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All in Adams--Adams County Fair Royalty
20 Plays8 days ago
In this episode of All in Adams we introduce you to our 2025 Adams County Fair Queen, Sidney Linn Romo Sonneman and 2025 Adams County Fair Lady in Waiting, Jordynn Kellogg. We talk about their path to the crown and some of their favorite parts of being royalty. Join us with special guest host and former Adams County Fair Queen Courtney Cox as we go All in Adams.
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Transcript
Introduction to All In Adams Podcast
00:00:04
Speaker
Welcome to All In Adams, the official podcast of Adams County Government, where we're all in for our residents, our employees, and our community. So whether you live here, work here, or you just want to know more about what makes Adams County a great place to be, thanks for tuning in.
00:00:20
Speaker
We're all in, Adams.
Meet Courtney Cox: Fair and Special Events Manager
00:00:23
Speaker
Hello, everyone. My name is Courtney Cox. I am the Fair and Special Events Manager for Adams County Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Arts. And once upon a time, I was also your Adams County Fair Queen.
Introducing the 2025 Adams County Fair Royalty
00:00:34
Speaker
Today, I am joined by our 2025 Adams County Fair Royalty, our Queen, Sydney Romo, and our Lady-in-Waiting, Jordan Kellogg. Today, we're going to chat about all things royalty and fair and what your journey has been like to get here.
00:00:48
Speaker
um So first of all, would you like to introduce yourselves and tell everybody a little bit but a bit about yourselves?
Sydney Romo's 4-H Journey and Fair Involvement
00:00:53
Speaker
hi my name is Sydney Romo. I'm your 2025 Adams County Fair Queen. I still show in 4-H. This is my last year in 4-H, sadly, but I showed horses. I showed poultry.
00:01:05
Speaker
actually did canning for a year, too. And now I'm just showing steers this year, no horses, but I still will be running the flags this year. Awesome. Well, thank you, Jordan. I'm Jordan Kellogg, your 2025 Adams County Lady-in-Wading.
00:01:19
Speaker
um I aged out of last year, and so I'm still sticking around the fairgrounds as your Lady-in-Wading this year. um i was in fair I was in the 4-H program for six years, I think, and I showed horse every single year. I showed lamb for about three years.
00:01:34
Speaker
um That was really all I did, I think, project-wise, but it's one of my favorite places to be. Awesome. The fair is definitely my favorite place to be. I've been um attending the fair since I was five years old. I also grew up in 4-H, showed horses, went on to be the fair queen, and they hired me in 2014 as the fair intern, and I'm still here.
Inspiration and Advocacy: Sydney's Motivation for Competing
00:01:53
Speaker
So speaking of this program, tell us a little bit about your journey to get here, how you prepared for it, what kind of things you thought about before deciding to run for the program. Sydney, do you have any thoughts?
00:02:05
Speaker
um Well, I always thought of myself as an advocate for 4-H and like agriculture. So then when I saw my sister compete for the royalty title, it kind of got my brain thinking about how I could be a better advocate up for it.
00:02:18
Speaker
And being a rodeo queen, you get to touch a lot of lives instead of just being in 4-H because a rodeo queen, you're traveling everywhere and you're talking to a whole bunch of kids and stuff like that in the younger generation.
00:02:29
Speaker
So I thought that it would probably be in my best interest to at least try and get to that title and be more um outspoken about the goals and having agriculture a bigger part in people's lives.
00:02:42
Speaker
um I definitely prepared with my sister a lot. I kind of did what she did as well. And I used my own strengths to it, like my horsemanship skills. I'm actually a very good like public speaker. I like giving speeches.
00:02:56
Speaker
So that was that part was pretty okay for me. But um and I used her for like the outfits and the makeup and all of that stuff because I'm not very big in that. Now I am because I'm more experienced. right But she definitely helped me out a lot with it. And I'm just happy that I did get the title because I'm starting to work towards my goals and I'm starting to um pursue what I want to pursue, which is just to get the younger generation talking about agriculture or more.
00:03:22
Speaker
So, yeah. Yeah, definitely. That Western way of life is definitely important. um It's a big part of the Adams County Fair and part of our mission.
Preparing for the Pageant: Jordan's Experience
00:03:29
Speaker
ah Jordan, you just recently went through the contest. So can you tell us a little bit what that looks like, what it entails? How did you prepare? What pieces were the most ah maybe nerve wracking to you? Yeah. um Speech for sure was definitely the most nerve wracking for me.
00:03:44
Speaker
um But also modeling because, again, like I wasn't super into hair and makeup and that was... um a big adjustment for queening for me. That was one thing where I was like, do I want to run for this? Like, like I don't, I don't curl my hair. I don't do that. But, um, I had an amazing group of past queens and friends that were like, you should totally do it. We totally teach you and and support you.
