GREENFIELD — When it came to 4-H, Addison Hill had two goals before graduating from high school this year: to become a 10-year 4-H member and to be crowned the Hancock County 4-H Fair queen.
The Greenfield teen is achieving both this month.
Addison took the crown at the 63rd annual Hancock County 4-H Fair Queen Pageant on Saturday, June 12, when she competed in a field of 14 young women at Greenfield’s Trinity Park United Methodist Church. A week earlier, she graduated near the top of her class at Greenfield-Central High School.
Her mom, Heather Hill, said her daughter has always been goal-oriented and never hesitates to follow her dreams.
“Addison is a very intense, goal-minded person, and winning the pageant was one of those goals she set for herself,” her mom said right after the pageant. “She was completely herself up there on stage.”
That same intensity was often on display at Greenfield-Central, where Addison played basketball and ran track. She also was active in the student leadership academy and student council, serving as senior class vice president.
For Saturday’s pageant, Addison said she did a lot of mental preparation for the interview portion and put a lot of thought into selecting the sparkling, floor-length white gown she wore for the formal-wear category.
This week, she’s putting the final touches on a formal gown she sewed for this year’s Hancock County 4-H Fair, where she’ll also show pigs and sheep from her family’s Greenfield farm. The fair begins Friday, June 18.
Like Addison, many of the contestants at this year’s 4-H queen contest come from farming backgrounds and have spent years showing livestock or submitting projects for 4-H since they were young kids.
The runner-up at this year’s pageant, Abby Elsbury, is active in the FFA and is also a 10-year 4-H member.
Abby was also a finalist in 2020, serving on the queen’s court last year. She was all smiles after being crowned the new 4-H Princess on Saturday, clutching a bouquet of flowers, with the princess sash placed over her glimmering red gown.
She hopes that her participating in and nearly winning the pageant can serve as a message for all kids, that nothing should stop them from pursuing their dreams.
“I hope it proves that anyone can do what they set their minds to,” she said.
Rounding out the queen’s court were Claire Bishop, Abbey Hughes and Erica Long.
Addison and her court will reign over this year’s fair, presenting ribbons, smiling for photos and sharing their love for the 4-H program, which Addison said has taught them leadership and life skills over the years.
They’ll be joined by last year’s fair queen, Jordyn Wickard, and the members of the 2020 court, who are being given a second opportunity to reign over the fair, since last year’s event was minimized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addison, 18, said she’s looking forward to the opportunity to spread the word about what 4-H is all about.
“I think it’s really important for our youth. It teaches them a diverse set of skills, and teaches them how to work hard,” she said.
Addison, the daughter of Marc and Heather Hill, will attend Purdue University this fall. She plans to study biochemistry with the hopes of becoming a doctor someday, possibly in the field of neuroscience.
According to her mom, the college-bound farm girl will no doubt show the same intensity and drive in college that has helped her achieve her dreams thus far.
