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2022 Fair Queen Bryley Miller recounts her experiences while reigning

By Bryley Miller For The Express 6 min read

Serving as the 2022 Clinton County Fair Queen has been the fulfillment of a dream which was sparked in me at an early age. The extraordinary influence of past fair queens and the Fair itself in my life left me with a goal for my reign -- to give back to my beloved fair and promote it as much as possible. 

 When I was crowned on a very warm Saturday afternoon, I was not entirely expecting the whirlwind of activity, memories, and excitement that I would experience during Fair week! I began by rushing all over the fairgrounds in heels and a ball gown, speaking at the bake sale, crowning several adorable, smiling little princesses, and then climbing on top of the winning Demolition Derby car for an EPIC picture! 

 The experience didn't stop there; the entire week of Fair was a whirlwind of memories! One of my favorite activities was handing out ribbons for all of the large livestock shows. It meant so much to me to hand ribbons and banners to my fellow 4-H members, awarding them for their hard work and excellent sportsmanship. I know that these youth put so much time and energy into prepping their project animals for Fair, and getting to be a part of their well-deserved reward was an experience I will always remember. 

 My duties during Fair week didn't end with livestock and ribbons, since I was able to help out with so many other Fair events and activities. My court and I helped with Senior Bingo on Senior Citizens Day, and I handed out trophies at the Sizzlin' Seniors Talent Show. Kiddies Day was a blast as well, since I partnered with Ross Library to do several agricultural themed story times, complete with reading and a craft, throughout the day! That night I had the opportunity to be interviewed down at the Speedway, and even wave the green flag for the races. The next day of the Fair, I enjoyed my favorite Fair event, the kid's Pedal Tractor Pull. Per tradition, I had to pull on the tiny pedal tractor at the end, which gave the kids quite a laugh! My Fair week adventures ended with serving ice cream to community members at the Giant Ice Cream Sundae, participating in the Veteran's Day Program, and riding in the Fairground parade. I can say without hesitation that I made so many irreplaceable memories during Fair week, I learned so much more about our community, and definitely strengthened my public speaking and communication skills!  

After the Fair, first, I took a loooooooooong nap! Then, I was up and at it again to visit eight other fairs from across our state! I met many other queens at these fairs and was able to learn about each fair's unique history, traditions and people. I also got to sample quite a lot of fair food, which had to be one of my favorite experiences. I made several amazing friends while visiting other fairs, and I hope to keep in touch with these girls for years to come.  

I also had the opportunity to attend many local events, some of them at the Fairgrounds. Truckers 4 Hope was a major event that I helped with. It was heartwarming watching so many people come out to wholeheartedly support this amazing cause. I coordinated a booth for Kid's Day, and had a blast reading to the kids, making crafts with them, and then helping with the pedal pull. I also attended Farm City Family Day at the fairgrounds and interacted with the children running around and doing some fun, educational activities. Christmas in the Barns was another highlight, since I got to personally thank many vendors that came out, as well as chat with members of my community. Sampling those delicious apple dumplings, made by the wonderful ladies of our fair board, was certainly a delicious treat as I walked around and chatted. Going to these events is always a humbling yet sweet experience, especially when I work with the kids. Hearing little girls point and whisper, "Look, there's the queen!" and seeing the shy admiration on their faces reminds me of myself when I was younger and inspires me to be the best role model I can be for these little future queens. 

 The Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo was an amazing experience, set in the gorgeous colors of northern Clinton County, on a beautiful autumn day. I loved riding in the parade and waving to the little kids, especially when they imitated the "queen wave!" It was so much fun walking around and talking to people after the parade as well. I even visited the Flaming Foliage Queen coronation, and talked to some of the teenage girls representing our local schools! 

 The new year brought the PA State Fair Queen Competition in Hershey, PA. Over three days, 58 queens from fairs across the State compete through onstage introductions, interviews, and speeches to win the title of State Fair Queen. I was so honored to represent Clinton County in this competition, which was the experience of a lifetime. I was able to network with the other girls as we attended orientation, seminars, and receptions together, forging lifelong relationships and learning so much more about a queen's role in promoting our Fair, and ultimately, agriculture. It was inspiring to be a part of so much enthusiasm for fairs as a whole, and I came back encouraged and even more excited to continue promoting our Fair. 

 As I write this, my latest adventure has been speaking at the local elementary schools about Fair involvement. I am hoping to inspire students from across Clinton County to exhibit in the Fair, by speaking out different projects they can use their unique talents and creativity to make. It has been a blast so far, since I love getting to know each child, and hearing all about their passions and ideas! Besides, they absolutely love the sparkly crown!  

Before the end of my reign, I hope to visit more fairs in surrounding counties, ride in some more parades with our 50th Fair Birthday Cake float, and overall make the most out of my last few months of "queening!" I am eagerly anticipating our Clinton County Fair's 50th anniversary this year, and I hope to do my part to make it the best Fair week yet! 

 This past year as the 2022 Clinton County Fair Queen has impacted so many aspects of my life, and I am so grateful to my Fair for the opportunity to serve. Thank you to the fair board for wholeheartedly supporting me throughout my reign, and for the endless hard work you put into making our Fair happen. I hope to continue supporting and promoting our Fair in the years to come, even after I hand off the crown to the next deserving young lady on July 29th. I am so excited to see you all at the 50th anniversary of our amazing Clinton County Fair! 

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