Miss Fairfax and Junior Miss Fairfax
Chloe Vernon, center, was crowned Miss Fairfax 2025 Friday, August 15, at the 59th annual Fairfax Fair. Also pictured are Piper Morris, runner-up, left, and Ava Oswald, Junior Miss Fairfax, right.
Little Mr. and Miss Fairfax
Liam Daugherty, son of Billy and Kelly Daugherty, and Chanleigh Clement, daughter of Chance and Chelsea Clement, were crowned Little Mr. and Miss Fairfax at the Fairfax Fair Friday evening.
Auxilian of the Year
Community Hospital-Fairfax Auxilian of the Year Tina Stout was honored with a ride in the Fairfax Fair Parade.
Connie Dunkle (front) was the Fairfax Fair Parade Grand Marshal. Her daughter, Denise Martin, rode in the parade with her.
Connie Dunkle selected to be 2025 Fairfax Fair Parade Grand Marshal
Connie Dunkle was selected to be the grand marshal of the 2025 Fairfax Fair Parade. Connie owns and operates the DayBreak Cafe, where people meet to visit, hold meetings, and always enjoy good food. She is very instrumental in keeping Fairfax Main Street alive.
Connie was born and raised in Shenandoah, Iowa. She moved to Fairfax in 1986 and married Randy Dunkle. Connie worked for Darlene Smith and in 1996 she purchased the cafe from her mother-in-law. Connie has three sons, Dewey, Dee, and Dobie, and two stepsons, Eric and Clayton. She also has a daughter, Denise.
Connie said that Fairfax is a great town and she has made many friends since moving here. She enjoys seeing most of her friends in the cafe every day. Randy passed away in 2000. Jack came into Connie’s’ life in 2005 and has been with her ever since. Connie stressed that she has some great ladies who work for her at the cafe. They have made life easier for her while getting older. She said, “One of the reasons I love this little town is that everyone is friendly and gets along with each other. Farm boys have helped keep the cafe going.”
Fairfax Mayor Tab Wintz rode in the Fairfax Fair Parade with her son, Garrett. Her mom, Jan Taylor, drove the convertible.
Boy Scouts raised the flag at opening ceremonies of the 59th annual Fairfax Fair. The annual fair, sponsored by the Fairfax Optimist Club, started Friday, August 15, 2025.
Fairfax Fair Baby/Youth Show
Infants in the birth to 6 months category were: Coy Dale Murphy, son of Jarrod and Kourtney Murphy; Jace Zumbrunnen, son of James and Amber Zumbrunnen; and Jett Zumbrunnen, son of James and Amber Zumbrunnen.
Shaylee Clement, daughter of Chance and Chelsea Clement, was in the 7 to 11 months category.
Toddlers in the one-year-old category were: Zola Straub, daughter of Mason and Ashley Straub; Magnolia Ramirez, daughter of Alejandra Ramirez; Creed Smith, son of Miles and Amber Smith; Lila Anne Leseberg, daughter of Gus and Boo Leseberg; Gia Alsup, daughter of Garrett and Shelby Alsup; Bryker Robert Currie, son of John and Ashley Currie; Nathan Schlup, son of Mike and Robin Lewis; and Millie Holecek, daughter of Kayden Holecek and Shelbey Morris.
Participants in the two-year-old category of the Baby/Youth Show were: Tucker Rohlfsen, son of Derek and Alyssa Rohlfsen; Bray Baughman, son of Josh and Brooklynn Baughman; Walker Giddinge, son of TJ and Heather Giddinge; Jesse Clement, son of Chance and Chelsea Clement; and Brinlyn Mercer, daughter of Darek and Destiny Mercer.
Participating in the three-year-old category of the Baby/Youth Show were: Caroline Oswald, daughter of Michael and Amanda Oswald, and Addie Stevens, daughter of Austin and Christy Stevens.
Participating in the four-year-old category of the Baby/Youth Show were: Ellie Clement, daughter of Chance and Chelsea Clement, and Audrey Zumbrunnen, daughter of James and Amber Zumbrunnen.
The children who participated in the Little Mr. and Miss Fairfax contest and/or who entered the 5-year-old division of the Fairfax Fair Baby/Youth Show, from left to right, were: Cammie White, daughter of Ky and Alicia White; Nova Lee Marie, daughter of Willy Chavez and Joanna Puentes; Ella Ann Smith, daughter of Miles and Amber Smith; Harper Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Miles and Amber Smith; Claire Oswald, daughter of Michael and Amanda Oswald; Liam Daugherty, son of Billy and Kelly Daugherty; Emma Schlup, daughter of Mike and Robin Lewis; Chanleigh Clement, daughter of Chance and Chelsea Clement; and Stella Mercer, daughter of Darek and Destiny Mercer.