00:04:02
Speaker
And so that kind of helped me kind of push me into it. And um they helped me months before pageant, helped me write a speech, practiced, helped me pick out outfits. I had no idea what kind of things to wear. Pinterest was coming into clutch there. um so it was fun picking that out. And then it was like actual pageant day was a lot less stressful than I thought it was going to be. Good, good. Because everyone that you we were competing against is so nice and friendly. We all support each other. yeah Many girls that I knew and had been writing with.
00:04:31
Speaker
showing with for years. um So they, they were all we were all supporting each other and it made it really fun. And I think that that was just like a great start for what queening is and like kind of the environment that you're in and that you're all kind of in it doing the same thing and and supporting a common, common thing that everyone there loves.
Building Bonds: The Sash Sisters Community
00:04:48
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
00:04:49
Speaker
Um, so you guys ah talked about the camaraderie you have during the the contest, but I know something that has become really prevalent is something called sash sisters. Um, your fellow Queens from other counties and other rodeos, um, Sydney, maybe you can talk a little bit about your experience and getting to meet new girls and travel around the state representing the fair.
00:05:08
Speaker
Yeah, um my lady-in-waiting year is when I met everybody, and that was when I like built the foundation of those friendships. Now I know a lot of queens from different counties and stuff, and I met the current Miss Rodeo Colorado at the clinic last year.
00:05:25
Speaker
So her and I talk a little bit on Instagram all the time and I always have like questions for her and stuff and she answers it and she's just like my sash sister. right They're all people that know a lot about what we do yeah and we all have common interests. So it's just really nice to have a group of girls that you know are just there to help.
00:05:43
Speaker
And even at events they're like, oh, can I have some of that lipstick or oh, I forgot a pin. Do you have one? They're like, yes, I course Yeah, it's important to have that kind of camaraderie.
The Supportive Fair Industry
00:05:52
Speaker
And especially this is a this is a full time job, really. I mean, you spend the summer traveling around the state.
00:05:57
Speaker
um These girls are going through a lot of the same things you are. You have the same interests. um I still talk to a lot of girls that I was queening with. um It's a bond that lasts for forever. And so, Jordan, you're just experiencing that. Are you finding the same?
00:06:10
Speaker
Yeah. Kind of experience. um So far, I mean, we had an event Monday and everyone is is so nice. Oh, that's right. And um that's one of the things that I was most excited for is just meeting the the local royalties and going to the rodeos and learning about like their area, their town and whatnot. And everyone's so nice and supportive. And like you said, it's it's all girls that we we have so much in common and we're all kind of doing the same thing. So we really get along and that everyone's just so nice. So I'm definitely, that's like my most excited for this year. Yeah. We've definitely found that in the fair industry as well. You know, we go to lots of conferences to meet with other fair professionals. And what's nice is that we're not competing with one another. We all want our own fairs to be successful and we love to steal ideas and help, you know, each other formulate new plans. So it's kind of nice that that's kind of the the vibe in the fair industry.
Favorite Fair Events: Sydney and Jordan Share
00:07:00
Speaker
um Speaking of fairs,
00:07:02
Speaker
What is your favorite day of fair? We've got demo derbies, rodeos, concerts. That's a very hard question. I mean, event-wise, I'd probably say the demo derby or the truck pull, truck tractor pull.
00:07:18
Speaker
But I think like fair, like local, like 4-H wise was when it was after all the horse shows and we took all the horses to the river. And we all swam in the river. That was probably part. about that.
00:07:31
Speaker
Yeah. think we'll continue it. Yeah. We'll do it again this year. Yeah. Definitely. Definitely. Jordan. Yeah. That's one of my favorite fair memories. We always do it on the last day of horse show after Gymkhana. And we all go down there with our horses. And there's like a big group of us.
00:07:43
Speaker
So that's one of my favorites. And then i absolutely love live music, especially country music. So every time I'm there, I'm there for the for the country music, the live music, and all all of the events. rodeo is also one of my favorites to watch. Yeah, yeah, definitely. Well, we've got some, some good acts lined up, I think for this summer, we'll be announcing those here pretty shortly.
00:08:02
Speaker
Um, so something else that has been kind of talked about. So these crowns that you wear on your heads, um, those travel around with you, you take them everywhere you
Crown Care: Protecting and Storing Crowns
00:08:10
Speaker
go. What do you do with them when you're not wearing them? Where do they live?
00:08:13
Speaker
Um, how do you keep them from getting broken?
00:08:18
Speaker
um Me, personally, i i have a mirror on one of my walls in my room, and then I have hat, like, hangers. I don't know what to call them. yeah Around my mirror. And I have my cowboy hats on top and then ball caps on the side.
00:08:32
Speaker
I just keep my crown on my hat. So that way it doesn't, it's up tall. It can't get hit by anything. If I had somewhere safer to put it, I would. but nowhere my house is safe with Great Danes around.
00:08:45
Speaker
So I keep it up there. i don't touch it until the next event. And then if I'm traveling with it, I do put like a blanket inside of my hat can. And then I put the crown in the hat can because there's a nice little spot in there. Oh, without the hat.
