By Karen Kin
Correspondent
Junior Fair exhibitors will have a say this year in who represents Seneca County Fair as king and queen.
Junior Fair judges and Junior Fair exhibitors will vote this year for king and queen. The judges' votes will count as 50 percent of the total, and the exhibitors' votes will constitute the other 50 percent. Judging for the exhibitors will take place today and Sunday.
Val Hohman, Junior Fair coordinator, said Randy Gittinger, a member of Senior Fair Board, suggested the new system after seeing good results with a similar system at Morrow County Fair. Gittinger said he thought the kids should have a vote.
Senior Fair Board researched the process of changing the voting system, Hohman said, and personnel from Morrow County Fair provided input.
Senior Fair Board then voted to approve the new voting system, and the Junior Fair Board also supported the change.
Hohman said the new system would not become a popularity contest. Instead, she said, kids will vote on the contestants' contributions and how they have helped at fair activities.
Hohman also said the board is hoping to increase the number of applicants to the king and queen contest. She said more kids might apply to be royalty "once they see how this works."
Two contestants are running for king this year, and three have applied to be queen. Winners will be announced Monday night.
