PANTAGRAPH STAFF

BLOOMINGTON - Ten young people will vie for the titles of McLean County Fair king and queen during a contest that begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Cloverleaf Auditorium at the Interstate Center.

Finalists Jon Clary, Sam King, Aaron Phillips, Eric Wilcox, Andrew Williamson, Katie Doyle, Sarah Morris, Emily Parks, Sarah Rutledge and Megan Shier were chosen during a preliminary contest July 18.

The winners will reign over the fair, which will open Wednesday and end Sunday. They will succeed King David Clary and Queen Heather Miller, who also won the title of Illinois County Fair queen.

King

This year's finalists for king are:

Clary, 17, is the son of Bob and Alisa Clary of Bloomington. He has spent nine years in 4-H and is a member of Home Spun Club.

His projects this year include speech (master of ceremonies), dog (dog care, conformation and junior handling), woodworking (refinishing) and food preservation (jams and jellies and Skillathon). He holds county, state and national awards in achievement and state and county awards in mechanics and technology. He has won the I Dare You and Key Club awards.

The home-schooled senior of Winchester Academy is undecided about his college major.

w King, 17, is the son of Harold and Dianne King of Bloomington. He has spent seven years in 4-H and is a member of the Home Team and Home Spun clubs.

His projects this year include sewing, visual arts, gardening, welding, outdoor adventures, sports fishing, public presentations and intercultural. He holds county, state and national awards in mechanics and technology and county and state awards in achievement and personal development. He has won the Key Club award.

The home-schooled senior wants a career in concrete management.

w Phillips, 18, is the son of Paul and Debbie Phillips of LeRoy. He has spent 10 years in 4-H and is a member of Home Spun Club.

His projects this year include woodworking, public presentations, digital photography and aerospace. He holds county, state and national awards in mechanical and technology. He has won the County Excellence and Key Club awards.

The freshman at Forerunner School of Ministry wants a career in music.

w Wilcox, 19, is the son of Dan and Brenda Wilcox of Bloomington. He has spent seven years in 4-H and is a member of Home Spun Club.

His projects this year include rocketry and aerospace. He holds a county award in mechanics and technology and has won Key Club and County Excellence awards.

The freshman at Master's Commission in Edinburgh, Scotland, is undecided about his college major.

w Williamson, 17, is the son of David and Janet Williamson of Bloomington. He has spent eight years in 4-H and is a member of Blazing Saddles Club.

His projects this year include horses and crops (hay grasses and legumes). He is a county and state winner in horses and crops. He has won Key Club and County Excellence awards.

The senior at Normal Community West High School wants to major in corporate and commercial aviation and aviation technology.

Queen

This year's finalists for queen are:

w Doyle, 17, is the daughter of Doug and Sue Doyle of Bloomington. She has spent eight years in 4-H and is a member of the Bloomington Busy Bees and Stylistics clubs.

Her projects this year include journalism, citizenship, visual arts, clothing, consumer education and foods (meats). She is a county, state and national winner in home and family and a county and state winner in achievement.

The senior at University High School wants to major in English or elementary education.

w Morris, 17, is the daughter of Tom and Janet Morris. She has spent nine years in 4-H and is a member of Towanda Busy Bees.

Her projects this year include visual arts, leadership, citizenship, Do Your Own Thing, public presentation, vegetables and photography. She is a county, state and national winner in personal development. She has won Key Club and County Excellence awards.

The senior at University High School wants to major in journalism.

w Parks, 18, is the daughter of Sid and Jeanne Parks of Bloomington. She has spent 10 years in 4-H and is a member of the Home Spun and Stylistics clubs.

Her projects this year include sewing, sewing with knits, recycled garments, photography, watercolors, sketching, computer-generated art, basketry, stitchery by hand, knitting, crochet, glass, yeast breads, cake decorating, fruits and vegetables, clothing decisions, quilting, wearable art and non-clothing sewing. She is a county, state and national winner in achievement and a county and state winner in home and family. She has won the Key Club and County Excellence awards.

The freshman at Heartland Community College wants to major in textiles and clothing and art.

w Rutledge, 18, is the daughter of Rose Rutledge of McLean. She has spent nine years in 4-H and is a member of the Old Town and Downs Top Notchers clubs.

Her projects this year include public presentations, storytelling, aerospace, breads and cereals, cake decorating, Do Your Own Thing, horticulture, read a book, photography, poultry and visual arts. She is a county and state winner in plants and sciences. She has won the Key Club and County Excellence awards.

The freshman at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais wants to major in journalism and graphic design.

w Shier, 17, is the daughter of Marion and Jeannea Shier of Chenoa. She has spent nine years in 4-H and is a member of the Space Age Pioneers and Stylistics clubs.

Her projects this year include sewing with knits, recycled garment, purchased garment, non-clothing and sewing poster, scrapbooking, cross-stitch, machine stitchery, other fiber and breads and cereals. She is a county and state winner in achievement. She has won the I Dare You and Key Club awards.

The senior at Prairie Central High School wants to major in education.