Brauer named new royalty coordinator
Last month, the Phillips County Fair Board announced Brianna Brauer as the new royalty coordinator following the resignation of former coordinator Kay Schmidt.
There’s an interesting history between Schmidt and Brauer that makes this appointment ironic and heartwarming. Brauer and Schmidt have known one another since Brauer was a young girl. Schmidt’s daughters were in the same saddle club as Brauer in Wellington, and they grew up with one another. What a small world it felt like when the two realized they had both relocated to Holyoke.
When asked how she felt about the fair board’s choice to select Brauer, Schmidt said that knowing Brauer would be the one to take her place gave her a huge amount of relief that the program would be in the hands of someone who had the passion and integrity to keep going what she started. “It was the last thing to check off my list to feel like I have closure and not worry about leaving the program,” Schmidt explained.
“Watching her grow up and watching her horsemanship grow and bloom has been amazing. Her still including horses in what she’s doing with her life and also helping youngsters to also develop a passion for horses ... I can’t think of anyone better suited for the position because not only does she have a passion for the animal but she also has a passion for the program that would keep it going. It makes my heart happy. There’s no doubt in my mind she has the passion and the heart to do it.”
Schmidt added that she was getting worried that whoever would fill the position wouldn’t care as much about it as she does. She said that she remembers watching Brauer and her horsemanship while she was growing up and that “maybe she wasn’t always winning but she conducted herself with grace and humility, and when she did win, she won graciously.” Schmidt continued that “sometimes life throws you curveballs, and you just have to learn to handle them and grow from them, and Brianna always did that well.”
Brauer’s having demonstrated in her own youth the qualities necessary to earn the title of fair royalty is what makes her so highly qualified for the position. She has proven to have done herself what she will ask of her candidates.
Schmidt has fond memories of her time in Holyoke and as royalty coordinator. “I loved watching the girls blossom and get more confidence with every appearance. It was a passion of mine to give the young ladies something they felt good about doing because not everybody is a welder, not everybody has steers, not everybody has livestock to show. So in this way, I was able to help these girls find something that they could do.”
Schmidt has plans to be a snow bird in her next chapter of life. She and her husband have bought a camper, and when they aren’t helping their daughter on a cattle ranch in Torrington, Wyoming, and corralling their grandkids, they plan to be sunning in warmer weather in Florida and Texas.
Schmidt is looking forward to her retirement but will miss Holyoke and the royalty program. “Holyoke has always been special to us. I got to be a part of teaching its history, and helping the girls represent it was huge to me.”
The fair board expressed their gratitude to Schmidt for her time here as coordinator and the wonderful job she did during her time. They are excited for their new coordinator and are looking forward to working with her and seeing what she does to grow the program in Phillips County.
Anyone interested in pursuing the royalty program for the upcoming year should contact Brauer at 970-580-6838.