Former GJCF Queen recalls experiences


After being named the very first GJCF Queen, Dietrich said the experience helped shape who she is today. Her family lives in Ohio on a hobby farm. Seated in front are Benedict and Henry. Second row are Madeline, Tobias and Lydia. Back row are Matthew and Michaela with Gabriel. The family is expecting their seventh child this November. (Photo submitted)

Michaela (Hogan) Dietrich (right) was crowned the GJCF Queen in 2000. Part of her duties included drawing the names of the give-away winners every night of the fair. Here she poses for a picture with Karen Barhart and one of the winners, Jeff Lambert, who won a trip to Germany. (Express file photo)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     In 2000, the Great Jones County Fair started a 19-year tradition that continues to grow: the Fair Queen Pageant and Contest.

     The very first GJCF Queen was Michael (Hogan) Dietrich, a native of Monticello. Dietrich is the daughter of Jim and Becky Hogan, long-time supporters of the GJCF.

     That year there were five finalists for Queen.

     The year before running for the GJCF Queen, Dietrich was named Jones County Pork Queen.

     “The Hogans have always been very active in 4-H and FFA, and the fair in general,” recalled Dietrich, who now resides in Ohio with her husband and six children, with a seventh on the way in November.

     Ironically, as the Express spoke with Dietrich last week, her oldest daughter, Madeline, was attending the GJCF with Dietrich’s brother Ben and his young family.

     “Some of my earliest memories are of the GJCF,” she said. “My dad was on the Fair Board for many years. It was a big deal in the Hogan household.”

     Dietrich recalled that the first GJCF Queen Pageant was quite well run, started by Marcia Kray, who continues to organize the pageant today.

     In 2000, the pageant was held at the Anamosa county club. (Today it’s held at the Monticello Eagles Club.) Dietrich recalled enjoying the spa day where all of the girls got to know one another.

     During her interview, Dietrich said she had to give a speech, and she talked about her family’s farming operation and her history with FFA and 4-H.

     “4-H and the fair were important in my life,” she said.

     On Tuesday night of the fair, Dietrich said she was escorted on stage by her parents.

     “I remember feeling very excited,” she said, looking back.

     Having been crowned the very first GJCF Queen, Dietrich said it was a privilege to represent Jones County in that role.

     “It was great honor to go on and represent my county at the State Fair, too,” she said.

     Dietrich’s visit to the Iowa State Fair that year was not her first trip to Des Moines.

     “I’ve been going to the State Fair since I was little,” she said. “We’ve always shown (livestock) at the State Fair. It was nothing new to me.”

     Dietrich said she met so many wonderful girls from across the state, all representing their counties.

     “It was a good experience,” she said.

     While Dietrich wasn’t crowned Iowa State fair royalty, she was named Miss Personality that year.

     She said she’s proud she went out on her own to not only run for GJCF Queen, but go to Des Moines as well.

     “The GJCF was a great family tradition for us,” she said.

     When Dietrich ran for the queen, she was a student at Iowa State University, majoring in communications and marketing. She graduated in 2003.

     Eighteen years later, Dietrich and her husband Matthew, an Air Force veteran, are living in Toledo, Ohio, raising their children on their hobby farm. They raise chickens, swine and cows.

     “We have lots of animals,” she said.

     Dietrich said she always enjoyed being around her family’s animals growing up, that she felt it was important to expose her own children to that lifestyle and work ethic as well.

     Dietrich’s sister, Elizabeth (Hogan) Strang, also resides on a neighboring farm in Toledo.

     “All of the cousins help out on the hobby farm,” said Dietrich of keeping the pastime in the family.

     Dietrich said her family plans trips back to Monticello a few times a year. Last year, they made a trip to the Iowa State Fair.

     “I remember the great concerts we saw at the GJCF,” she said, highlighting the likes of Merle Haggard. “We got to go backstage, shake his hand and get his autograph.”

     Part of Dietrich’s duties as Fair Queen included the nightly give-way drawing on the stage.

     “The Jones County fair still holds an honor for me,” she said. “Monticello and Jones County helped to shape who I am, my values and traditions.”

 

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