GREENFIELD — Savannah Coe never saw herself as the queen.
Sure, as a kid she’d gawk at the bejeweled crowns and maybe ask for a photo. But when the time came and she was old enough to vie for that tiara and sash herself, she needed a little convincing from her friends.
Her main deterrent? She just didn’t want to wear a dress all week, she said, scrunching her nose up and glancing down at the golden-colored frock she had on.
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Coe, daughter of Christina and Tim Coe, was crowned the Hancock County 4-H fair queen during a ceremony at Trinity Park Church last week. She and her four-member court spent the week shuttling from event to event to help hand out awards and recognitions, posing for photos with young fair-goers along the way.
They’re the 60th cycle of young women to take on those royal duties.
The pageant started in 1958, and a queen has been crowned every year for the past six decades. This year, 16 young women competed in the pageant. A queen, princess (first runner-up), Miss Congeniality and three court members were recognized.
For Coe, the work of queen doesn’t stop now that the fair has come to a close: she’ll serve as an ambassador of the local 4-H program for the next year, visiting elementary-school classrooms across the community to teach kids about 4-H, hosting a regular television show on NineStar Connect and representing Hancock County at the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant in January.
Coe, a 10-year 4-H’er and a recent graduate of Eastern Hancock High School, said she’s excited for the opportunities the next year will bring. She’ll savor every moment, until she has to hand off the crown to the next lucky young woman.
Coe’s court includes Madison Kindred, Delanie Melton and Emma Carmichael. Johnson was named princess (first-runner up) and Miss Congeniality.
The court spent much of the week in the show arena at the fairgrounds, smiling from the announcer’s booth and handing out the bright purple banners that the winners received.
There was a swine show in on Monday morning, the beef show Tuesday and the sheep and goats through the rest of the week. Along the way, each member of the court juggled 4-H projects of their own and traded in their dresses and jewels for the same blue jeans and boots their peers wore.
Monday, Coe took a break from her title, tucked her tiara away, and showed her gilt pig, Baby. She earned Reserved Champion — a designation she’s proud of since this was only her second year showing swine, she said.
As she tours the county in the coming year and talks with other young people about 4-H, Coe said her message will focus on the positive relationships that can be built through the program and the importance of trying new things.
Friendship, she said, has definitely been a pillar of her 4-H experience, and it was friendship that first brought her to the queen’s pageant in 2016.
Coe tried for the queen’s title twice before getting the crown herself, and it was her friend, fellow Royal and now 4-H fair Princess Gracie Johnson who first encouraged her to give the pageant a chance.
She wasn’t recognized on that first try, but said she had fun being involved and spending time with the other contestants. She returned in 2017; and though she enjoyed a few more fun-filled days with the pageant committee, she didn’t earn as sash.
She considered not participating in 2018; but sentimentality got the best of her. It was her last shot, she told herself, her last fair, her last year in 4-H.
She was as shocked as anyone when the announcer called her name.
So, don’t be afraid to try something new, she said is her advice to younger 4-H’ers. Don’t be shy, and don’t worry about having to ask for help if you need it.
Already she can see so much potential in the future 4-H program, and she’s excited to have a role in helping further it, she said.