Fairest of the Fair 2023 – Kayla Mick
Introducing your 2023 Fairest of the Fair, Kayla Mick!
As a second-generation winner, passion for the pageant was part of Kayla’s life before she was even born.
On being the daughter of a former Fairest of the Fair, she continued, “I definitely looked up to my mom a lot while preparing for the pageant! I am forever grateful to her. Growing up, I had so much fun listening to her stories about what the fair was like in the 80s! The big hair, the pageant at the fairgrounds, the friendships she made, her experience at the state fair pageant, it’s all been so helpful!” Kayla continued, “I grew up watching the fair pageant and always looked up to the girls on stage. It felt so surreal to be picked out of so many incredible young ladies! It was honestly such a full-circle moment. I grew up very shy and through competing in the Putnam County Fair pageants, I have really burst out of my shell. I feel so grateful!”
As wearer of the crown for the next year, Kayla knows it’s time to ramp up how she serves Putnam County and beyond.
“I have always loved community service and volunteerism. Being the 2023 Fairest of the Fair will present even more opportunities to impact our county, especially through my nonprofit organization, Leashes Leading Love,” Kayla beamed.
Through this organization, Kayla crafts and donates pet supplies in an effort to help animal care systems in need. It’s no surprise, then, that the phase of Fairest of the Fair she enjoyed most was centered around volunteer work.
Kayla stated, “Although I loved getting crafty with the shoe decorating contest (one of the early steps in the pageant) and meeting so many new friends, I have to say that my favorite part of competing was the addition of the humanitarian project! It was incredible being able to give back to food insecurity in Putnam County.” She continued, “I plan to keep community service a priority during my time as Fairest of the Fair.”
Kayla’s enthusiasm and willingness to give time, energy, and talent to the community is representative of what Fairest of the Fair, at its core, is all about.
The competition seeks to identify, challenge, and uplift young leaders like Kayla through the pageant and the skills participating in it builds.
Looking forward to adding her name to the long list of winners who have honored the mission of Fairest of the Fair through an unwavering commitment to helping those they encounter, Kayla concluded our interview by stating, “I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to impact and give back to Putnam County. I can’t wait to give back to the fair and our community for all of the lasting memories they have given me!”
– by Andrew Buckner, photo by Cris Stroud
Very proud of Kayla!