Brady & Auker crowned king and queen of Knox County Fair

MOUNT VERNON – The 2025 Knox County Fair officially kicked off Sunday with its traditional opening ceremony.

During the ceremony, Kennedy Auker was crowned Knox County Fair Queen, and Michael Brady earned the honor of becoming Knox County Fair King.

About the queen

For 11 years, Auker, the current Junior Fair Board president, swine ambassador, and swine barn liaison, has shown market hogs at the fair and is going out on a high note in her final year of doing so.

“I love everything about this fair, I couldn’t ask for a better community,” Auker said. “It has raised me my whole life.”

After growing up on her family’s grain farm, Auker plans to attend Ohio State ATI in Wooster to pursue a major in agriculture communications and a minor in agriculture business.

“My long-term goal is to come back home and take over that family farm,” she said.

As queen, Auker will appear in parades, attend Junior Fair events, and present awards to contestants in various showcases.

Auker’s court consists of Ansley Daubenmeir, Madison Seng, and Raegan Blanchard.

**Kennedy Auker fixes her new crown after becoming queen. Credit: Jack Slemenda**

About the king

Michael Brady, a Junior Fair board member for two years, got involved with the fair in a less traditional way.

“Normally, people show animals or they do that type of stuff,” he said. “I was involved in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and drama club, that’s what got me in here.”

Additionally, Brady also assists with the fair’s social media presence.

“We have a TikTok and an Instagram page that I am full over all the time with two others, Will Stokes and Sophie Wolf,” he said. “We really conquered the social media team, I could not be more thankful to be on it with them.”

Looking to the future, Brady is entering his junior year at East Knox High School and will be attending the Knox County Career Center to study health technologies while continuing his royal duties.

“Now that I am king, I will be going to different fairs and stuff like that, having fun. It means a lot to me to be fair king,” he said.

Arthur Hollenback and Dalton Bailey join Brady to make up his court.