Mechanicsburg’s Darby Ayars was crowned 2024 Champaign County Fair Queen on Sunday at the grandstand.

Ayars is the daughter of Bill and Melinda Ayars of Mechanicsburg. She has been active in 4-H and FFA.

She will be a senior at Mechanicsburg High School this year.

“Since I was a young girl, I knew I loved agriculture and more specifically, cattle. At age two, I roamed into our beef cow pen and decided these were ‘my girls,’ and honestly, that statement is still true to this day,” Darby Ayars wrote in her fair queen application essay. “I started my show career with steers, and after two years and rivers of tears from selling my best friends, I switched to showing heifers. You see, heifers came home with me after the fair. Today ‘my girls’ total 15 cows that I breed every year and raise and sell their calves. I also show cattle in 4-H and FFA at the Ohio State Fair, North American International Livestock Expo, the BEST shows, the Southern Ohio Series, and Breed Association Shows. Through FFA I have participated in meat judging, general livestock, and public speaking. These girls and my activities in 4-H and FFA have led to my desire to pursue a career in bovine reproduction. I plan to continue meat judging at the collegiate level and hope to become a bovine veterinarian. I desire to continue to expand ‘my girls’ herd in the future.”

The new queen is also on the high honor roll in high school, is a member of the National Honor Society and a scholar athlete. She has also served as officer in her 4-H clubs.

In her community work, she has volunteered at the Oasis of Mercy Food Pantry in Mechanicsburg. She is a Junior Fair Board member, a Junior Cattlemen’s Council member, a 4-H camp counselor and Cattlemen’s Booth volunteer. She has served her FFA chapter as a secretary and is currently the chapter president.

Her work experience includes Ayars Family Farm and Vet Service, where she assists in daily chores and farm maintenance and assists in surgical procedures and health maintenance.

“Of all activities I have been involved in, FFA has shaped me the most,” Ayars said in her essay. “I started out my freshman year in the fall 2022 joining the meat judging team. My dad is the meat judging coach and if you ask anyone, his expectations are high. But, I accepted the challenge and dug into the material and work necessary to do well. That year I won every contest, including the State FFA contest.”

As for being a candidate for fair queen, Ayars said in her essay prior to the fair and the crowning: “I also know my late Grandma Betty would be sitting there with my family with pride in her eyes as I walk across the track.”

First runner-up in the queen contest was Madalynn Dunham and second runner-up was Myah Bandy.

Vernon Funeral Homes sponsored the annual contest.