2026 Pike County Fair is Underway
Article presented by Pike County Career & Technology Center …
Jeweliana Leslie-Dalton was crowned Queen of the Pike County Fair Sunday during the opening ceremonies. She was part of the court in 2025.
Leslie-Dalton is the daughter of Megan Leslie. She is 2025 graduate of Piketon High School and is currently an Ohio University student working toward a bachelor of science in nursing wanting to pursue a career in pediatric nursing. Jeweliana was a 14-year member of the Spunky Clovers 4-H Club, a past member of the Pike County Junior Fair Board and a 4-H Teen Ambassador.
1st Attendant is McKenzie Wiseman, the daughter of Derek and Myriah Wiseman and a graduate of Waverly City Schools. This fall, she will be attending Murray State University to pursue a degree in Business with a concentration in logistics and supply chain management, while also minoring in Real Estate.
2nd Attendant is Abigail Penn, the daughter of Kyle and Nikki Penn. She is a senior at the Pike County Career Technology Center in the Business Management program and is the local parliamentarian for the Business Professionals of America.
King is Landon Williams, the son of Sarah Erwin and Tyer Williams. He is a graduate of Waverly High School and is currently attending The Ohio State University, where he is majoring in Agribusiness and Applied Economics with a minor in Law and Public Policy. His career goal is to become an agricultural lawyer.
Among the 2026 4-H Scholarship winners: Ohio Valley Bank Scholarship ($3,000), Nevaeh Stiltner, Waverly High School, Barn Outlaws 4-H Club.
4-H Advisory Committee Scholarships ($1,000 each) Kordelia Brewster, Piketon HS, Boots, Barns, and Britches 4-H Club; Smith, Huntington HS, Town and Country 4-H Club; Natalynn McQueen, Piketon HS, and Legendary Livestock 4- Club; Addy Brewster, Western HS, Boots, Barns, and Britches.
4-H Club Vancil Brown Scholarship ($500), Brewer Tomlison, Eastern HS, Barnyard Buddies.
4-H Club Backhills Bunch 4-H Club Scholarship ($500), Josey Ware, Eastern HS, Muddy Boots and Buckles 4-H Club Barn & Beyond.
4-H Club Scholarship ($250), Karlee Clemmons, Piketon HS, Buchanan Buccaneers.
Wes Fout Memorial Scholarship ($500), Madelyn Smith, Huntington High School, Town and County 4-H Club.
Pike County Ag Society Scholarships Scholarships – ($500), McKenzie Wiseman, Waverly HS; Josie Ware, Eastern HS; Foster Davis, Western HS; Karlee Clemmons, Piketon HS; Braydon Greene, Pike CTC; and Raegan Swango, 2025 Fair Queen from Pike Christian Academy.
Apple Pie Scholarships ($250), Christene Eing, Eastern HS, Muddy Boots and Buckles; Chloe Arens, Pike CTC, Barn Outlaws; Braydon Greene, Pike CTC, Barn Outlaws; Cole Beattie, Piketon HS, Legendary Livestock; Mya Shaw, Waverly HS, Back Hills Bunch; Bailey Ison, Western HS, Boots, Barns, & Britches; Foster Davis, Western HS, Boots, Barns, & Britches.
The winners of this year’s Fruit Pie Contest earned just over $7,000 at auction with 100% of the proceeds going to the Pike County 4-H Scholarship Fund. The Buchanan Buccaneers’ Strawberry Crunch earned $4,000 as the 1st place prize. 2nd place was 4-H 4-Ever’s Atlantic Beach Pie. 3rd place was Barn & Beyond’s Apple Pie followed by 4th place Pike County Livestock’s Strawberry Cream Pie and 5th place Livestockdalers’ Apple Pie.
4-H members recognized for aging out of the 4-H program, completing every consecutive 4-H year including all their Cloverbud years from age 5 through 18: Callie Anderson (Chix-n-Chaps); Bodie Armstrong )Farm-n-Friends); Reese Bond (Pike County Livestock); Cayde Conley (Pike County Livestock); Madilen Day (4-H 4-Ever); Wayde Fout (Legendary Livestock); Hayden Graves (Pike County Beef and Breeders) and Neveah Stiltner (Barn Outlaws).
The 4-H non-livestock award winners:
Communication Contest:
4-H Pledge Contest – 1st Place – Jolene Travis – Country Critters – Award sponsored by Ridgeline Acres 2nd Place – Nate Woodruff – Beyond the Clover 4-H Club
Intermediate Demonstration/Illustrated Talk: 1st Sydney Balzer – 4-H 4-Ever 4-H Club – Award sponsored by Williams Hardware Piketon 2nd – Emma Hawse – Barnyard Bandits
Junior Demonstration/Illustrated Talk: 1st Josiah Balzer – 4-H 4-Ever 4-H Club – Award sponsored by Pike County 4-H Advisory Committee 2nd Nate Woodruff – Beyond the Clover 4-H Club
Intermediate Team Demonstration/Illustrated Talk: 1st Sydney and Josiah Balzer – 4-H 4-Ever 4-H Club – Award sponsored by Pike County 4-H Advisory Committee
Marketing – Intermediate (Winter Holiday Card) 1st Sydney Balzer – 4-H 4-Ever 4-H Club – Award sponsored by Pike County 4-H Advisory Committee
Marketing Junior (Thank-you Card) 1st Josiah Balzer – 4-H 4-Ever 4-H Club – Award sponsored by Wiseman Farms
Volunteer recognition took place during the Parade of 4-H Clubs:
40 Years: Cara Pfeifer, Buchanan Buccaneers
25 Years: Heather Greene, Country Clovers; Lori Ross, Dynomite; Charlie & Sheila Weeter, West Side Hillbillies; Sandra Montgomery, Barnyard Bandits
20 Years: Sarah Tackett, 4-H 4-Ever
15 Years: Kristy Alderman, Backhills Bunch; Jacklynn Trimble, Beyond Clover
10 Years: Gary & Jenny Moore, Legendary Livestock; Miranda Moore, Pike County Livestock; Jessica Mustard; Farm-n-Friends; Jay & Shonda Whitmore, Barn Outlaws
5 Years: Lauren Barker, Little Bit O Everything; Nelli Baumgardner, Barnyard Bandits; Tiffany Cockrell, Barn and Beyond; Autumn Davis, Chix-n-Chaps; Ali Penn & Caleb Penn, Chix-n-Chaps; Susan Prall, Tigers by the Tail
Country Critters took first place in the Fair Booth Contest. 2nd place went to Beyond the Clover, 3rd was Barnyard Bandits, 4th Little Bit O Everything, 5th Barn Outlaws, 6th Barn and Beyond, 7th Eastern FFA, 8th Chix-n-Chaps, 9th Barnyard Buddies, 10th Coops and Stalls and 11th Backhills Bunch.
Honor Club recognition as follows:
Gold Level: Receiving top club overall – Beyond the Clover. Other winners, 4-H 4-Ever; Barn and Beyond; Boots, Barns & Britches; Buchanan Buccaneers; Town and Country.
Silver Level: 4-H 4-Ever; Barn Outlaws; Country Clovers; Farm-n-Friends; Legendary Livestock; Newland Ridge Runners
Bronze Level: Little Bit O Everything; Pick County Livestock
