Sarona native Jackie Rosenbush now wears the crown as the 2022 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs. She is the first Fairest of the Fairs hailing from Washburn County.
Thirty-two finalists underwent an interview process consisting of etiquette lessons, public speaking, media interviews and impromptu question and answer sessions at the Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention this week.
Rosenbush is a student at UW-River Falls studying agricultural education. At River Falls, she’s involved in Agriculture Education Society, intramural volleyball and the school’s track & field team. She enjoys returning home to help her family bail hay, breed sheep and clean pens. She’s also served as a Wisconsin State FFA Officer.
“I love agriculture and I couldn’t image my life without the profound effect that my rural background has left on me,” she says.
As a lifelong member of both 4H and FFA, Rosenbush has been involved in all sorts of projects from horses and sheep to cats and cultural arts, and from textiles and vegetables to cake decorating and photography.
“As a person who grew up in a rural area, I was lucky to be submerged in agriculture; however I understood the importance of helping others explore their interests at the County Fair,” she says. “For the last few years, other students in the community have worked with me to use some of my animals at County Fair projects.”
As Washburn County Fairest of the Fair, she created a new opportunity for fairgoers: Kids and Crowns. This activity gathers children together to make their own tiaras. Rosenbush will take her passion for Wisconsin fairs and creative ideas with her into the 2022 fair season.
As Fairest of the Fairs, Rosenbush is charged with promoting the variety of opportunities — educational, agricultural, social, cultural and commercial — available at Wisconsin’s county, district and state fairs. She succeeds Cayley Vande Berg, the 2021 and 2022 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, of Fond du Lac County.
Congratulations to the runners up:
1st Runner Up: Manitowoc County Fair – Lydia Luebke
2nd Runner Up: Vernon County Fair – Courtney Moser
3rd Runner Up: Calumet County Fair – Hannah Roehrig
4th Runner Up: Iowa County Fair – Jaynie Rule
