Colton Domer and Maggie Hamilton named 2025 fair king and queen

Colton Domer and Maggie Hamilton were named the 2025 fair king and queen at pre-fair activities Sunday, Sept. 14 before the 175th Tuscarawas County Fair. Domer and Hamilton were crowned by outgoing 2024 fair royalty Morgan Miller and Jacob Wisselgren.

Domer, 16, of Dover attends Garaway High School and he is a member of the 4-H Junior Achievers 4-H club. His parents are Mike and Shannon Domer. His brother, Jonathon Domer, was fair king in 2023 and their father also served as fair king.

Domer is grateful and excited for what the next year will bring.

“I’m looking forward to traveling with Maggie, meeting new people and expressing how our fair works and how much we like it,” Domer said.

Maggie Hamilton, 18, of Bolivar attends Kent State University. She has been in the 4-H program for 12 years and is a member of the Strasburg Country 4-H club. Her parents are Willie and Kaley Hamilton.

“I'm so excited and grateful for this opportunity to go out and represent T-County on a bigger level, excited to meet new people, grow our community and make connections out there and travel to new places,” Hamilton said.

Other royalty contestants were Kylee Mutti, 18, of Stone Creek; Norah Randolph, 17, of New Philadelphia, Cassie Miceli, 17, of Dover, Emily Zurfley, 17, of Dover, William (Drew) Long, 18, of Midvale, and Robbie Jones, 16, of New Philadelphia.

Black buckets featuring custom 175th fair items — along with tickets to two fair shows — were auctioned to support the fair.

Greg Kimble was the top bidder, winning the first bucket with a $1,000 bid. Other winners included:

Tim Coolman family, $500

John Miller family/MF Ag Repair, $600

Tina Jones, $750

Fair Board members for Denise Billman, in honor of the late Reb Billman, $1,250

Rod Endsley, $700

Chet and Jen Randolph family, $700

Scott Family Farms, $700

Allen Wolf, Maggie Hamilton’s grandfather, $750

Greg Kimble, $800

The number 11 bucket which supports the fair royalty program was purchased by Maggie Hamilton’s parents, Willie and Kaley Hamilton, for $1,300.

Four veterans were honored during the Quilts of Valor presentation with quilts sewn by local 4-H club members and volunteers.

Above and Beyond 4-H Club: Army veteran Samuel L. Manfull served from 1966 to 1967 in Germany and Vietnam. In Vietnam, he served in the 48th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade. Manfull was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard from 1975 to 1992.

Town and Country 4-H Club: Army Veteran Ron Kinsey served for four years, and his overseas deployments include Okinawa, Japan, mainland Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. 

4-H Create Day: U.S. Air Force Veteran Chris Rice served for four years and worked with seismic systems in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Wyoming and in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After returning to New Philadelphia, he used his GI Bill funding to earn a college degree.

Country Clovers 4-H Club: Marine Corp veteran Karl Kohler served as a mechanic from 1969 to 1971. Later, he served his community as a Clay Township Trustee and is a supporter of the Arrowhead Joint Fire District.

The winner of the Sandy Wardell Award, which has been given every year since 1983 to a 4-H member who exhibits exceptional leadership, went to Allison Kendle.

Scholarship award winners were also announced. Winning the Doug Wills Scholarship were Mackenna Armstrong and Kylee Mutti. There were five 4-H Scholarship award winners, they were Armstrong, Leah Hamilton, Maggie Hamilton, Allison Kendle and Caden Vosick.

Members of the Jefferson County Fair Board attended and presented a bench in memory of Reb Billman. It was also announced that the main show arena has been named the Reb Billman Memorial Arena, and the grandstands have been named the Doug Wills Memorial Grandstands.

More activities are on tap at the Tuscarawas County Fair through Sept. 21, visit the fair’s website at tusccountyfairgrounds.com for a complete schedule of events.