Underhill over the moon to be County 4-H Queen

By RICHIE HALL

From a “really, really shy” third-grader to a 16-year-old Fair Queen: What a 4-H journey it has been for McKinley Underhill.

The incoming Noblesville High School junior entered Friday’s Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen Pageant as one of 19 competitors for the annual event, which took place at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. But when the pageant was over, Underhill was the queen.

“Yeah, I’m as surprised as you are,” a happy, laughing Underhill said as she was talking after the pageant. Underhill has blossomed from a shy girl to an outgoing young lady, and she wants the shy young girls that are watching her to know that if she can do it, they can too.

McKinley Underhill accepts the 4-H Fair Queen crown from last year’s Queen, Rachel Read, at the conclusion of Friday night’s Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen Pageant, which took place at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Underhill, an incoming junior at Noblesville High School, is a member of the Llama Trekkers and has completed 95 4-H projects. (Reporter photo by Kirk Green)

“When I was in third grade, I was really, really shy,” said Underhill. “I would never have gotten up and done any of this. I would hide behind my parents and not go to meetings. So, I really want to show them that you can start out and not want to do any of this and not be outgoing, and then you can end up as queen and really learn a lot through 4-H. It’s all about the learning experience.”

This was Underhill’s first year competing in the 4-H Queen Pageant, so while she was “very surprised” about winning, she was also “really, really happy.”

“It’s so much fun,” said Underhill. “All of the girls are so amazing that it’s such a great experience and such a great environment. It was a lot of fun.”

Underhill is the daughter of Sean and Amy Underhill and is a member of the Llama Trekkers. She has done 95 projects with 4-H and said the llama barn is her favorite thing about the Fair. But she has other favorites as well.

“My other favorite thing at the fair is Royal and Supreme Showmanship,” said Underhill. “I think it’s really cool to see the best show-ers out of each barn compete against each other.”

Each of the contestants was asked a question during the first part of the pageant. Underhill was asked what life skills that she’s learned from 4-H that will benefit her the most in the future.

Underhill answered that the life skills she’s learned the most are time management and being kind to everybody. Underhill said that doing so many different projects means having to keep track of everything, “and being kind to everybody is very important because there’s so many different people you can meet through 4-H, so being nice to everybody leads to more opportunities and getting to know more people,” said Underhill.

Right before Underhill was announced as Queen, the other members of the court were announced. Holly DeLong of the Giddy-Up Gang was named as Miss Congeniality. DeLong, 18, is the daughter of Wayne and Jennifer DeLong, and just graduated from Noblesville High School. She will attend Indiana University in the fall.

“It feels amazing,” said DeLong. “I love being out here supporting my girls and I just can’t wait to see what the future has and the responsibilities that come with that.

“The whole fair experience was so memorable. I’m so happy for everyone that was here and I can’t wait to have a great week.”

Another member of the Llama Trekkers, Brooke Miller, was named as the First Runner-Up. She was followed by Second Runner-Up Grace Allee of the Carmel 4-C’s, Third Runner-Up Delaney Howard of the Stringtown Pikers and Fourth Runner-Up Grace Dunnuck of the Fishers Showstoppers.