Kois crowned, Krupka 'hatted' as Lorain County Fair royalty

WELLINGTON — Someone up there must like Christopher Krupka and Emily Kois. While thunder threatened throughout the Lorain County Fair's opening ceremony Sunday evening, the rain held off until after the new Junior Fair king and queen were crowned. Or at least hatted — breaking with tradition, no red felt and chrome were placed on Krupka's brow. Instead, the king was fitted with a black ball cap with his title stitched across it in white. "I don't wear a crown in the barns," he said, excited by the change. "Those things would just get dirty fast. I'm going to wear this every single day of the week." Kois said the Junior Fair boys respectfully requested the switch-up. They'd even considered going with a kingly belt buckle, but that option proved surprisingly expensive. The queen's headwear didn't change. Kois donned a sparkling tiara on the small stage in front of the grandstand. "I like the tiara better. I think it draws a little more fanciness to it," she laughed. Krupka, a 2022 graduate of Elyria Catholic High School, has been part of 4-H for seven years. He is the son of Frank and Donna Krupka of North Ridgeville. He plans to attend the University of Akron this fall to study mechanical engineering. "I love rebuilding tractor engines. So I figure I like building, I like math — engineering sounds like the way to go," he said. On the family farm, it's his job to repair a Ford 3000, his great-grandfather's Farmall A and a Yanmar. The Farmall is his favorite by far — it's simple, doesn't have a lot of wiring and it's easy to take apart and rebuild. Runners-up for the Junior Fair king crown — or ball cap — were Noah Clegg of North Ridgeville, who is the president of the Junior Fair board; and Elijah Kyser of Elyria, who has been in 4-H for 10 years. Kois, of Grafton, was chosen from a field of four candidates for queen. A 2022 graduate of Midview High School, she is the daughter of Robert and Stacy Kois. "It's exciting, a little bit overwhelming," she said — as a Junior Fair board member, she's been getting ready for months to show her own Boer goats and chairs the Junior Fair Boer goats committee. Now she's preparing for a new chapter. As a freshman at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, Kois will major in agriculture science education and special education and minor in Spanish. Runners-up for queen included Natalie Calfo, daughter of Joe and Amy Calfo of Wellington; Chloee Howard, daughter of Peter and Christina Howard of Spencer; and Allison Tuggle, daughter of Curtis and Marisa Tuggle of Amherst. Sunday's opening ceremony included the raising of the American flag, a performance by the 4-H band and presentation of 4-H scholarships. It also included recognition of Chris Jordan, a 15-year member of the Lorain County Fair board, representing Pittsfield Township. He was presented with the Clair Hill Memorial Award, given by Lorain County Printing and Publishing, which owns The Chronicle-Telegram, WEOL AM 930 and the Lorain County Community Guide. The radio station news director and morning show host said choosing who will get the award is difficult "because so many people work so hard to make this the best fair in all of Ohio. And if you've been to other fairs, you know what I'm talking about." Jordan, a lifelong resident of Wellington, took part in 4-H as a boy. His children were in 4-H, his mother was a 4-H advisor and this year his granddaughters are showing cows at the fair. Over the years, Jordan has served in scores of ways, from the building and grounds committee to overseeing the demolition derby and tractor pulls, sales, scholarships and annual church service on the fairgrounds. "This is one busy, dedicated, committed guy," Adams said. The award caught Jordan by surprise. When he was asked to present Kois and Krupka with scholarships, he "knew something was up" and quickly found it was a ploy to get him to the stage. "It's a pleasure to serve," he said, taking the award in stride. The Lorain County Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 28. Reporter Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.