Avery Williams named Hamilton County’s 2023 4-H Fair Queen
By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
Her journey began with a pencil she received 10 years ago as a grade-school student. On Friday night, that small token from her youth led to Avery Williams’ spotlight moment while standing on stage at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.
Flashing a brilliant, yet humbled, smile, Williams was showered with applause during the 63rd annual Queen Pageant after being named the 2023 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen.
“This is such an honor,” Williams said with her tiara glimmering under the exhibition hall lights. “I’ve watched all the queens growing up, and to be selected; I just truly feel honored to represent Hamilton County.”
A trailblazer from Whitestown, Ind., Williams, 18, is the first in her family to join and participate in 4-H, which she committed towards fully before, and now, following her recent graduation from Herron High School in Indianapolis.
Over the course of her 10-year 4-H experience, Williams has completed 28 projects, but without question, being named Queen supersedes anything she’s accomplished to date.
“All the people here to support all of us girls on stage really puts a smile on my face,” Williams said. “I joined 4-H when I was younger just because we saw it. I think my school was advertising it for the third graders to go join, and we came to the open house here. It just looked like a good community to be a part of, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. I just love it.”
Williams’ mother, Nicole, watched her daughter proudly as her future Purdue Boilermaker posed for photos with a smile that proved just as unswerving as her stage presence.
Each of the 11 contestants were judged on their evening gown formal wear, their poise and stage modeling, in addition to on-the-spot questioning by pageant Master of Ceremonies, Adam Good.
Photo by Richard Torres
Prior to the pageant, the contestants were interviewed by a three-person panel of judges, but as Nicole Williams has witnessed over the years, along with husband, Tobin Williams, Avery is always prepared regardless of the situation.
“Avery is such a go-getter. She always has been ever since she was a little girl. There was just no stopping her,” Nicole Williams remarked on her daughter’s work ethic and dedication. “Avery is a fun person, and she’s funny. She’s the funniest person I know.”
What’s funnier, Nicole Williams recalled, is how Avery’s voyage from 4-H newcomer to pageant queen unfolded.
“She came home with a pencil. That’s how it all started,” Nicole Williams said. “They gave pencils out during class, and she took it home and she was like, ‘I’m going to join 4-H.’ That’s how it started. It started with a pencil.”
Her 4-H Fair week will begin with a crown, which out-going queen Faith Hittle presented to her successor.
“It was very nerve-racking. You see all these girls. We’ve spent all week together practicing for this, and I’m just so proud of every single one of us,” Williams said. “It was such an exciting moment.”
Williams plans to study Animal Science in West Lafayette this fall, but until then, she will embrace the 4-H Fair festivities along with her court.
“We’ve only known each other this week, and we all just got so close. This is such a good group of people, and it really stood out to me just how much of a community it is here,” Williams said.
“At the 4-H fair, I’m mostly looking forward to spending this last year looking at all the projects and being with my friends and really everyone I’ve grown up with in this program.”
In between, she might sneak in a funnel cake or two – her favorite fair treat. At least, she will once the rush from Friday night subdues.
“Unreal. I don’t know. I was not expecting this,” Williams said while cradling a bouquet of roses with a smile in her eyes. “It’s a really good feeling.”
Queen Avery’s Court
Leading up to the crowning of the 2023 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen and her court, the Miss Congeniality honor was announced.
This year, Sheridan’s Mac Smith, 16, was announced as the winner.
Sheridan’s own Mac Smith was named Miss Congeniality. (Photo by Richard Torres)
“To be named Miss Congeniality is a big honor. It shows that I’m a very caring person, and I like to have fun all the time,” Smith said. “I was a little anxious, and I was excited that they announced me because I felt I had a lot of fun all week with all the other girls.”
An eight-year 4-H member, Smith has exemplified dedication by completing 68 projects during her tenure with her favorite being with sheep.
“It’s crazy. We do a lot of cramming before fair week, but we try to spread it out over the whole year to get it all done,” Smith remarked on her time management skills through 4-H.
While part of the 4-H program for half of her life, Smith was competing for the first time as queen.
“This is actually my first pageant ever, but I was really excited when I got announced as the Miss Congeniality,” Smith said. “I watched them hand out ribbons throughout 4-H my whole life. They’ve handed me ribbons, and I knew I wanted to be one of them.”
Smith intends to attend Purdue University after graduation with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian.
Her pageant experience, Smith said, will hold a special place even beyond her high school years.
“All the people are amazing. They’re some of the nicest people you will ever meet,” Smith said. “Each of them is different in their own way, and I loved working with all of them. Just the whole process of how we get to give back to our community afterwards is fantastic.”
Joining Williams and Smith during the fair will be the 2023 Hamilton County 4-H Queen Court, which includes 1st Runner-up Mary Rose Wahnsiedler, 2nd Runner-up Sophia Beeson, 3rd Runner-up Meghan Haws and 4th Runner-up Sophia Hulen.
“I’m really looking forward to spending time with all of the court and everybody else I get to hand ribbons to throughout the whole week,” Smith said.
The 4-H Fair Queen and her court will be on-hand and actively involved throughout the fair when it opens on Thursday, July 20 and concludes on Monday, July 24. The livestock auction will be conducted on Tuesday, July 25.