She was the only Schuylkill County Fair Queen to win each royalty contest and now she is the first from the county to capture the title of Pennsylvania Fair Queen.
Rhonda Carl, 17, of Ashland, was named the 2013 Pennsylvania Fair Queen during the state competition Saturday.
"It's crazy because I don't think anyone has won all of their county contests," Carl said Monday. "I guess you can say that I won all the contests I possibly could and it could not be at a better time for our county as we are trying to push the PA Preferred Program and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Schuylkill County Fair."
The PA Preferred Program was introduced in 2004 legislation as a branding effort by the state to promote products grown and made in the commonwealth.
Carl was crowned by outgoing State Fair Queen Drew An Brubaker of Lancaster County during the annual joint convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmen's Association at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.
Carl was the first in Schuylkill County Fair history to win all of the royalty contest titles from Little Miss in 2006 and Princess in 2009 to Fair Queen in 2012. She is also the first Schuylkill County Fair Queen contestant to not only place in the state competition's top five, but to win the title.
"I was not expecting anything at all," Carl said. "I just went into it saying I was going to try my best. When they called my number as the next state fair queen, I was in shock."
There were 55 contestants from across the state in this year's competition.
"I made so many new friends," Carl said. "I got really close with a girl from Shippensburg because we had so much in common, but all the girls were so nice. They were all great girls and I think that's why it was such a tough competition."
Each contestant had to give a brief speech to promote her community fair.
Carl noted the cookoffs and performances by the Schuylkill County idols at the Schuylkill County Fair and said the event is like a second home for her.
"I grew up there and it's just comforting when you're there because you know all the people and it's just like a second home. I look forward to it every year and it's just a place you want to be," Carl said.
The contestants also had to write an essay about their local fair's significance in the community as well as be interviewed by a three-judge panel.
When the final five contestants were named, each candidate had to answer a final question: "If you were named the 2013 Pennsylvania Fair Queen, how would you promote agriculture?"
"I said, 'We need to educate our youth because they are our future,' " Carl said.
She said she thinks she was chosen as the winner because she answered each question truthfully.
"I was myself," Carl said. "I was down to earth and didn't sugar-coat anything. I answered how I would really answer."
As State Fair Queen, Carl will travel throughout the state, making appearances with legislators, agri-business leaders and the general public to share the importance of Pennsylvania fairs, agriculture and tourism. She will also receive a $2,000 scholarship sponsored by PSACF at the conclusion of her 2013 reign.
Carl said she is looking forward to attending as many fairs throughout the state as possible.
"That's what I'm really looking forward to because I get to see the girls at their home and see how different each fair is."
Carl is the daughter of Robert and Carla Mae Carl and is senior at Tri-Valley High School, where she is involved in the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters, cheerleading, band, majorette captain and feature twirler, and other activities. She represented Tri-Valley High School at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference and went on to represent the region atthe World Leadership Conference in Chicago. She said she enjoys volunteering in her community and church and likes to jet ski and fish.
Carl said she is still undecided about where to attend college. She said she wants to be a physician's assistant and is considering Penn State University, King's College and Wilkes University.