Tuscarawas County Pork Producers come together for 2011 banquet
A queen and a princess were crowned and scholarships were awarded at the 2011 Tuscarawas County Pork Producers annual banquet, held March 10 in St. John’s United Church of Christ at Dover.
Ashley Wisvari, 16-year-old daughter of Joe and Teresa Wisvari of Uhrichsville, was crowned queen, while Micha Fowler, 12-year-old daughter of Mike and Nicole Fowler of Beach City was crowned princess.
Wisvari, a nine-year member of Brisky Buckeyes 4-H Club, has taken market hog projects each year. This year, she also takes pygmy goats and cake decorating. Her market hogs are usually Hampshire.
The new queen is a junior at Claymont High School, where she is an honor roll student and her activities include mock trial, Spanish club and yearbook. She also attended the RYLA Youth Conference. Wisvari attends Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison and her interests and hobbies include scrapbooking, photography, shopping, dance and listening to music. She enjoys taking her puppy, Wiley, on walks, and hanging out with friends.
“I am very thankful for this honor and hope that I represent the pork industry well,” Wisvari said.
Fowler, a member of Quest 4-H Club, has taken market hog projects for three years. She also takes horse projects. The princess is a seventh-grade student at Fairless Middle School, where she plays volleyball and takes part in school plays, a recent one being Ever After. She also enjoys scrapbooking.
Members of the pork industry court include Emily and McKenna Farnsworth, daughters of Jeff and Sue Farnsworth of Strasburg; Joanna Beitzel, daughter of Jim and Jan Beitzel of Stone Creek; and Jenna Tolloti, daughter of Craig and Patty Tolloti of New Philadelphia.
Emily and McKenna Farnsworth are members of Tusky Valley Stars 4-H Club. Emily, 14, is a freshman at Tuscarawas Valley High School, and McKenna, 12, a seventh grader at Tuscarawas Valley Middle School. Emily has taken a market hog project four years and also shows rabbits, rats and cats. McKenna has had a market hog project for three years. She also takes part in track.
Joanna Beitzel, 16, a member of Valley Equestrian 4-H Club, has had market hog projects for nine years and also shows market steers. She is a sophomore at Garaway High School, where she participates in the Young Life group.
Jenna Tolloti, 13, is a member of the Power of the Pen team at Tuscarawas Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School, where she is an eighth grader, She also plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She has shown market hogs for three years as a member of Quest 4-H Club.
Jamie Beaber, whose sister was the 2009 pork queen, was in charge of the pork royalty contest.
Pam Bleinnger and Dr. Terry Specht, who were in charge of the scholarship contest, announced the winners. A total of 10 $500 scholarships were awarded to Tuscarawas County high school or college students who are pursuing a degree in agriculture or an ag-related field.
Scholarships were awarded to Randy Bond, Kayla Hinds, Annie Zumbach, Jordan Zeigler, Jenna Powell, Hannah Miller, Clayton Zeigler, Chris Finton, David Walton, and Justine Laughlin.
Chris Aubihl, Tuscarawas County commissioner, praised the pork producers for their interest in the youth of the county and their support of the agricultural community in general. “I always look forward to the good food served from the pork trailer during the county fair,” he said.
The pork producers have also participated in a number of community-based projects during the year. They donated cleaning products and personal items to the homeless shelter, supported the Dress A Child program, and helped at the Heritage Festival and Warther Christmas Tree Festival.
Board member, Mark Laughlin, read comments by the group’s president, Sue Canfield, who was not able to attend the meeting.
She said, “Although there are not very many ‘real’ pork producers left in our group, I hope we have done our part to promote pork as well as anyone. It has been an interesting, and for the most part, fun year for me to serve as president. Thank you for the
honor. I would like to thank the members of the board for doing an outstanding job, I hope, as a group, you feel as I do that we have made a little difference in Tuscarawas County this past year.”
Members of the board are Mark Laughlin, Dr. Terry Specht, Courtney Spillman, Nicole Stein and Jamie Beaber.