Emcees for the baby/youth show were Mason Kingery, left, and Austin Helfers, right. The Fairfax National Honor Society sponsored the event.
Fairfax Fair Entertainment
Lexi Brown shared her love of singing as she performed a couple of songs. She also sang the national anthem during the opening ceremony Friday night.
The East Atchison Junior High cheerleaders showed they have spirit as they entertained the crowd during Saturday night’s entertainment.
The East Atchison High School cheerleaders kept things going and showed off some of their moves.
Bill Slaughter sang “God Bless America” as it was played by the Southeast Nebraska Community Band at Saturday night’s entertainment.
Bill Slaughter of rural Fairfax dusted off his trombone to play with the Southeast Nebraska Community Band.
Brad Mathers of Tarkio played his baritone sax with the Southeast Nebraska Community Band.
Debra Wyatt took a break from playing her clarinet to direct the band for a number.
Paisleigh Daugherty performed her winning dance routine.
Emmett Umbarger shared his talent as he played two songs on the keyboard.
The Ladies in Black, Malisa Linthicum, Lynn Hunter, Deb Johnson, and Debra Wyatt, took the audience through the years starting in 1940 to the present with a medley of songs.
Donovan Jones took us on a cruise of tunes as he played one of his medley of songs.
Fun at the Fair
Kids enjoyed the dance on the slab.
Kay Rosenbohm stops by the Community-Hospital Foundation booth to get a chance to win the 50/50 drawing.
Great-grandma Pete Cooper checks out Lila Anne Leseberg’s baby doll while mom and dad Gus and Boo wait for the baby contest to begin.
MJ May takes his turn in the dunk tank with assistance from Tate Johnson. This was a good year to have that job.
A little Fairfax trivia game was held between the baby contest and the Miss Fairfax contest with team Under the Hill Les Kerr and Roseann Nemyer and team Over the Hill Danny Kemerling and Larry Hawkins.
The fire truck ride was a popular attraction at the park.
Chic Davis mans the grill for the Masonic Lodge burger stand.
Gary Smith and Ron Frede get a chance to catch up.
Mike and Robin Lewis’ little guy, Nathan Schlup, had enough of the baby contest and took a nap.
Fairfax Fair Parade
American Legion members led the Fairfax Fair Parade. Pictured are Tim Morehouse, Brian Peterson, Jesse Payne, Roger Pennel, and Bob Davis.
The Fairfax Marching Pride marched in the Fairfax Fair Parade Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Finlee Ohnmacht, Waylon Blackman, and Simon Piveral, along with Scoutmaster Ethan Piveral, were among the local Scouts who participated in the Fairfax Fair Parade.
The Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department, along with firemen from Tarkio and Westboro, drove their fire trucks in the parade and handed out candy and souvenirs. Pictured at right handing out American flags is Fairfax fireman Curtis Grossman.
Kay Graves, Jesse Graves, and Jaycee Graves represented KG Buds Designs By Jay in the parade. Jaycee also handed out free flowers.
Tate Johnson and Bo Peregrine were among the East Atchison high school football team members who rode on a float in the parade.
Danika Agnew, Elsey Rogers, and Olivia Schaefer represented the East Atchison girls’ golf team in the parade. Olivia’s niece helped them throw out candy.
The Atchison County Courthouse employees and elected officials rode in the Fairfax Fair Parade. Pictured are Ellee and Jenea Salmond and Tasha Zach.
The Swenson and Jobes families entered their classic vehicles in the Fairfax Fair Parade.
The Harry Combs Memorial Tractor show was held Saturday morning at the Fairfax football field. Those who entered tractors in the show were then invited to drive them in the parade.
Trey Agnew drove a 1959 730 John Deere tractor in the Fairfax Fair Parade.
Miss Fairfax and Junior Miss Fairfax Contest
Kendal Straub was the emcee for the 2025 Miss Fairfax contest. Kendal also organized the Miss Fairfax contest.
Ava Oswald sang a song to wow the crowd.
Wendy Hurst answers a question as to who her hero is.
Aspyn Fast demonstrates her talent of putting.
Anna Ohlensehlen, Miss Fairfax 2024, left, holds a bag containing questions for contestants to answer. Avery Fast, right, draws a question from the bag.
Carley Graham, shown in her formal gown, prepared to answer a question in the Miss Fairfax Contest.
Piper Morris shows off her singing ability for the talent portion of the contest.
Chloe Vernon played her saxophone for the talent portion of the contest.
