WELLINGTON — The horse king and queen were named during the horse royalty contest at the Lorain County Fair Monday afternoon, but it wasn’t just their mastery of all things equine that earned them their crowns.

Winners Aaron Sterk, 16, of Wakeman, and Skye Reid, 17, Wellington, had to perform well in the public speaking contests, interviews, written essays, tests and dinner etiquette.

The contestants also showed their horses all summer.

Skye, a 10-year member of the Trailblazers 4-H Club and A senior at Keystone High School, was speechless after donning her tiara and lugging her 4-foot trophy off the dirt show field.

“Accomplished,” was all she could muster after being asked how she felt.

The crown was something most of the teens coveted for nearly a decade.

Newly crowned king Aaron Sterk, the only male in the competition, said it had been a dream of his to win king since he was 7 years old.

“I’m excited,” the 16-year-old said. “I finally got the opportunity to win this.

“It’s the biggest trophy around so it’s a great opportunity.”

Aaron is a 9-year member of Trailblazers 4-H Club.

He is a junior at Firelands High School.

Contact Adam Wright at 329-7129 or awright@chroniclet.com.

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