Bio: Kapusta Janalee -
Fairest of the Fair (2019)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Kapusta, Stuttgen, Bautch, Hebert
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/14/2019
Kapusta Breaks Through, Becomes Fairest of the Fair (2019)
The 2019 Clark County Fairest of the Fair Janalee Kapusta and 1st attendant
Chelsea Stuttgen are interviewed by Fairest emcee Riley Hebert after being
given their titles. This will be Kapusta’s third year on the Fairest of the
Fair Court. Ryan Spoehr/Clark County Press
By Ryan Spoehr
A familiar face will lead the Fairest of the Fair court for the next year.
The third time was the charm for Janalee Kapusta, who became Fairest of the
Fair on the first night of the Clark County Fair Aug. 7.
Kapusta, who is from Neillsville, has been a member of the court the last
two years, just narrowly missing out on being Fairest of the Fair.
She said she was “petty close” to being on cloud nine.
“I feel pretty good,” Kapusta said. “I’m excited.”
“It feels very great that I got it. I’m super excited to get going.”
The anticipation wasn’t without nerves.
“Man, I was so nervous. I was just waiting to see [the end result],” Kapusta
said.
Family and friends erupted in celebration when she was announced as Fairest
of the Fair.
“It was pretty good,” said Kapusta, who is sponsored by Gross Motors. “It
was really nice to see my family and friends cheering me on.”
Kapusta believes being the Fairest after being on the court two years will
be beneficial.
“I think it’s going to help a lot because I know most of the courts that are
already there. I know all of the events that we’ve gone to in the past, so I
can be prepared and tell Chelsea that,” Kapusta said.
The attendant on the court will be Chelsea Stuttgen of Colby. She is
sponsored by Smith Brothers Meats and Catering.
Both contestants were prompted to draw a question at random and give the
response during the ceremony.
Kapusta drew “What does a program like the Clark County Fairest of the Fair
do for the community?”
“The Clark County Fairest of the Fair does amazing things for the community.
It helps fundraise for different things. It tries to help people to events,”
Kapusta said. “We volunteer our time for people, and I know that really
helps so they don’t have to find as many people for their fundraising
events.”
Stuttgen picked ‘If not selected as the Fairest of the Fair tonight, how do
you plan on promoting the Clark County Fair in the future?”
“If I am selected, I hope to possibly run again and continue promoting the
fair,” Stuttgen said. “I will still promote it this year, helping Janalee if
she wins, as much as possible.”
Kapusta is the daughter of Scot and Janet Kapusta.
“I have loved coming to the fair,” Kapusta said in her introduction. “I’ve
showed cats [and] projects – I love my cats. I hope everyone enjoys the fair
and comes out to it.
Stuttgen is the daughter of Bob and Pam Stuttgen. She lives with them, her
brother, her sister and a niece. She attends the University of
Wisconsin-Stout for early childhood education. She minors in Spanish.
“In my free time, I love to read and spend time with my family and my
animals,” Stuttgen said in her introduction.
Kapusta takes over the Fairest of the Fair title from Dana Bautch.
The 2018 Clark County Fairest of the Fair Dana Bautch gives Janalee Kapusta
her sash after she is named the 2019 Fairest. Kapusta was the 2nd attendant
during Bautch’s time as the Fairest. Ryan Spoehr/Clark County Press
“We have a lot of great memories [and] a lot of interesting times getting to
know one another. I has been an absolute blast,” Bautch said.
“To Chelsea and Janalee, you guys are going to have such an amazing year,”
Bautch added. “It gets a little hectic at times and a little busy, but it’s
a lot of fun. You can ask just about any girl in the room with a crown on.
It can be a true pleasure to represent our fair and the county and getting
around to meeting everybody. So, I wish you the best of luck.
