as I do right now." (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

Miss Putnam County 2015 Kristen Stevens passed on her crown to Lauren Elizabeth Johnston at the end of the 2016 Miss Putnam County Fair Queen contest Saturday night.

"What am I not feeling?" Johnston said after tearful hugs and pictures with friends and family. "I am ecstatic and overwhelmed with joy, and I really have no words for it. I think I worked 20 hours for interviewing for just nine minutes of interviewing, and then proper dinner etiquette and having to be able to model on-stage. It took a lot of preparation."

During the impromptu question portion of the contest, Johnston was asked what time period she would like to visit. Although she had impressed the judges in her '50s-style professional wear, she answered that she would prefer the '80s.

Although 2016 Ms. Putnam County Lauren Johnston impressed judges in her '50s-style professional wear, Johnston said she would prefer to visit the '80s during the impromptu question portion of the contest. "Because, of course, the best hair, music and movies were made in the '80s." (BANNER GRAPHIC/Nick Wilson)

"Because, of course, the best hair, music and movies were made in the '80s."

As the newly crowned Miss Putnam County, one of Johnston's top priorities for the coming year is to implement a princess program "so that little girls can feel just as beautiful as I do right now."

2016 4-H Fair Queen contestants (from left) First Runner Up Rosemary Frances Hurst, Bailey Nicole York, Queen Lauren Elizabeth Johnston, Second Runner Up Caitlyn Ann Anderson, Michayla Gabrielle Sanders and Ms. Congeniality Emma Marie Hiigel pose for one final picture Saturday at the Putnam County 4-H fairgrounds. (BANNER GRAPHIC/Nick Wilson)

Johnston is the 18-year-old daughter of Rick and Cammie Johnston. She is a 10-year 4-H member, and throughout her career participated in the Working Farmers 4-H Club, swine, sheep, cattle, goats, baking, consumer clothing, sewing wearable and sewing non-wearable. She was honored with the title of Supreme Showman in 2014.

Having recently graduated from North Putnam High School, Johnston plans to attend Purdue University for a degree in agriculture education with a minor in crop sciences.

"I plan to use this degree to come back to Putnam County to teach agriculture," Johnston said. "I want to be able to inspire my kids like my ag-advisor inspired me to do."

Contestant No. 1 Rosemary Hurst, the daughter of Mark and Deborah Hurst, was named First Runner-up. Her impromtu question asked the difference between wisdom and intelligence, and which she would rather have. She answered that wisdom is something you gain over time, and that "with wisdom comes intelligence." Hurst is a Greencastle High School graduate, and will be attending Ivy Tech Community College to pursue a degree in agribusiness management.

Contestant No. 4 Caitlyn Anderson, the daughter of Scott and Dawn Anderson, was named Second Runner-up. Her impromptu question asked whom she most admired and why, and she answered she most admired her mother for her determination." Anderson is a Greencastle High School graduate, and will be attending the University of Tampa to pursue a degree in international business administration.

Contestant No. 6 Emma Hiigel, the daughter of Scott and Angela Hiigel, was named Miss Congeniality. Her impromptu question asked how she would like to be remembered. "I want to be remembered as successful and caring and always willing to help others out," she said. Hiigel is a Greencastle High School student and plans to attend Indiana State University after graduation to pursue a degree in psychology.

Contestant No. 2 Bailey York is the daughter of Roy and Malinda York. Her impromptu question asked whom she most admired and why, and she answered she most admired her mother for her determination. York is a Greencastle High School student and plans to attend Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill., to pursue a degree in early childhood education.

Contestant No. 5 Michayla Sanders is the daughter of Phillip and Michelle Sanders. Her impromptu question asked what her favorite childhood memory was. She answered that it would be "any memory I got to share with my mamaw," whom she said had never allowed her battle with cancer to "affect her relationship with the Lord."

Before awards were given, Miss Putnam County 2015 Kristen Stevens delivered a moving farewell address filled with laughter and a few tears.

After thanking friends and family and recounting experiences from her time as a 4-H member and Miss Putnam County, she ended her speech by saying, "I could not have chosen a more perfect community to grow up in, and I know that as I move forward in life and go to new places, I will hold this place closest to my heart. Right here and right now is when I wish I had just five more minutes. Five more minutes to wear this crown, to represent this county...but I know that my year has now come to an end, and it's time for someone else to take the stage and wear the crown of honor and pride. Thank you all for the best year of my life. I will never forget it."

The judges for the 2016 Miss Putnam County Contest were Grace Scott, Courtney Vencel and Jeff Jourdan. Scott, of Logansport, was a 10-year 4-H member in Johnson County and has been the Director of the Miss Cass County contest since 2006. Vencel, of Bloomington, is a family and comsumer sciences teacher and serves as a judge in other 4-H fashion shows. Jourdan, of Indianapolis, is the chair for the ASAP program at the Indianapolis Ivy Tech campus.

Entertainment was provided by Putnam County Stars contestants, who sang "The Reason" by Hoobastank (Carl Weathers and Tony Parker), "Royals" by Lorde (Rebecca Allgood, Adison Hughes, Shelly Robins and Ivy Smith), "Gentle On My Mind" in the style of The Band Perry (Parker Black, Ashley Moeller, Maggie Pruitt and McKendra Stewart) and "Baby Girl" by Sugarland (Anne Burdine, Denee Irwin, Taylor Strong and Ashley Wilson).

WTWO reporter and anchor Cody Adams, a North Putnam High School graduate, served as the lively and talented master of ceremonies. Escorts were two 10-year 4-H members Zach Rayce and Noah Poynter.

Audio and lights were provided by G.A.S., and the programs were printed by Greencastle Offset Printing.

Although a total of 40 local businesses and individuals donated to the event, top sponsors were Eitel's & Co. Florist and the Putnam County Fair Board.

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