When it was announced that the Indiana State Fair Queen would be visiting Clinton County and the Clinton County 4-H Fair, Clinton County Fair Council Chairman Jamie Blacker said this would mark the first time in a long while, if ever, that the State Fair Queen has visited Clinton County.
Miss Indiana State Fair Queen 2019 Halle Shoults made that eventful appearance Tuesday in Clinton County as she visited several businesses in the county such as Frito Lay, Camp Cullom, Prairie Grass Observatory, downtown Frankfort, Old Stoney, the Mayor’s Office and Kaspar Media before heading off to the Clinton County Fairgrounds to help with some of the activities that evening.
“I have loved it,” said Shoults of her trip to the county. “They have taken me all over the county and everything is so neat and unique to Clinton County. I’ve loved every second of it.”
Clinton County is one of almost 50 counties in the state that Shoults is visiting.
“It’s part of my duty,” she said. “I go up to about 50 county fairs and festivals. Anything they want me to do. I promote the State Fair and encourage everyone to join me August 2 through the 18th.”
Shoults is from Oxford and a junior at Purdue University studying Speech Pathology. She is excited to combine her love of science with her desire to work with children and looks forward to a career in a hospital or rehab facility specializing in patients with disabilities or trauma.
Shoults was the class Salutatorian at Benton Central High School as well as a Lilly Scholar, class president and a student athlete. At Purdue, she has been recognized as a Presidential Scholar, received Dean’s List and Semester Honors and was inducted into the Honor Society for Academic Excellence. She was also a 10-year 4-H member.
She was asked what has it been like being the State Fair Queen.
“It has been crazy,” she said. “Honestly, it didn’t even sink into my head that I was the queen and then one day I was so sad because it was almost over. It was like this huge switch happened. But it has been just amazing to travel the state and promote the State Fair — something that has meant so much to me in my life and to meet all the great people. It’s truly been a once in a lifetime opportunity.”