Reigning Tuscarawas County Junior Fair Queen Makayla Miller will pass the crown Sunday night to one of this year's contestants. (Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society) 

DOVER (Tusco TV) - Half a dozen local girls and two boys will be competing to become Tuscarawas County Fair royalty to lead into the event some call the “best seven days of summer.”

The Junior Fair King and Queen Contest begins at 6:30 pm Sunday at the fairgrounds in Dover to kickoff the week-long agricultural celebration featuring project exhibits, livestock auctions, and rural entertainment. 

The six contestants vying for the queen’s title are Alayna Long, Justine Hershberger, Madison DeVault, Mikayla Horn, Vidalia Porter, and Megan Murphy. King contestants are Alexander Allen and Justin Scott.

Contestants are judged on eight categories including leadership, personality, interview responses, and 4-H or FFA club achievements, with the boy and girl earning the highest score crowned this year’s king and queen. Contest Chair Jacque Peters says the annual plate auction will follow the contest, with the sale of the 11th plate used to defray the new king and queen’s travel expenses to represent Tuscarawas County at agricultural events statewide.

“It’s a lot of traveling so we give them a little bit of money and that’s from the sale of the plate and that helps them kind of get in and out and around to the fairs through the year,” she says.

The fair opens Monday with junior fair livestock shows, a moto-cross race in the evening, and free opening day admission for military veterans.

About the contestants

Alayna Long, 18, is the daughter of Andy and Amanda Long of Newcomerstown. She is a Stark State student, a member of the Thunder Valley Pioneers 4-H Club and Indian Valley FFA.

Justine Hershberger, 17, of Sugarcreek is the daughter of Gavin and Valerie Hershberger. She is a Garaway High School senior and a member of the Sweetwater Shamrocks 4-H Club. 

Madison DeVault, 16, of Dover, is the daughter of Keith and Stephanie DeVault. She is a Dover High School student and member of the Brandywine 4-H Club.

Mikayla Horn, 19, is the daughter of Jerry Jr. and Melissa Horn of New Philadelphia. She is a member of the Town & Country 4-H Club and a second-year student at Ashland University.

Vidalia Porter, 17, of Strasburg, is the daughter of Charles and Mandy Porter. She is a senior at Strasburg-Franklin High School and a member of the Happy Harvesters 4-H Club.

Megan Murphy, 17, of Mineral City, is the daughter of Don Murphy and Carla Hammel and a member of the 4-H Heartlanders 4-H Club. She is a senior at Tusky Valley High School and also attends Stark State.

Alexander Allen, 17, of Mineral City is the son of Emilene and Darren Allen. He is a Buckeye Career Center student and member of the Atwood Lakers 4-H Club. 

Justin Scott, 19, is the son of Tim and Summer Scott of Port Washington and a member of the Stone Creek Peas & Carrots 4-H Club. He studies Ag Business at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.

TUSCO TV