Farm Queen

It's billed as "the 11 best days of summer." But who's to say the Maryland State Fair's slogan is anything more than advertising hype? The 121st fair - which begins tomorrow in Timonium and runs through Sept. 2 - offers agricultural displays, home arts, musical entertainment, thrill rides, all sorts of competitions and delectable food. The fair showcases traditions that reach back to its inception, such as the livestock shows and horse racing, as well as more modern events, including the NASA robotics competition and one of this year's new features, the Xtreme Air Stunt Show.

KRISTEN WILLIE reigns over the Howard County Fair this week as farm queen. The Glenwood resident won this year's contest Sunday at the fairgrounds show ring. Kristen, 18, was crowned by last year's winner, Kate Burgy, and was one of six young women vying for the title. Kathleen Fry of Ellicott City is serving as first runner-up and will accompany Kristen in many of her duties. Serving as princesses at the fair are Christa Federline of Ellicott City, Jenna Starr of Marriottsville, Dora Tammaro of Cooksville and Erika Thomas of Marriottsville.

HOWARD COUNTY Fair Queen Kate Burgy took it all in stride. "I had no idea I would be the fair queen," she said last week during a break between queenly functions. Kate handed out awards at the fair. The Clarksville teen-ager has been in 4-H for years. She recently became eligible to run for fair queen when she turned 16. "It's a lot of fun," she said of her duties at the fair. "It's a big responsibility, but I look forward to it." Horses are a big part of the well-spoken young woman's life.

Nothing seems more out of place amid swine and steers than formal, floor-length dresses. But every year the Farm Queen contest draws a tremendous crowd at the Howard County Fair. Yesterday in West Friendship, people packed the stands of the sawdust-strewn show ring to watch the time-honored custom of speeches, nerves, agricultural know-how and swept-up hairdos as teen-age girls vied for the coveted position. Escorted by six young men, the six contestants entered the ring on a humid afternoon, competing for the yearlong position of spokeswoman for Howard County agriculture.

Jamie Bullock was all ready to pack her things and head back to college in North Carolina when it happened. School will have to wait another week for Bullock, an 18-year-old from Ellicott City, who beat out 20 other young women Friday night to be crowned the Maryland Farm Bureau Queen. The win came as a shock to the college sophomore, who this year served as the Howard County Farm Bureau Queen. "I was trying to make sure they called the right name," Bullock said yesterday before she returned to her duties at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium.

THE THIRD time is a charm for this year's Howard County Farm Queen winner, Jamie Bullock of Ellicott City. "It's a huge honor, said Jamie, 18. "I'm just excited that I was chosen."

The reigning Carroll County Farm Queen has agriculture in her future, if not her past.Renata Ramonda's only background in farming is through caring for and riding her family's six quarter horses. The Westminster High School senior has ridden them to win several ribbons and awards since she was 6.But Renata, 16 and representing Carroll County in promotional activities at the Maryland State Fair this week, plans a career in agriculture."Mostly I ride and go to shows," Renata said of her farm experience.

An 18-year-old college freshman from Frederick has been crowned Maryland Farm Queen at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium.Emily O'Hara, a student at Frederick Community College, will receive $5,000 in scholarships and will represent Maryland agriculture at events throughout the year. She was selected Sunday in a competition with 22 other young women between ages 16 and 19 who were judged on their civic involvement and knowledge and experience in agriculture. The fair runs until Monday.Pub Date: 9/01/98

She spent her last hours of royalty handing out ribbons to young equitation riders, dipping homemade ice cream at the dairy bar and posing with Guernseys for the last of about a million photos taken of her in the past year.Then last night, a little sadly, Gina Rende ended her reign as 1996 Maryland Farm Queen, crowning her successor at the 116th Maryland State Fair.Fresh and unspoiled, lively and pretty, bright and athletic, Gina has been just about everything the Farm Queen's supposed to be -- and then some.

Shoveling manure is not usually part of the talent division of a beauty pageant.But Laura Johnson, who was chosen Sunday as the 52nd Howard County Farm Queen, isn't afraid to get the queen's finest -- blue jeans and a black polo shirt -- smudged with dirt."