Mary Jane John gave the invocation for the family-style stuffed pork chop dinner and served as emcee for the program.
Ashley Wisvari, 16-year-old daughter of Joe and Teresa Wisvari of Uhrichsville, was crowned queen, while Micha Fowler, 12-year-old daughter of Mike and Nicole Fowler of Beach City was crowned princess.
Wisvari, a nine-year member of Brisky Buckeyes 4-H Club, has taken market hog projects each year. This year, she also takes pygmy goats and cake decorating. Her market hogs are usually Hampshire.
The new queen is a junior at Claymont High School, where she is an honor roll student and her activities include mock trial, Spanish club and yearbook. She also attended the RYLA Youth Conference. Wisvari attends Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison and her interests and hobbies include scrapbooking, photography, shopping, dance and listening to music. She enjoys taking her puppy, Wiley, on walks, and hanging out with friends.
“I am very thankful for this honor and hope that I represent the pork industry well,” Wisvari said.
Fowler, a member of Quest 4-H Club, has taken market hog projects for three years. She also takes horse projects. The princess is a seventh-grade student at Fairless Middle School, where she plays volleyball and takes part in school plays, a recent one being Ever After. She also enjoys scrapbooking.
Members of the pork industry court include Emily and McKenna Farnsworth, daughters of Jeff and Sue Farnsworth of Strasburg; Joanna Beitzel, daughter of Jim and Jan Beitzel of Stone Creek; and Jenna Tolloti, daughter of Craig and Patty Tolloti of New Philadelphia.
Emily and McKenna Farnsworth are members of Tusky Valley Stars 4-H Club. Emily, 14, is a freshman at Tuscarawas Valley High School, and McKenna, 12, a seventh grader at Tuscarawas Valley Middle School. Emily has taken a market hog project four years and also shows rabbits, rats and cats. McKenna has had a market hog project for three years. She also takes part in track.
Joanna Beitzel, 16, a member of Valley Equestrian 4-H Club, has had market hog projects for nine years and also shows market steers. She is a sophomore at Garaway High School, where she participates in the Young Life group.
Jenna Tolloti, 13, is a member of the Power of the Pen team at Tuscarawas Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School, where she is an eighth grader, She also plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She has shown market hogs for three years as a member of Quest 4-H Club.
Jamie Beaber, whose sister was the 2009 pork queen, was in charge of the pork royalty contest.
Pam Bleinnger and Dr. Terry Specht, who were in charge of the scholarship contest, announced the winners. A total of 10 $500 scholarships were awarded to Tuscarawas County high school or college students who are pursuing a degree in agriculture or an ag-related field.
Scholarships were awarded to Randy Bond, Kayla Hinds, Annie Zumbach, Jordan Zeigler, Jenna Powell, Hannah Miller, Clayton Zeigler, Chris Finton, David Walton, and Justine Laughlin.
Chris Aubihl, Tuscarawas County commissioner, praised the pork producers for their interest in the youth of the county and their support of the agricultural community in general. “I always look forward to the good food served from the pork trailer during the county fair,” he said.
The pork producers have also participated in a number of community-based projects during the year. They donated cleaning products and personal items to the homeless shelter, supported the Dress A Child program, and helped at the Heritage Festival and Warther Christmas Tree Festival.
Board member, Mark Laughlin, read comments by the group’s president, Sue Canfield, who was not able to attend the meeting.
She said, “Although there are not very many ‘real’ pork producers left in our group, I hope we have done our part to promote pork as well as anyone. It has been an interesting, and for the most part, fun year for me to serve as president. Thank you for the
honor. I would like to thank the members of the board for doing an outstanding job, I hope, as a group, you feel as I do that we have made a little difference in Tuscarawas County this past year.”
Members of the board are Mark Laughlin, Dr. Terry Specht, Courtney Spillman, Nicole Stein and Jamie Beaber.
Mary Jane John gave the invocation for the family-style stuffed pork chop dinner and served as emcee for the program.
Published: March 29, 2011
