Recker crowned 2021 GJCF Queen

     Eleven Jones County young women were in the running for the 2021 Great Jones County Fair Queen and Princess this year.

     Following the Fair Queen Pageant on July 11, the winners were announced and crowned Tuesday night at the fair during Sneak-A-Peak night, July 20. Your 2021 GJCF Queen is Karli Recker of Monticello. The 2021 GJCF Princess is Bronwyn Hodge of Monticello. The title of Miss Congeniality went to DeLainy Fellinger of Monticello.

     Upon hearing her name called Fair Queen, Recker recalled on Thursday, a couple of days following the crowning, “It was definitely exciting. It was a little overwhelming because all eyes were on me and I was like, ‘Ok, now what?’ I was really happy!”

     Hodge admitted she was shocked when her name was announced as 2021 GJCF Princess.

     “I was happy and excited to see what this week would be like, especially spending it with Karli,” Hodge said. “I think the rest of the week will be super fun hanging out with Calli (McQuillen) and Ellen (Schlarmann), too.”

     McQuillen and Schlarmann are co-organizers of the GJCF Queen Contest. McQuillen joked that GJCF Manager John Harms told them that they had to co-host the event gain for 2022.

     Both Recker and Hodge received advice from former GJCF royalty when it came to initially running and taking part in the pageant, and then following the crowning.

     Recker’s older sister, Marissa, was 2018 GJCF Queen, so she passed on some words of wisdom…

     “Marissa talked about how good of an experience it was for her,” she said.

     She was also contacted by 2017 GJCF Queen, Shay Stephen.

     “She told me to take it all in, that the days go by super fast. It can be overwhelming but you need to soak it all in, and to not have any regrets.”

     Hodge was welcomed to the GJCF royalty family by both 2019/20 Queen and Princess Lauren Ries and Jaelynn Kraus.

     “Lauren really encouraged me and talked me off the ledge,” Hodge said of being timid to run. “She told me it’d be fun.

     “Jaelynn told me not to stress out and to take it all in because it goes by fast, and to enjoy the week.”

     Recker grew up at the GJCF. Her family has been active in the livestock shows, 4-H, and FFA for several years. This year, on top of her queen duties, Recker also showed in the Sheep Show.

     She said she wanted to run for GJCF Queen because of her passion for the fair.

     “I wanted to run because I remember as a little girl how much seeing the fair queen meant to me,” said Recker. “I wanted to be able to represent Jones County and get some insight about the fair because I’m involved in the livestock barns, and I wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes.”

     After showing on Thursday, Recker was able to concentrate on her role as Queen. After winning her class at the Sheep Show, both Recker and Hodge said it was neat that Hodge was able to present Recker with her purple rubbon.

     “That was cool,” said Hodge of the moment.

     Recker said being Queen means the roles are reversed; after years of being handed ribbons and plaques from previous years’ queens and princesses, she was finally able to hand them out herself.

     “I’m excited to be the person who hands out the ribbons,” offered Recker. “I was always the one meeting the Queen and Princess at the shows. So now the role has changed.”

     Recker has also exhibited sheep at the Iowa State Fair, so she’s looking forward to taking in a different aspect of the State Fair competing for the title of State Fair Queen.

     “Marissa talked about it and I know how good of an experience she had at the State Fair and going from the county fair to competing at State Fair,” Recker said.

     Competing in a pageant and running for a title like fair queen was something quite new for both Recker and Hodge.

     They recalled how nervous they were during the closed portion of the pageant on July 11, the interviews the public did not witness. There was a five-minute individual interview, a one-minute rapid fire interview, and a group interview with all 11 candidates. All of the interviews took place in front of three judges.

     Recker said the judges asked questions about life, what the girls enjoy doing, what they’re grateful for. When it came to the rapid-fire questions, those were such questions as ‘Who is the governor?’ ‘Who is president?’ and ‘Who is the fair manager?’

     Hodge said she didn’t feel any of the questions were necessarily controversial.

     The girls were also asked to finish a quote: “Happiness is…” Recker responded with “kind.” Hodge offered, “the best.”

     “You just blurt something out,” said Hodge. “You have to think and answer them, whatever pops in your head; you just have to say it.”

     Recker said the interview experience taught her to think on her feet.

     When it came to their skit during the pageant, Recker took on the persona of a radio personality, broadcasting from the GJCF. The concept, ag broadcasting, won her a state award in 2019 with her FFA chapter. She credits her mom with giving her the idea to modify her broadcast to reflect on the “Five Best Days of Summer.”

     Hodge, who is a fan of the Chuckie’s tenderloin sold at the fair, wore a Chuckie’s t-shirt, wheeled a wooden Chuckie’s food stand on stage, and asked a couple of audience members trivia questions about fair food.

     “I love the food at the fair, so that was really my only idea,” shared Hodge. “My favorite food at the fair is Chuckie’s tenderloin, so I went with it. It ended up working out.”

     Recker and Hodge said this whole experience provided them with life skills they wouldn’t have otherwise secured if they hadn’t followed through with the queen contest. Those skills include: public speaking, building confidence, and thinking on your feet.

     “It’s just been a great experience overall, not just being Queen, but all of the things that came before it and with it,” praised Recker.

     Part of that experience was getting to meet country music artists Kane Brown and Dan Smyers from Dan + Shay. McQuillen prefaced earlier in the week that meeting the artists was up in the air due to the pandemic. Being fair royalty has its perks.

     Recker and Hodge encourage other young girls to consider running for 2022 and future fair royalty titles.

     “Take the leap and do it,”
urged Hodge. “I was so nervous; I think we both were. I’m so happy I did it now.”

     Recker is the daughter of Cory and Emily Recker. Hodge is the daughter of Russ and Missi Hodge.