Butler Fair queen amazed to be in state competition
For Brielle Karns, 20, it wasn’t important that she didn’t win the 2023 Pennsylvania State Fair Queen competition Jan. 21 in Hershey. She was just amazed to be on stage at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center with the 57 other contestants.
“Before I joined 4-H, I was shy. It was 4-H that brought me out of my shell,” said the daughter of Mark and Becky Karns of Butler. “I never thought of running for queen. If someone had told me I would, I would have laughed in their face.”
Nevertheless, Karns took part in three days of competition which took place from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21 during the 110th annual convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmen’s Association in Hershey.
Karns was one of 58 contestants evaluated by a panel of three judges on their written and speaking skills, knowledge of the fair and agricultural industries, and their poise and personal presentation in business attire.
“On Thursday, we had onstage introductions. On Friday, we had interviews,” she said. “On Saturday, we had to give a three- to five-minute speech in front of a roomful of people. And later, on Saturday, the winner was crowned.”
Lebanon Area Fair Queen Chloe Bomgardner of Lebanon County was crowned the 2023 Pennsylvania Fair Queen.
The 58 contestants weren’t ranked, but Karns just knew she didn’t finish in the top five.
“She didn’t win, but we did have a good time,” said her mother. “There were about 800 pageant goers at the Hershey Lodge.”
Brielle Karns said there were a lot of supporters in that crowd. She said the boards of the Butler Farm Show and the BIg Butler Fair were in attendance.
“I got a lot of support, which was great,” said Karns. “I met a lot of the other contestants, other girls from all over the state.”
“I think it was definitely memorable and a really good experience, ” she said of her state pageant experience.
For Karns, the road to Hershey started in July 2022 when she was chosen queen of the Big Butler Fair.
As 2022 Butler Fair Queen, Brielle represented the fair at various community events and parades.
She also reigned over activities during the 166th Big Butler Fair.
Karns said she was in Butler County 4-H for six years, and it did more than give her an appreciation for agriculture; it changed the lives of her entire family.
Becky Karns said because of the 4-H involvement of Brielle and her two brothers, Colton and Cameron, the Karnses bought a 120-acre farm in Center Township, where the younger Karnses raise show lambs.
“I say before 4-H, I didn’t know the difference between hay and straw,” said Brielle Karns. “Now I know how to make my own hay and straw.”
In addition to raising the 50 show lambs on the farm, Karns works as feed manager at the Butler Agway, as well as running her own business, Brielle’s Graphics, for the last two years.
Karns said she and her brothers raise the lambs for sale to 4-H’ers who raise them as show animals.
After graduating from First Baptist Christian School, and the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School in 2020, where she was enrolled in the graphic design program, she began Brielle’s Graphics.
“I do a lot of the bigger items,” she said. “Vehicle decals and magnets, business cards.”
“I’d love to make graphic design a livelihood,” she added.
That’s in addition to her work with the Butler Farm Show. She and her brothers are on the junior board of the farm show with Brielle serving as vice president.
Despite not bringing home the state crown, Karns is still has duties as the reigning Big Butler Fair queen.
“I’ll be doing library readings for kids. And I’ll be in many parades before I give up the crown, ” she said, when the next edition of the Big Butler Fair rolls around in June.
