This year, there are five fair queen contestants, including sisters, from Chelsea, Dexter and Grass Lake.
You will be able to spot them wearing their sashes around the fairgrounds this week, so be sure to wish them luck, as 2023 Chelsea Community Fair Queen Libby Wacker of Chelsea passes the crown to her successor.
Peyton Myers will begin her freshman year at Chelsea High School on Aug. 25, but before the school year begins, the 14-year-old will enter photographs, jewelry and baked goods at fair this year.
She plans to combine singing and photography as her talent during the competition.
The daughter of Connie and Ben Myers, she has three sponsors, Home Instead, Farm Bureau Insurance and Chelsea Lumber.
When asked why she decided to enter the competition she said, “It runs in my family. (She served as a junior princess for 2017 Fair Queen Savanna Burchett.) I want to show the community I can do stuff and it’s OK to do something different; something that’s not comfortable.”
Makenzie Hilberer, 15, will soon begin her sophomore year at Grass Lake High School.
The daughter of Chrissy and Phil Hilberer, she plans to teach the audience how to pitch a softball as her talent.
Her sponsors are Davison Outdoor Service and Ann Arbor Carpet Cleaning.
Hilberer will be entering numerous crafts on Sunday as she also is competing for Jr. Homemaker.
Hilberer also said the fair queen competition is a family tradition, two of her cousins competed, but it was her aunt who convinced her to try.
Sarah Murillo, will be a freshman at Dexter High School, will compete along side her sister, Rebekah, who is a junior at the high school.
The daughter of Becky Murillo and Jairo Murillo, the 14 year old has Encompass USA as her sponsor.
For her talent, one of her rabbits will perform rabbit agility.
She plans to enter both Mini rex and California rabbits at fair along with a still project.
When asked why she decided to enter she said, “I thought it would be a fun experience. I’m always at the Chelsea Fair anyway so why not give it a try?” She said she’s talked to previous contestants, and they told her it was really fun.
Ava Hamp, 15, will be a sophomore at Grass Lake High School when school begins.
The daughter of Amanda and Joe Hamp, her sponsor is Cattleman’s Coffee.
She plans to enter photos and flowers at fair and will do a baking demonstration for her talent.
When asked why she chose to participate, she said she always wanted to participate in the competition, and this year, she can do it with friend, Makenzie.
Rebekah Murillo will be a junior at Dexter High School and is the big sister of Sarah, who is also running.
The daughter of Becky Murillo and Jairo Murillo, her sponsor is Washtenaw Meats. She plans to enter photos in the hobby barn on Sunday and will have photos as her backdrop as she talks about her community service in a talent presentation she calls “Humanitarian Aide.”
When asked why she chose to run, Rebekah said it was recommended to her and she thought “it would be a great opportunity to make a splash in the community and to get little kids involved in the program.”
The fair queen competition begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 in the multipurpose building.
