Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Jordyn Leininger and Khloe Hinojosa were crowned Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen and Miss Teen Kosciusko, respectively for 2024 Saturday night, June 15, at the Kosciusko County Shrine Building.
This was the 68h Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen pageant.
“It’s my first time as Miss (contestant)” stated Leininger after the pageant. But it’s not her first time winning a crown. “I actually got my start in pageantry at the cutie contest. Actually my first ever one I was Little Miss Toddler,” she stated. Upon answering what her favorite food was she said it was bananas and began acting like a monkey.
“It’s really a full circle, one of my dreams since I was little. I really respected the queen so much and it’s really one of those special things that I dreamed of. I was finally out of 4-H and could dedicate my entire summer to this job, and so I’m very thankful for the opportunity to represent my county fair
Hinojosa was a little in shock. “It’s a lot to be honest,” she said. “This is my first pageant ever. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I got up there and did it … the girls are so welcoming and they helped me with every step of it. I feel like I’m going to cry because, it was like … it was so exciting. I put a lot of work in it and it paid off. I’m so proud of myself.”
Leininger is the daughter of Thad and Rochelle Leininger. She is a 2023 graduate of Whitko Junior/Senior High School and will be a sophomore at Butler University, studying healthcare and business. She is a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, Butler Lilly Scholars network and a first year experience panelist. She was a 10-year Kosciusko County 4-H member and has shown her sheep all across the United States. She loves acting, singing and reading. Her dreams are to someday act as a liaison between the healthcare and business industries to ensure best practice and care for patients.
Hinojosa is the daughter of Polar and Susan Hinojosa. She will be a junior at Warsaw High School. She loves to read and draw and won the mental attitude award in basketball. She is a church leader and member of her school FFA chapter. She is most proud of making the Warsaw FFA officer team. She feels her strongest talent is the way she leads people and hopes to utilize that skill someday as an ag teacher.
Miss Kosciusko Court
Millie Ohneck was crowned first runner-up. She is the daughter of Jake and Liz Ohneck. She attended Caroll High School and is studying mortuary science and funeral services at Worshum College, from which she will be graduating in December.
Jasmine Fuller was crowned second runner-up. She is the daughter of Chad and Tara Fuller. She will be a junior at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Olivia Fuller was third runner-up. She is the daughter of Chad and Tara Fuller and will be a freshman at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Miss Teen Court
Randi Colbert was named first runner-up in the Miss Teen Court. She is the daughter of Jeff and Candi Colbert. She is home schooled and will be starting her freshman year in the fall.
Second runner-up is Gretchen Robinson. She is the daughter of Kylie Robinson and Kyle Derry. She will be a freshman at Warsaw Community High School.
Kayleena Igney was third runner-up. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Adam Noffsinger. She will be a sophomore at Northridge High School.
The Contest
Each of the contestants competed in five categories and were scored by a panel of four judges. Personal interviews, formal wear and onstage questions were the top scores, followed by a prepared speech, theme wear and interview wear.
With this year’s fair theme honoring local heroes, the contestants were to use their imagination to create outfits to go with the theme and state why that hero was chosen. The girls chose such heroes as K9 officer, a nurse, search and rescue member, paramedic, crisis counselor, local coroner, crime scene and forensic analyst and firefighter.
Their individual speeches, each lasting one-minute, were varied from personality vs beauty, experiences, patience, meaning of a best friend and fear of missing out. Both Leininger and Hinojosa’s speeches were on agriculture and it’s importance.
The onstage questions were just as varied as the speeches.
Leininger’s question was to describe the time she had to step out of her comfort zone and what she learned from that experience. She went back to her 4-H years and participation in showmanship. “I will have to admit I am a sheep and sheep only girl,” she said. “I am not that big into other animals. I think they are big and scary or tiny and scary … I was really thankful for the older girls and older guys, they were really great making sure I felt confident and in control … taught me that we need to support each other and that is how we will grow.”
Hinojosa’s question was “If you could break one rule, what would it be and why?” Her response brought laughter from the audience. “( would break the rule no desserts before bedtime because I love desserts,” she said. “They are so good and you get those cravings at night. Sometimes you just gotta do it.”
Questions other contestants answered included favorite school subject, what famous person they would like to meet, a charity they would support, bad role models for young women, the biggest change to be seen for young women of the next generation and how to use social media to make an impact on the world.
The evening also included reflections from 2023 Miss Kosciusko Fair Queen Ashley Irwin.
