AUDIO: OA's Eaglin, Switz. Co's Cole Named King & Queen at Aurora Farmers Fair

Each received a $1,000 scholarship from Ivy Tech Community College

Left to right: Ava Cole, Thaddeus Eaglin, Taci Hughes and Adam Kunkel. Aurora Farmers Fair Facebook photo.

(Aurora, Ind.) - The first night of the 114th Aurora Farmers Fair was capped off with the crowning of the King and Queen. 

Twenty candidates from 10 different schools took part in the competition on Wednesday night. 

In the end, it was Oldenburg Academy's Thaddeus Eaglin and Switzerland County's Ava Cole that were named King and Queen. Adam Kunkel and Taci Hugues, both of South Dearborn High School were the runner-ups. 

For winning, Eaglin and Cole each received a $1,000 scholarship from Ivy Tech Community College. 

Eaglin is the second consecutive Oldenburg Academy student to win King. Jacob Huff took the honor in 2022. Cole is the first Queen from Switzerland County since Kelly Jo Kincaid won the award in 2011. 

Both the King and Queen were invited to join the morning show at Eagle Country 99.3 on Thursday morning. Eaglin was in studio while Cole was unable to make it. 

HEAR EAGLIN'S INTERVIEW WITH CHELSIE IN THE AUDIO PLAYER BELOW

Eaglin, who is involved with the National Honors Society, Academy Ambassadors, and Campus Ministry at OA, explained the Farmers Fair King and Queen contest process, which includes answering a question from the judges on stage. His question was:  "If I was a school administrator, what problem would I fix and how would I fix it?"

Eaglin's answer was to add more mental health resources for students. 

"I've seen through people that I know that people struggle and a lack of resources can be very negative," said Eaglin. 

If you are attending the Farmers Fair Parade on Saturday morning, look for King Eaglin and Queen Cole in the parade. In addition, both will return to the fair next year to assist with the 2024 King and Queen Contest. 

A full list of King and Queen Contestants from this year's fair are listed below: 

• Kellyn Burke & Michael Hilliker - East Central 
• Reagan Hughes & Lyric Bettis - Jac-Cen-Del
• Maegan Galey & Joey Cavanuagh - Lawrenceburg
• Alexa Fehrman & Joaquim Allen - Milan 
• Mary Ryan & Thaddeus Eaglin - Oldenburg Academy
• Alyssa Simpson & Gavin Shorten - Rising Sun
• Taci Mae Hughes & Adam Kunkel - South Dearborn 
• Lydia Cornett & Carson Fisk - South Ripley 
• Morgan Jacuson & Cameron Blasck - Southeastern Career Center
• Ava Cole & Sam Schroer - Switzerland County