Royal family plays large role in Berrien County Youth Fair tradition

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BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. -- Ahead of the fair each year, children who have grown up competing in the fair participate in a competition to represent the fair as royalty.

“It’s not like, you know, who has the prettiest dress or those kinds of things,” said Serena Sommer, the fair’s 1st runner-up to queen this year. “It’s more of, who’s the most involved in the fair and who would represent it best?”

And Sommer is one of those people.

She joins this year’s royal family, which includes a king, queen, prince, princess, and first runners-up to the king and queen.

Princess Isabele Hunn said being part of the group is special.

“It’s like another family and more friends, so it’s really fun,” she said.

The two join their king and queen to be the ambassadors of the fair.

They help give out ribbons and encourage young participants who are showing their animals.

They’re also faces of the fair – explaining how the annual tradition has impacted them as they’ve grown up here.

“I’ve gained so many things from the fair, so I think it would just be nice to give my time back to the fair as well,” Sommer said.

Karen Klug helps run the fair, but was queen back in 1977.

“I think the royalty is something that the younger kids aspire to,” she said.

The Berrien County Youth Fair runs from Monday, August 14 through Saturday, August 19 at the fairgrounds in Berrien Springs.

You can find more information by clicking here.

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