Ribbons, trophies & a full schedule
A day in the life of Webster County Fair royalty
Photo by Julie Vinsand <br> Webster County Fair Queen Aianna Kirby hands out ribbons and trophies during a livestock show at the fair this week. Kirby was named fair queen on Wednesday.
Photo by Julie Vinsand <br> Webster County Fair King Lane Ahlers claps while watching the sheep show at this year’s fair. Ahlers helped to hand out ribbons and trophies as part of his king duties.
Photo by Julie Vinsand <br> Webster County Fair Queen Aianna Kirby hands out ribbons and trophies during a livestock show at the fair this week. Kirby was named fair queen on Wednesday.
Photo by Julie Vinsand <br> Webster County Fair King Lane Ahlers claps while watching the sheep show at this year’s fair. Ahlers helped to hand out ribbons and trophies as part of his king duties.
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The Webster County Fair crowned a king and a queen on Wednesday, and the job isn't standing still and smiling for a photo.
For Lane Ahlers and Aianna Kirby, it's showing up all week, even in the sweltering heat, for their own entries, and for everyone else's.
Fair royalty carry a full schedule. Throughout the week, Ahlers and Kirby represent the fair, present awards, hand out ribbons, and turn up at nearly every event on the schedule.
But the sash and commemorative hat aren't the whole job. Both came to compete, Ahlers in the show ring, Kirby with her 4-H projects, and both spend just as much of the week focused on everyone else, cheering on competitors and handing young 4-H'ers their very first ribbon
"I've been to a lot of shows this week, and I'm having a lot of fun greeting people throughout the fair," said Kirby, who recently graduated from St. Edmond Catholic School.
"I am managing my events to attend as king and showing my animals by getting through my show, and then doing my king duties from there," said Ahlers.
The role has its weight and its perks.
"Being king has been a little stressful, but is very fun," said Ahlers, who will be a junior at Southeast Valley High School this fall. "I get to hand ribbons out at the livestock shows and watch them all. I also got a free hat and a new pocket knife, too, so that's definitely a bonus."
The fair king and queen as well as the runners-up split the week's obligations so no one person carries the whole schedule.
"I've really enjoyed getting to know the king and the runners-up for king and queen," Kirby said. "We've divided duties so that everyone gets a chance to attend shows and events, hand out ribbons, and stay cool."
Sunday is the final day of the 2026 Webster County Fair. Ahlers and Kirby will continue attending shows, handing out trophies and ribbons, and helping to close out the fair -- one ribbon and trophy at a time.