00:08:59
Speaker
you Oh, that's risky. It works if you put a blanket in there and then it just keeps it. Okay. Well, you heard to here. if If Sydney comes to me with a broken crown,
00:09:09
Speaker
going ask if she put in her hat can with a blanket. It's been working and it worked my lady in waiting year too. I have a year of experience. But that's what, that's what I personally do. Jordan. um Mine stays on my hat in my hat can. As soon as I'm done with an event, it goes in my hat before I get in my truck and it gets the stays there until my next event. I'm terrified of breaking that thing.
00:09:35
Speaker
I'm getting it dirty, so I'm very precautious about that. And I keep it on ah my Merlot hat usually because I want that hat to stay super nice and super clean so that also stays in the hat can.
00:09:46
Speaker
And I keep it. just telling me about how you were worried about it falling off. Yes, I was telling her. I was like, how do I keep it on when I'm riding my horse? I'm scared of breaking You guys are making me nervous. Yeah.
00:09:57
Speaker
Well, my crown, I actually asked my mom the other day, I was like, hasn't have you seen my crown? And she was like, actually, I haven't. I found it in the same hat can on the same hat that I used to queen from 2011. I don't know that it has ever left that hat. And it's sitting in the storage at my parents' house. So mine's still intact. That's good.
Creative Fixes for Crown Issues
00:10:14
Speaker
um But- It is definitely a very delicate piece that you travel with and you want to make sure that you treat it with respect. But also, you know, when you're in the middle of a rodeo ring running flags or helping with slack, things happen. My queen, um one year we were at the rooftop rodeo and she came to me and her crown had snapped off. Like ours were a little different. Yeah. And she had taken fishing line from her trailer and like poked a hole through the crown of her hat to tie the crown on. Yeah.
00:10:41
Speaker
um And Mary Willis, who still works for Parks, Open Space and Cultural Arts, was the queen coordinator at the time. And she was not pleased when we got back and there was fishing line attached to Sydney's hat.
00:10:52
Speaker
Sometimes you got to what you got to do, though. Yeah, that's true. Fishing line to my hat. bar Yeah, definitely. a Fishing line came in clutch. When was that? Was it Evergreen or Elizabeth with Elsie?
00:11:03
Speaker
think it was Evergreen. And she hit the, because there was an extra part on it. Yep. And she super glued it. It's definitely been trial and error with the design of them. Sometimes they're a little too tall.
00:11:14
Speaker
I queen with a girl who um her crown was so tall. We just called her tall crown. We would just yell, hey, tall crown. We need you to run flags. um So it's definitely been through some phases and some trial and error.
00:11:26
Speaker
um But yeah, it's definitely very delicate. I personally like how... Yeah. it's very nice Yeah. Me too. I think ours is very iconic. Um, I know I've never seen another one like it. So right. The orange, and yeah the orange, very Adams County, very, very.
Favorite Fair Foods: A Tasty Discussion
00:11:42
Speaker
So I think, um, my last question is one that I always ask everybody. So fair food is a very big thing. People love to come to the fair and eat deep fried Oreos, deep fried pickles, deep fried anything. You're out on the midway. You just finished with the rodeo.
00:11:57
Speaker
You're hot. You're tired. You're exhausted. You're still in your crown and hat. What are you going for first? Ribbon fries. Ribbon fries. Cheese or no cheese? No cheese. No cheese. Ranch? No. Oh, Sydney.
00:12:08
Speaker
Just ribbon fries and a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of salt. No ketchup, no nothing. All right. Okay. Funnel cake. Funnel cake. That's my go-to. only eat it at fair. yeah that's Anytime I go anywhere else, like, yeah, but at fair, go-to funnel cake and then like the big gallon-sized jug of lemonade. Oh, yeah. those are Those are nice to have. That's my necessity. Okay.
00:12:29
Speaker
I think if I had to pick, we have a German food vendor who does a pork chop on a stick. And never in my life have I seen a pork chop on a stick, but it is my favorite. And so on a late night, I go and find him and see if he's got a ah pork chop left for me. And that's what I go home with is a pork chop on a stick. Only at the fair.
00:12:46
Speaker
Only at the fair. Yeah. Well, I think that's about all the time we have for today.
Closing: Invitation to Adams County Fair
00:12:51
Speaker
um The Adams County Fair returns July 30th through August 3rd. Come out, meet Sydney and Jordan.
00:12:57
Speaker
um Come meet their horses and come hang out with us at the fair.
00:13:02
Speaker
That's a wrap for this episode of All in Adams. Thank you for joining us as we explore the people, programs, and the policies that make Adams County a great place to live, work, and thrive.
00:13:13
Speaker
If you enjoyed the show, be sure to subscribe and share with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know. We're all in for bringing you the stories that matter most.
00:13:24
Speaker
Until next time, take care of each other and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and X. We're all in, Adams, and we're all in for you.