The Neosho County Fair filled the fairgrounds with the efforts of local 4-H club members, animals, and Mardi Grasthemed fun.
Prior to the fair, local clubs helped prepare the fairgrounds and Brazle Show Arena for the busy week ahead.
The fair officially kicked off on Thursday, July 24 with a coronation of the 2025 Neosho County Fair Royalty. Marie Wright of the Neosho Valley Busy Bees 4-H Club was named Queen, and Jolly Jayhawkers 4-H Club’s Braxton Clasen was named King. Cali Courter was named Princess, and Fletcher VanHouden was named Prince; both are Busy Bees members as well.
Candidates from all clubs raised over $17,000 during their campaigns.
This year marks the first year that attendees can make use of several upgrades to the open class building, according to Fair Board Treasurer Kathy Brazle.
“It’s so different,” Brazle said.
She said that this year, a new roof, ceiling, and lighting has been installed, as well as air conditioning. Brazle said this was done through a Farm Credit Grant.
The Neosho County Fair offered numerous ways that 4-H kids could share their talents with the community, from showing livestock, to photography, cake decorating, a dog show, horsemanship, and more.
Olivia Denison, of the Neosho ValleyBusy Bees enjoys raising rabbits. This year, she presented a Holland lop named Sassy.
“I like showing rabbits because you get the opportunity to learn about their care and the different breeds,” Olivia said.
The most challenging part of showing rabbits is having to keep the rabbit still, and answering a wide variety of questions about the rabbit, according to Olivia.
Another Busy Bee, Devon Kueser said she enjoys showing dairy goats.
“I love their personalities,” Devon said. “They are all so different from each other.”
Her goat Maple is five-years old this year.
“I’ve been showing her for her whole life,” Devon said.
One big challenge, Devon said, is keeping the animals comfortable and cool in the summer heat. Devon said she pours ice water over her animals to cool them down.
In addition to raising funds through royalty campaigns, 4-H club members also donated hundreds of cans of food during the Neosho County Farm Bureau Fill-A-Truck contest. The Best Yet 4-H Club, the winning club, donated 192 cans. In total, 4-H members donated 322 items, which will benefit food pantries in both Chanute and Erie.
4-H/FFA Livestock
Sale Results
The 2025 Neosho County Fair Livestock Premium Sale was held on Monday, July 28. Ninety-seven exhibitors sold an animal in the sale that grossed $135,915. The results below list the exhibitor’s name, ribbon placing, animal species, and premium buyer name.
Laura Fischbach - Grand Champion Feeder Beef - Girard National Bank and Producers Cooperative; Easton Harris- Sinclair – Grand Champion Market Goat – DM&D Milk Hauling; Haddie Elsworth – Grand Champion Market Steer – Flying W Farm Feed & Seed, Real Kansas Meats, and Parsons Livestock Auction; Morgan Page – Grand Champion Market Hog – Jim and Donna Bates; Zoey Elsworth – Grand Champion Market Lamb – Bartlett Coop; Sophia Coover – Reserve Champion Feeder Beef – Neosho Valley Insurers, Red Cedar Realty, and Bartholomew Cattle; Elli Pemberton - Reserve Champion Meat Goat - JK Organics and Lewis Ag; Lilly Elsworth - Reserve Champion Market Steer – Real Kansas Meats, Pete’s of Erie, Parsons Livestock Auction, Regional Veterinary Services, Elsworth Cattle and Labette Health; Cassie Vitt – Reserve Champion Market Hog – Beachner Grain, Farmers Bank, Producers Cooperative, and Parsons Livestock Auction; Marissa O’Brien – Reserve Champion Market Lamb – Martin Outdoors.
Orland Novotny – Purple Market Goat – Harris Farm Feed & Seed; Cashlee Smith – Purple Meat Goat – Regional Veterinary Services and Bartlett Coop; Kylie Hodgden – Purple Meat Goat – Prairie Mission and Farmers Bank; Paige Kueser – Purple Market Goat – Craw-Kan Telephone Company; Joely Olson – Purple Market Goat – BNB Reinhardt Farm and Neosho County Merchants; Jason Kepley – Purple Market Steer – Home Savings Bank; Chellby Cosby – Purple Market Hog – Parsons Livestock Auction, Vitt Farms, and Duling Show Pigs; Caysen Cosby – Purple Market Hog – Farmers Bank; Lainey Kepley – Purple Market Lamb – MRH Insurance Group; Jacob Novotny – Purple Market Goat – Young’s Welding; Devin Vogel – Market Meat Goat – Big Sky Tire; Jacob Han – Purple Market Goat – Ameriprise Financial-Chad Boaz; Brynn Wolken – Purple Market Goat – Craw-Kan Telephone Company; Cheyenne Fowler – Purple Market Steer – Neosho Regional Medical Center; Cole Wolken – Purple Market Hog – Farmers Bank; Ethan Dillinger – Purple Market Hog – Regional Veterinary Services, Bartlett Coop, and Pete’s of Erie; Cambry Jesseph – Purple Market Lamb – Frank & Kathy Brazle; Lyla Heady – Purple Market Goat – Beachner Grain; Lilyana Kmiec – Purple Market Goat – Shields Motors; Hadley Swayze – Ameriprise Financial- Chad Boaz; Ryker Bennett – Purple Market Hog – Frank & Kathy Brazle; Evan Dillinger – Purple Market Hog – Exchange State Bank; Tyler Kepley – Purple Market Hog – Community National Bank.
