Wheatland resident a Westosha Central graduate
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Before Madison Fenske was old enough to show animals at the Kenosha County Fair, the Wheatland resident already adored the event. But her love grew exponentially when she was named the 2016 Fairest of the Fair crown.
Fenske, a 2014 Westosha Central High School graduate, said it was an honor to get selected in a field of 11 competitors vying for the title.
“It is awesome, it was a tough competition for the Fairest,” said Fenske, a former member of Wheatland Willing Workers 4-H Club. “It is so dear to my heart and I want my kids to be able to come and show their animals.”
The 20-year-old Fenske, crowned by the departing Fairest Lauren Feltner, advanced to the finals with Michelle Knapp, 20, Pleasant Prairie and Bristol’s Natalie LaForge.
Fenske recalled her childhood, where she witnessed her brothers – Mitchell, Michael and Marcus – and parents Mike and Mary getting heavily involved with the county fair.
“My oldest brother was already showing pigs, so I was already here, all the time,” Fenske stated. “I literally grew up here.”
The new Fairest of the Fair did it all, from showing pigs and turkeys, to crafting and baking.
But, Fenske’s most fond memory was winning showmanship for pigs. She said the rewards were greater than any other.
“When I won showmanship, that was bigger than winning grand champion, overall,” Fenske said.
As Fenske looks ahead, she has several goals, including promoting the Kenosha County Fair after years of declining attendance.
However, Fenske added the endeavor takes teamwork, noting exhibitors play a crucial role in the fair’s success.
“I want to bring people back out to the fair, it definitely has been a little lower in attendance (in recent years),” Fenske said. “The exhibitors and I want to promote the Fair to make it back to what it used to be.”
Fenske’s mother, Mary, believes her daughter has the skills to make it happen.
“She has it in her heart to do a good job, and keep the fair going in the right direction,” Mary said.
Her heart still lies within her former 4-H Club, where she donated her time decorating the Willing Workers sign in the swine barn this year, according General Leader Lori Harpster.
The contribution is indicative of her modest approach, Mary Fenske said.
“She has many accomplishments, but is too humbled to say anything about it, and about the things that she did,” Mary Fenske said.
Off the Fairgrounds, Fenske pays it forward at Twin Lakes Country Club, using her three years experience as a member of Westosha Central’s golf team to teach junior golfers.
Fenske, who is also a server at the club, reached the WIAA Division 1 sectional golf finals as a senior.
She attends the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where she studies communications with a minor in international studies.
In addition to her crown, Fenske earns a lifetime membership to the Kenosha County Fair, a $500 scholarship and an opportunity to compete at the annual state convention in January.
Fierce competition
Unlike last year, where four applied for the title of Fairest of the Fair, there were 11 who put their names in the running this year.
“There is no answer for it, it just happens,” Barranco said of the varied numbers. “Sometimes there are 20 girls, sometimes there are four girls.”
This year, the 11 contestants were narrowed to six in a preliminary round, which was judged by a panel of three members.
Then, after the preliminary round, the six dropped to three.
While Fenske won, the two other finalists shared memories of their own.
LaForge, 20, a former member of Bristol Challenge participated in several projects, including dairy goat, horses and poultry.
Like Fenske, LaForge graduated from Westosha Central in 2014.
LaForge received a certificate in therapeutic massage from Wisconsin Institute of East-West Wellness and plans to pursue a business management degree at Gateway Technical College.
Knapp, 20, formerly of Wheatland Willing Workers, spent her childhood at the fair showing poultry.
“I have been around the fair since I was a little kid because of my mom (Connie) being so involved in the poultry project,” said Knapp.
Knapp, who graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, attends Carthage College where she studies Criminal Justice.
With Fenske moving on to state competition, the other two agreed one memory stood out this weekend, taking a lap around Wilmot Raceway.
“We got to announce our names, it was pretty cool,” LaForge said.
Along with the trio, other semifinalists were Melissa Capra, Amanda Hutchings and Abby Diedrich.
Additional contestants were Madelyn Skalecki, Morgan Rau, Brianna Plunkett, Katelyn Herried and Tiffany Ouwerkerk.
The 11 contestants, Barranco said, made it a difficult competition to win.
“It is different, it makes it a competition and they have to fight a lot harder for it,” she said.