Perkins students named Erie County Fair royalty

[gallery]PERKINS TWP. — Two classmates will rule the Erie County Fair for the next year.Perkins High School students Abigail Schmidt and Parker Deering were crowned fair queen and king Tuesday evening. Edison High School senior Halle Patton was queen first runner-up.Kalynn Welch crowns the 2019 Erie County Fair Queen, Abigail Schmidt, as the 2019 Erie County Fair King, Parker Deering stands on stage on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, in Perkins Township.Schmidt is a member of County Conquerors 4-H Club. At Perkins High School, she's a member of National Honor Society, Aim for Excellence, Biology club and volunteers to help younger students within Perkins Schools.Deering is a member of Oxford Hustlers 4-H club, played soccer and taken college classes throughout high school and has worked at Sports Force Parks on Cleveland Road. He enjoys watching Marvel movies.Dave Nethers, of Fox 8 News in Cleveland, and Miss Ohio 2019 Caroline Grace Williams, of Cincinnati, cohosted the annual pageant, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of Jackie Mayer's fair queen crowning.Halle Patton, a rising senior at Edison High School, receives her first runner-up sash during the Erie County King and Queen pageant in Perkins Township on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.Mayer was one of more than 30 queen contestants who competed in August 1959 under a tent during torrential rain."It poured and poured and poured, but we had a great time," she said.She continued competing in pageants and was later crowned Miss Ohio 1962 before becoming Miss America 1963.Mayer told pageant royalty from Erie County and beyond that after their reign, they'll always represent where they came from.Sandusky native Jackie (Mayer) Townsend is recognized during the 2019 Erie County Fair pageant on the 60th anniversary of her winning the fair queen title."You're still representing your city, state and contest," Mayer said.In the pageant, Deering, Patton and Schmidt answered questions for judges to consider their responses.Miss Ohio 2019 Caroline Grace Williams performs during the Erie County Fair pageant on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, in Perkins Township.One question asked the contestants what their legacy might be if chosen fair king or queen.Patton answered with the acronym LEGACY: Loyalty, Environment, Growth, Agriculture, Community and Youth."I want to bring new ideas to our fair by going to others fairs and get things done," Deering said.Said Schmidt: "I want my legacy to be helping kids be the best they can be and for them to enjoy agriculture."Abigail Schmidt, a rising senior at Perkins High School, smiles with joy as she is crowned the 2019 Erie County Fair Queen on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, in Perkins Township. Upcoming Erie County Fair eventsUpcoming fair eventsThursday• 11:45 a.m. in the show barn: Dairy show• 6 p.m. in the horse arena: Horse drill team exhibition• 7 p.m. at the grandstands: Farm tractor pull and national tractor pulling legends competitionFriday• 9 a.m. in the horse arena: Miniature horse and small equine championships• noon to 1 p.m. in Building No. 1: Class rock and roll concert• 6:30 p.m. at the grandstands: NTPA tractor pullsReach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodFirst runner-up Halle Patton, king Parker Deering and queen Abigail Schmidt pose for photos after the 2019 Erie County Fair pageant at the fairgrounds in Perkins Township on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.Parker Deering receives his sash after being named the 2019 Erie County Fair King on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, in Perkins Township.