Jonathan Vogel and Amanda Lehmkuhl honored a longstanding tradition while breaking a long-feared curse on Monday at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds.
The 2016 Junior Fair king and queen were crowned during a coronation ceremony held Monday evening at the Grandstand, before an enthusiastic crowd of friends, family members and supporters. Vogel and Lehmkuhl were both coincidentally named runners up during the 2015 junior fair king and queen coronation, and local lore has it that this often does not bode well for returning members of the court.
Both Vogel and Lehmkuhl interviewed for the Junior Fair court for the second consecutive year in 2016. The king and queen cited the opportunity to be a role model to young 4-H members as their reason for trying out a second time.
Vogel is a 12-year member of the Maids and Gents of Kossuth 4-H Club. He is the son of Daniel and Dorine Vogel, and also has served on the Junior Fair Board Executive Committee, as 4-H Club President and is a former member of the Memorial High School band. A 2015 Memorial High School graduate, Vogel will begin his sophomore year at Ohio State University in the fall.
Lehmkuhl is a 14-year member of the Buckeye Beavers 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Karen Hoban and Bill Lehmkuhl, and has also served as Junior Fair Board President, Big Brothers Big Sisters, former member of both the Minster High School band and Wildcat volleyball team. A 2016 Minster High School graduate, Lehmkuhl will attend the University of Cincinnati this fall.
The 2016 king and queen runners up were Adam Vogel and Morgan Felver.
See Tuesday's paper for the full story.