Wisconsin State Fair organizers have announced the 2016 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, who was selected this week at the 93rd annual Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention in Wisconsin Dells. A field of 38 talented contestants from county and district fairs throughout Wisconsin participated in the competition, and Gloria Kesler, 20, representing the Calumet County Fair, took home the coveted Fairest of the Fairs crown. The Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs program was designed to select an ambassador for the Wisconsin Association of Fairs, which represents all 76 Wisconsin county, district and state fairs. This year marked the 50th crowning of the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, and 30 of the 49 former winners attended and were honored at this year’s banquet. Each year, the Fairest of the Fairs travels throughout the state promoting the variety of educational, agricultural, social, cultural and commercial opportunities available at Wisconsin’s fairs. It is a position of responsibility to the citizens of Wisconsin and the winner must showcase excellent speaking, writing and listening skills as well as organization, professionalism, time management and above all, a passion for Wisconsin’s fair industry. Kesler will serve a one-year term beginning immediately, and her responsibilities will include making appearances at fairs throughout the state, working with media and promoting the educational, social and economic importance of Wisconsin’s fair and agriculture industries. In addition, she will serve as an ambassador of the 2016 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, which will take place Aug. 4 – 14. This includes greeting fairgoers and special guests, performing as master of ceremonies for several events during the fair, participating in various contests and representing the fair during select media appearances. Kesler replaces the 2015 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, Deanna Schlies of Brown County. The Fairest of the Fairs is chosen by a panel of three judges representing the fair, communications and agriculture industries. The daughter of Robert and Lucy of Menasha, Wis., Kesler is a junior at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville majoring in Agriculture Education with a minor in Public Relations. Kesler is involved in the University’s Pioneer Farm where she assists the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association with livestock, training beef cattle for show, data collection and more. She also works on her family farm. In her free time, she stays involved in her community through her church, 4-H activities and teaching youth about photography and public speaking. She also won the Miss Congeniality award, which is voted on by the contestants.
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