Sun staff
The always-popular Clermont County Fair Baby Contest was held July 25 in the Multi-Purpose Building.
“I was very pleased with the event this year,” Mariann Strosnider, creator and director of the contest said. “More so when you take into consideration that temperatures were in the 90s on the day of the competition.”
The contest, now in its 23rd year, attracted 230 participants and was sponsored by Walmart in Milford.
Amy Vance, of Eastgate, attended the event to support her daughter Hailey Elizabeth Vance, 21 months, who participated in the contest.
She explained that “family tradition” led her to enter Hailey Elizabeth Vance into the contest.
“Most of our kids have participated in the contest,” she said, adding, “We really enjoy being in it with everyone, and most of all, it’s helping to socialize our special needs child that’s at the fair today.”
Alyssa Rae Moore, 8 months, was the winner of the 0-11 months girls’ class and went on to be crowned Mini Baby Queen.
Her parents, Ashley McCown and Josh Moore, accompanied her to the contest.
“I am so excited,” said McCown, who has a long history with the contest. “My older son has participated in the contest, and I was a winner for three years, so I wanted her to experience it.”
The day marked the 10-month birthday for Matthew Brownfield, of Goshen, who won the 0-11 months boys’ class and was crowned Mini Baby King.
Brittany Brownfield, whose 4-year-old daughter participated in the contest last year, said she entered her son in the contest, “just for fun, and just to see; actually, it was a spur of the moment thing.
She noted that her son likes to “take everything his sister has, and yell,” adding that she was very excited about the win.
“I was surprised too; it’s not that he’s not cute, but there are so many cute babies out here.”
Harley Martin, age 4, of New Richmond, won the 4-5 year girls’ class and was crowned Baby Queen.
“She loves it; she’s tickled to death,” said father Adam Martin, of New Richmond.
Harley Martin, whose mother named her after the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company, has participated in baby contests for the past three years.
“We thought it would be fun for her,” Adam Martin said.
She loves riding bikes and riding in trucks, and she is excited about starting soccer this fall.
Strosnider works with the fair’s board of directors to host the contest each year.
“We do this as a joint effort, and it works because Clermont County is a good community for bringing support to our families,” she said, adding, “We’re trying to set up a positive environment for the children so that everyone who comes out has a good time.”
Listed below are the winners for each age group.
Alyssa Rae Moore won the 0-11 month girls, Kylee Jo Foltz won the 12-23 month girls, Adalyn Eltzroth won the 2-3 year old girls and Harley Martin won the 4-5 year old girls.
Matthew Brownfield won the 0-11 month boys, Lincoln Bradford won the 12-23 month boys, Cruz Meagher won the 2-3 year old boys and Gatelin Latham won the 4-5 year old boys.