2012
Fair Queen
Ashley May
Bathing
swine, clipping goats, and eating lots of cheesy
ranch fries is where my heart is every
third week of August. The Somerset County Fair
has been my home for years on end. Camping with
my family throughout the week has proven how
community oriented my fair really is. Throughout
my teenage years the preparations of getting my
animals to look their best would always lead to
a bittersweet week at the fair. There are so
many amazing events at the fair from the
carnival rides to the demolition derby, but
nothing at the fair was quite as special as the
Fair Queen contest. As I grew older I realized
how many younger girls looked at the Fair Queen
as a positive role model. I wanted to be that
role model. I wanted to be the Queen that every
beautiful, young woman looked up too. My dream
of being that positive role model came true last
year at the fair when I was crowned the 2012
Somerset County Fair Queen. Feelings of
nervousness and unconditional love raged
throughout my entire body. I love the Somerset
County Fair and I was so excited to be able to
express that! Representing such an immense part
of America’s county is an ample task in itself,
but since day number one at the fair, I was
ready for that task!
My week at the fair as Queen was the
best week of my life! My Fair Queen court was
there for me whenever I needed them. Friendships
grew closer and I knew we were in for the times
of our lives! I learned so much about every
event at the fair. I got to personally
experience how special every single show, event,
and business is to the Somerset County Fair.
Without every part, my fair would not be the
agricultural excellence that it is.
In January, I made the journey to the
Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Contest in
Hershey, Pa. I learned about 54 other fairs and
met amazing young woman along the way. I
couldn’t believe that so many other girls had
the same love for agriculture and their fair as
I do. During my trip, I discovered a new passion
and appreciation for my own fair!
Plenty of other opportunities led me to
represent the Somerset County Fair as their
official ambassador this year. I rode through
parades all over western Pennsylvania and spoke
to anyone who had questions or comments about my
great fair. Overall, my time as Queen has been
marvelously wonderful, but I assure you that no
amount of words could describe my time as the
Somerset County Fair Queen.
I have plenty of people to thank for my
fantastic and successful year. For their
support, dedication, and love that continues on,
I would love to thank the fair board. All the
hard work that every single one of you put into
our fair makes it special. I personally got to
see that first hand. You all helped in whatever
way you could and I am truly grateful.
To my fair queen court, Courtney, Hannah, Beth,
and Kaitlyn, you are all spectacular! Thank you
for all of your help and I am so grateful to
have gotten the opportunity to know all of you!
To Jay and Dutch Hemminger, thank you so much
for traveling with me to the state queen contest
and supporting me the entire trip. I realized
how humorous Dutch can be and what amazing
people you both are. Also, another thank you to
Jay for chauffeuring my queen court and I
around!
To Byron and Judy Glessner, thank you for being
there at the state queen contest as well. I
appreciate all that you do and I am thankful to
know such wonderful people!
To Jeff and Jill Romesburg, an enormous thank
you! Thank you for all the milkshakes, they were
delicious! Also I would have gotten lost without
you both at the state queen contest. I want to
express how truly lucky I am to know such
humbling people!
To Darlene Fullerton and Amy Buterbaugh, thank
you so much for putting together an awesome fair
queen contest! It was so much fun and you both
know how to answer my questions!
To James T. Yoder, thank you for escorting me
throughout the queen contest! You looked great!
To Branden Lynne Snyder, thank for all the
beautiful pictures and being the greatest
“stalkarazzi” ever!
To past queens, Shelby, Breanna, Emily, and
Kylie, thank you so much for your extended
support and answering any and all questions I
had!
To Larry and Gale Hay, I would definitely not be
where I am today without you both. Thank you for
your time, patience, and continued support!
To George and Georgia Lensbouer, thank you so
much for letting me use your convertible for
every parade! It was a huge help!
To my Grandparents, thank you for supporting me
and wishing me the best in anything I do!
To my Uncle Jr. and Bill, without you both I
wouldn’t have made it! The dress you bought me
for the state contest was absolutely stunning.
Thank you both for traveling with me to the
state contest and supporting me. You always said
I had to look classy and because of you both, I
did. I am so grateful to have such wonderful
people in my life!
To Shane Maust, my boyfriend and best friend of
5 years, no words will express to you how
thankful I am to have you. Thank you for driving
me through every parade and for traveling with
me to the state contest. You truly are the best
and I could not have done this without you!
To my parents and sister, thank you so much for
everything! You only want the best for me and
because of you, I have the best! Thank you so
very much from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you again to the Somerset County Fair for
allowing me to be the official ambassador for
the fair! I loved every single part of it!
I now look forward to this year’s fair and
realize that I will no longer be wearing the
crown all week. I know that the fair will have
the same great cheesy ranch fries and I know
that the fair will still be my home all week. I
look forward to crowning the young and beautiful
woman who will call herself the queen next.
Enjoy it and take in every single element of the
fair, because remember it only comes once a
year!
2012 Somerset County Fair Queen,
Ashley May