Owen Coover – Blue Feeder Beef – R&F Farm Supply; Jackson Han – Blue Market Goat – Parsons Livestock Auction; Cooper Kmiec – Blue Market Goat – Shields Motors; Matthew Stockebrand – Blue Market Goat – Kowboy Kutters; Emma Bevans – Blue Market Goat – Buntin Auction and Joe Smith Realty; Novalee Novotny – Blue Market Goat – Parsons Livestock Auction and Pete’s of Erie; Kaeleigh Daniels – Blue Market Goat – Farm Bureau Financial Services-The Carlisle Agency, Parsons Livestock Auction, and Pete’s of Erie; Kiley Dillow – Blue Market Steer – Community National Bank; Elizabeth Dillinger – Blue Market Steer – Ag Choice-Parsons; Sam Fischbach – Blue Market Steer – MRH Insurance Group; Drake Schulz – Blue Market Hog – Home Savings Bank; Claire Schoenecker – Blue Market Lamb – Harris Farm Feed & Seed and R&F Farm Supply; Grace Schoenecker – Blue Market Lamb – Frank and Kathy Brazle, Parsons Livestock Auction, and Duling & Sons; Robert Novotny – Blue Feeder Beef – R&F Farm Supply; Madalyn Hodgden – Blue Market Goat – Craw-Kan Telephone Company; Taos Greve – Blue Market Goat – Beachner Grain; Bryton Beachner – Blue Market Goat – Beachner Grain; Gracyn Beachner – Blue Market Goat – Farmers Bank and St. Paul Merchants; Brecken Kepley – Blue Market Goat – Young’s Welding; Kylie Bevans – Blue Market Goat – Derailed Commodities and St. Paul Merchants; Cody Elliott – Blue Market Steer – Farm Bureau Financial Services-The Carlisle Agency and Bank of Commerce; Devon Westhoff – Blue Market Steer – Joe Smith Realty and Farmers Bank; Arlo Mattox – Blue Market Hog – JK Organics; Howard VanHouden – Blue Market Hog – Home Savings Bank; Jayci Edwards – Blue Market Hog – Gayla Edwards and Wagon Wheel Agency; Jack Romine – Blue Market Goat – Home Savings Bank; Guy Taylor – Blue Market Goat – Farmers Bank; Nolan Dent – Blue Market Goat – JK Organics; Jaylee Kramer – Blue Market Goat – Labette Bank; Saffron VanHouden – Blue Market Hog – SEK Genetics; Fletcher Van-Houden – Blue Market Hog – Community National Bank; Devon Kueser – Blue Market Goat – Joe & Sondra Harris and Harris Farm Feed & Seed; Jackson Beachner – Blue Market Goat – Beachner Grain; Sarah Uhner – Blue Market Goat – Young’s Welding.
Rylee Dent – Red Market Goat – Home Savings Bank; Coyt Whittley – Red Market Goat – SEK Genetics; Elsie Franks – Red Market Goat – MRH Insurance Group; Maci Romine – Red Market Goat – Brad & Amy Almond; Aubrey Taylor – Red Market Goat – PSI Insurance-Iola; Layla Franks – Red Market Goat – Community National Bank; Kendan Schulz – Red Market Hog – Producers Cooperative and Parsons Livestock Auction; Wyatt Whittley – Red Market Hog – John and Julie Stewart; Hagen Schulz – Red Market Hog – Big Sky Tire; Orin Greve – Red Market Hog – Beachner Grain; Lucas Meyer – Red Market Goat – Neosho County Farm Bureau Association; Lane Meyer – Red Market Goat – Craw-Kan Telephone Company; Lydia Meyer – Red Market Goat – DeGeer Gelbvich and BNB Reinhardt Farm; Rylan Carter – Red Market Goat – Ameriprise Financial- Chad Boaz; Mayzie Paulie – Red Market Goat – 4N Cattle; Bailey Schulz – Red Market Hog – Timber Creek Meats; Nora Dunn – Red Market Lamb – Tony Coover; Kaiden Moyer – Red Market Goat – Producers Cooperative; Gail Wright – Red Market Goat – Brad & Amy Almond; Remee Carter – Red Market Goat – Community National Bank; Kaylie Novotny – Red Market Goat – Ag Strategies of Kansas; Lane Novotny – Red Market Goat – JK Organics; Cooper Simmons – Red Market Goat – Bank of Commerce; Jackson O’Brien – Red Market Goat – Martin Outdoor; Lewis Meyer – Red Market Goat – Neosho County Merchants; Caisley Smith – Red Market Goat – Labette Bank; Landon Meyer – Red Market Goat – DeGeer Gelbvieh and Neosho County Farm Bureau; Holley Simmons – Red Market Goat – Cosby Elevated Eats and Neosho Valley Insurers; Mason Franks – Red Market Goat – Martin Outdoor; Trever Whittley – Red Market Goat – John Farms.
