ROME TOWNSHIP — Amanda MacArthur ended her 4-H years on a high note Monday when she was crowned queen of the 2008 Lawrence County Junior Fair.

Kayla Smith was crowned princess.

During opening ceremonies Monday afternoon, MacArthur, who graduated from Symmes Valley High School in May, was selected from among seven contestants.

MacArthur said she was excited at the prospect of presiding over the week’s activities.

“It’s a great honor to represent Lawrence County,” she said. “I like being active in the 4-H. I’m on the junior fair board.”

She is the daughter of Cindy MacArthur and will attend Miami University of Ohio this fall and major in chemical engineering.

Janna Salyers, daughter of Dennis and Connie Salyers and a senior at Grace Christian School in Huntington, W.Va., was chosen as first runner-up. Shea Roy, a senior at Chesapeake High School and daughter of Robert and Tammy Roy, was second runner-up. Others vying for fair queen were Amber Hapney, Kelli Massie, Rikki Butler and Mallory Schug.

Smith, a sophomore at Symmes Valley High School, is the daughter of Curtis and JoAnn Smith. She said hearing her name called as the winner was excited but confessed she was shocked.

“At first I hadn’t realized my name had been called,” she said. “ But I am so thankful.”

First runner-up in the princess competition was Caitlyn Madden, a seventh-grader at Symmes Valley and the daughter of Lisa Lewis. Second runner-up was Cami Hillier, an eighth-grader who is home-schooled and is the daughter of Tanya Porter. Other princess candidates were Savannah Bowen, Samantha Boothe, Jessika Majher, Bethanie Chaffin, Morgan Willis, Natasha Nance, Kristen Estep and Kasey Walker.

Among other duties, the queen and princess will hand out awards to winners of various competitons throughout the week.