2026 Columbiana County Fair opens with ceremony, 4-H royalty crowning
The 181st annual Columbiana County Fair kicked off Monday with a day of commendations and crownings. The annual opening day festivities saw the presentation of a new fair king, queen, and royal court, as well as a ribbon cutting by county, state and federal officials. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
The 2025 4-H King Lincoln Wallace, right, crowns 2026 King Justin Bailey, left. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown, from left, are the Columbiana County 4-H prince and princesses Dillan Scheel, 6, Columbiana; Mateo Cruz, 8, Lisbon; Raegan Blasdel,7, New Waterford; Claire Pirogowicz, 8, Lisbon; Aria Cruz, 6, Lisbon; 2025 4-H Queen Allison Irwin; Hunter Marshall, 7, New Waterford; Cole Walton, 8, Leetonia; Vivienne Scheel, 6, Columbiana; Reece Lucas, 7, Springfield; Alayna Neiheisel, 6, East Palestine; and Adalin Truxal, 7, Minerva. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Ohio Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel presents a commendation on behalf of the Ohio House of Representatives. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown from left are 4-H Royal Court members Aiden Frye, Rainna Everhert, Justin Bailey, Atlee Brinker, McKenzie Paskevtich and Esther Burch. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Justin Bailey. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
The 181st annual Columbiana County Fair kicked off Monday with a day of commendations and crownings. The annual opening day festivities saw the presentation of a new fair king, queen, and royal court, as well as a ribbon cutting by county, state and federal officials. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
The 2025 4-H King Lincoln Wallace, right, crowns 2026 King Justin Bailey, left. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown, from left, are the Columbiana County 4-H prince and princesses Dillan Scheel, 6, Columbiana; Mateo Cruz, 8, Lisbon; Raegan Blasdel,7, New Waterford; Claire Pirogowicz, 8, Lisbon; Aria Cruz, 6, Lisbon; 2025 4-H Queen Allison Irwin; Hunter Marshall, 7, New Waterford; Cole Walton, 8, Leetonia; Vivienne Scheel, 6, Columbiana; Reece Lucas, 7, Springfield; Alayna Neiheisel, 6, East Palestine; and Adalin Truxal, 7, Minerva. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Ohio Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel presents a commendation on behalf of the Ohio House of Representatives. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown from left are 4-H Royal Court members Aiden Frye, Rainna Everhert, Justin Bailey, Atlee Brinker, McKenzie Paskevtich and Esther Burch. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Justin Bailey. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
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LISBON -- The 2026 Columbiana County Fair is officially underway.
The 181st annual Columbiana County Fair officially kicked off Monday with the presentation of a new royal court and a celebratory ceremony and ribbon cutting attended by local, state and federal officials. The 2026 4-H Royal Court will be headlined by King Justin Bailey and Queen Atlee Brinker. They will be joined by fellow 4-H standouts Aiden Frye, Rainna Everhart, McKenzie Paskevitch and Esther Burch.
Brinker is a senior at United Local High School and has been involved in 4-H for 12 years. As a member of 4-H she has served as club president, a member of the junior leaders, an Ohio delegate for the national 4-H conference, the 4-H Club Cloverbud director, and a youth mentor. After graduating from high school Brinker plans to pursue a bachelor's degree at an undecided school, and to become a commissioned officer in the United States Navy.
Bailey is a senior at Beaver Local High School and has been part of 4-H for 9 years. As a member of 4-H he has served as club president and vice-president, a member of the junior leaders, a youth mentor, and participated in a county-wide community project to bring 4-H to underrepresented communities.
The 2025 King Lincoln Wallace and Queen Allison Irwin also reflected on their year-long reign. Both described their reigns as a pleasure that they would never forget and said that the opportunity to meet and mentor younger 4-H members had profoundly shaped them.
"Being king is an experience I will always remember, and I'd encourage every kid watching to apply when the chance comes. It's truly an amazing opportunity to represent Columbiana County and 4-H," Wallace said.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 2025 County Fair 4-H queen. This project has been more meaningful and personally impactful than I could have imagined," Irwin said.
This year's opening ceremony also featured the presentation of commendation from the U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, Ohio Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, and the offices of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio Auditor Keith Faber.
Monday also saw the coronation of the 2026 4-H princes and princesses including: Raegan Blasdel, Cole Walton, Claire Pirogowicz, Mateo Cruz, Vivienne Scheel, Hunter Marshall, Alayna Neiheisel, Dillan Scheel, Aria Cruz, Reece Lucas, Adalin Truxal, and Keaston Ingledue.