By Taylor Wooten
Kyra Baker dreamed of becoming the county’s fair queen ever since she started 4-H more than a decade ago.
That dream became a reality Sunday evening when the senior 4-H’er and local basketball star was crowned this year’s Johnson County Fair Queen.
Under bright lights and in a packed indoor stadium, Baker won over the judges in a competition with six other young women.
“I’ve watched it every single year, and I’ve always wanted to be queen. I’ve dreamed of last night,” Baker said Monday.
Baker was crowned in a long white gown with jeweled straps, matching her dangling earrings. The dress was borrowed from a family friend who was runner-up in the competition in a previous year, she said.
The annual Johnson County Fair Queen Pageant is part of the kickoff to fair week, during which the newly-crowned queen will serve as hostess of the fair with her court, attending various events throughout the week.
The seven contestants donned professional clothing as they competed in a question and answer portion, followed by a recently-added “fair spirit” portion during which the contestants give a two-minute speech on their favorite fair activity while wearing their evening gowns.
During the question and answer portion, each contestant was given a word and had to say what the word meant to them. Baker’s word was “challenge,” which she said makes her think of overcoming adversity.
In the speech portion, Baker spoke about her love for the fair itself and the bonds it brings. Her accolades include many of her achievements on the Franklin Community High School girls basketball team.
The fair queen will reach another dream in the fall at Huntington University, where she will play basketball on an athletic scholarship. The small Christian university felt like home, though her visits were limited by the pandemic, she said.
Baker plans to major in animal science to become an animal nutritionist, inspired by her internship with Umbarger Show Feeds, a Bargersville-based agribusiness. Her experience caring for and showing pigs at the Johnson County 4-H and Agricultural Fair also played a role in her decision.
“I’ve been so interested in the feed part,” Baker said. “Like, when you feed the animals differently, different muscles grow. I’ve always been amazed by that.”
Along with her new fair queen duties, she will be back in boots and jeans today while she shows her pigs. The large, lazy animals feel just like a family pet, she said.
“After you break them and train them, they act just like dogs,” Baker said.
Showing the swine will keep her busy today and Wednesday, but her favorite part of 4-H is the friendships formed during the limited downtime the 4-H’ers have, she said.
“For me it’s relaxing to get away from the sports side,” Baker said. “With your friendships, you can just kind of do your own thing.”
The friendships made in 4-H were apparent among this year’s contestants. Baker said runner-up Amanda Swartz is her best friend. The seven ladies became closer during the process as they all vied for the crown.
Juggling a 10-year 4-H career, a position as a varsity basketball player and her schoolwork was not easy, but she said it was all possible due to her support system, including her parents and brothers.
“I get up early, I go feed, I help out,” Baker said. “I go to basketball in the evening, and I go back to the barn.”
That strong support system was showcased at the pageant. Her fans donned light blue shirts with the phrase, “Kyra Baker is trading in her boots for some bling as your Johnson County Fair Queen.”
As this year’s fair queen, Baker hopes to serve as a multi-faceted role model, like all the queens before her.
Swartz, Kylee Marlin, Delaney Heminger and Sydney Clements are part of this year’s queen’s court. Heminger also received the title of Miss Congeniality.
Baker and the queen’s court will serve in their roles for the rest of the year, attending other county events such at the Greenwood WAMMfest and the Downtown Franklin Holiday Lighting. Baker will also compete in the 2022 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant, alongside last year’s fair queen, Emma Spurgeon.
