Kassandra Rader of Pickford was crowned Queen at the Chippewa County Fair. (Photograph by Audrey Hutchison) Kassandra Rader, 18, of Pickford, was crowned Miss Chippewa County Fair Queen Sunday, August 24.

Miss Rader was second runnerup last year.

Erika Swirsky, 18, of Trout Lake was crowned First Runner-up. Miss Swirsky will step into the role of Miss Chippewa County Fair Queen if Miss Rader is unable to perform the duties over the next year.

Other contestents were second runner-up Jamie Lee Rifenberg, and Selena Meser, Stephanie Avery, Kelly Graham, and Victoria Brubaker. The 2007 queen, Ashley Traynor, 20, of Kinross, also attended the pageant. Master of Ceremonies for the evening was local radio personality Paul Van Wagoner.

Miss Rader is the daughter of Brian and Melanie Rader; her sisters are Allison, 14, and Mary, 12. Miss Rader is attending Bay Mills Community College, and plans to earn a master's degree in counseling.

Miss Swirsky, a 2008 graduate of LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, competed in pageants when she was younger. Miss Swirsky was escorted by her father, Christopher Meloche, on the pageant night at the evening gown presentation. Miss Swirsky's future plans include an internship at the Indianapolis Zoo, working with dolphins. Next fall, she will attend Purdue University and study marine mammal training and zoology.

Erika Swirsky of Trout Lake is the 2008 first runner-up to fair queen at the Chippewa County Fair. (Photograph courtesy of Winning Images Photography) The contestants spent about a month before the fair preparing for the competition, and learning and practicing the group talent program.

Competing for the crown required a written essay, individual and group talent, answering a questionnaire, and an interview.

During the fair, the contestants presided over fair events, and passed out awards and trophies at various competitions, including the tractor pull.

A member of the Noah's Ark 4-H Program in Pickford, Miss Swirsky also entered her horse, Kipp, and rabbit, Thai, in fair competition. Her rabbit placed second in Youth Showmanship, judged on how well the owner handles the rabbit. Her rabbit also received an A rating in the open doe and litter purebred division. Miss Swirsky's horse received a B rating in the youth walk/trot trail division. Kipp also placed third in the Western Showmanship walk/trot youth, fifth in the Western horsemanship walk/trot, fifth in the open horsemanship halter, third in the open showmanship halter, third in the open Western showmanship walk/trot, third in the open Western horsemanship walk/trot, and second in the open walk/trot trail.