Indoor Exhibit and
Judging Results
Aerospace/Rocketry: Jacob Han, Grand Champion.
Ag Mechanics/Welding: Lane Novotny, Grand Champion; Tyler Kepley, Reserve Champion.
Building Block Engineering: Henry Hood, Grand Champion. Dog Showmanship: E l l i Pemberton, Grand Champion; Irelynn Williams, Grand Champion; Jacob Han, Grand Champion; Jackson Han, Reserve Champion; Kenslie Schomaker, Reserve Champion; and Nora Dunn, Reserve Champion.
Entomology: Caleb Wallace, Grand Champion.
Fiber Arts: Hayes Garten, Grand Champion.
Food Preservation: Chellby Cosby, Grand Champion.
Foods & Nutrition: Cashlee Smith, Champion Cake Decorating; Sam Fischbach, Champion Gift Basket; Bristol Byers, Grand Champion; Grace Schoenecker, Grand Champion; Jackson Han, Grand Champion; Chellby Cosby, Reserve Champion; Claire Schoenecker, Reserve Champion; Layla Franks, Reserve Champion; Madelyn Kepley, Reserve Champion; and Jackson Han, Top 3 Yeast Bread.
Forestry: Ben Hood, Grand Champion.
Geology: Cooper Simmons, Grand Champion.
Horticulture & Landscape Design: Ryker Bennett, Grand Champion; Cole Wolken, Reserve Champion; and Grace Schoenecker, Reserve Champion.
Leadership: Matthew Stockebrand, Grand Champion.
Photography: Jackson Han, Grand Champion; Jacob Han, Grand Champion; Lyla Heady, Grand Champion; Cooper Kmiec, Reserve Champion; Jackson Han, Reserve Champion; Josey Garten, Reserve Champion; and Lyla Heady, Reserve Champion.
Reading Adventures: Braxton Clasen, Grand Champion.
Robotics: Caleb Wallace, Grand Champion.
Self-Determined: Braxton Clasen, Grand Champion.
Sewing & Textile Design: Rylee Dent, Grand Champion; Hayes Garten, Reserve Champion; and Sophia Coover, Reserve Champion.
Shopping In Style: Cole Wolken, Grand Champion; Devin Vogel, Grand Champion; Jacob Han, Grand Champion; Kylie Hodgden, Grand Champion; Lainey Kepley, Grand Champion; Maci Romine, Grand Champion; Cali Courter, Reserve Champion; Cambry Jesseph, Reserve Champion; Chellby Cosby, Reserve Champion; and Jackson Han, Reserve Champion.
Visual Arts: Braxton Clasen, Grand Champion; Caleb Wallace, Grand Champion; Devon Kueser, Grand Champion; Braxton Clasen, Reserve Champion; Devon Kueser, Reserve Champion; Joely Olson, Reserve Champion; and Tessa Jay, Reserve Champion.
Wildlife: Matthew Stockebrand, Grand Champion.
Woodworking: Owen Coover, Grand Champion; Braxton Clasen, Reserve Champion.
Round Robin: Senior Division Champion, Marisa O’Brien; Intermediate Champion.
Champion Bucket Calf Herdsman: Isabella Uden; Champion Beef Herdsman: Devin Vogel; Champion Swine Herdsman:Cassie Vitt; Champion Sheep Herdsman: Marisa O’Brien; Champion Horse Herdsman: Cashlee and Caisley Smith.
Livestock Judging, Junior Division: third place, Lainey Kepley; second place, Guy Taylor; and first place, Cole Wolken. Intermediate Division: third place, Haddie Elsworth; second place, Ellie Dillinger; and first place, Morgan Page. Senior Division: third place, Bailey Schulz; second place, Caysen Cosby; and first place, Cashlee Smith.
Horticulture Judging, Junior Division: third place, Saffron VanHouden; second place, Cole Wolken; and first place, Caleb Wallace. Intermediate Division: second place, Claire Schoenecker; first place, Grace Schoenecker. Senior Division: third place, Rylan Carter and Kiley Dillow; second place, Matthew Stockebrand; first place, Devin Vogel.
Photography Judging, Junior Division; third place, Jack Romine; second place, Guy Taylor; and first place, Arlo Mattox. Intermediate Division: third place, Braxton Clasen; second place, Brecken Kepley, and first place, Kaylie Novotny. Senior Division: third place, Cassie Vitt; second place: Jackson Han; and first place, Kayleigh Watts.
Family and Consumer Science Judging: Junior division; third place, Hadley and Thea Swayze; second place, Emma Domans; and first place, Caleb Wallace. Intermediate Division: third place, Cali Courter; second place, Jackson O’Brien; first place, Lilia Gomez. Senior Division: third place, Kaeleigh Daniels; second place, Rylan Carter; and first place, Kiley Dillow.
