A new queen has been crowned in Anne Arundel County.
Kimberly Parks, of Glen Burnie, was named the county's 64th Fair Queen on Wednesday as the Anne Arundel County Fair returned to Crownsville.
It was Parks' third time participating in the contest. She placed once before, earning second runner-up her first year in the competition.
"It's just amazing, after trying so long, to be able to get involved in the fair more than just coming here as a spectator," Parks, 18, said shortly after taking the crown and sash Wednesday.
The fair's newest ambassador will be balancing her new title with her role as a student at Stevenson University.
"I know it could be difficult juggling, with a college schedule and fair (responsibilities), but I'm determined to do it and help as many people as I can," Parks said.
The duties that come with being Fair Queen last for a year, until the next winner is crowned. They include making appearances around the county and promoting a role model figure for other girls, Fair Queen Coordinator Lindsay Jones said.
Also at stake are the prizes.
The Fair Queen wins a $500 cash award, first runner-up wins a $300 cash award and second runner-up wins a $200 cash award, Jones said. There was a $10 fee to enter.
The Fair Queen competition isn't a beauty pageant — it's a competition of overall character, Jones said.
"Our judges are looking for someone who is well-rounded," she said. "Just a girl who is comfortable in her own skin and can be that role model figure (for other girls)."
There are some requirements the Fair Queen must meet: She must be 16 to 20 years old, have lived in the county for at least a year prior to the contest entry deadline, and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Judges consider the girls' performance at school, their participation in sports and clubs, their volunteer work and more, Lindsay said.
The 10 contestants Wednesday were judged on an essay they submitted beforehand, private interviews with the judges, and on-stage segments, including a formal wear contest.
Dressed in ball gowns, the contestants took turns fielding questions about a variety of topics, ranging from their music preferences to their thoughts on the impact of social media.
A 2016 Poultry Princess was also named Wednesday: Jennifer Eisinger, 13, of Annapolis.
It was Eisinger's second time winning the Poultry Princess crown, which is for girls ages 10 to 15. She first won the title in 2013, she said.
"It's awesome to have won Poultry Princess," Eisinger said. "This is my second time winning and it feels just as good as the first time. … I love being Poultry Princess. It's just so fun."
The county fair is set to run through Sunday, with carnival rides, pig races, live entertainment, food and drink vendors and a variety of contests, from pie eating to archery to hog calling to watermelon eating. There is also a list of 4-H contests.
The county fair is agriculture-based, though it has branched out in recent years to include the carnival rides and beer areas, Fair Week Manager Sharon Gertz said.
Over its five days, the fair typically draws between 25,000 and 30,000 people, depending on weather, Gertz said.
On Wednesday evening, Gertz welcomed a group of fair-goers gathered near the stage for the opening ceremony.
"It's your fair, not ours," Gertz said. "Go out and enjoy. … We do this for you."
The Anne Arundel County Fair runs through Sunday at the county fairgrounds on Generals Highway in Crownsville.
Admission to the fair costs $7 for people 16 and older, and $5 for people ages 6 to 15. It is free for children under the age of 6.
On Thursday, admission is free for children under the age of 13 with a paying adult.
Admission is also free Thursday for seniors ages 55 and older, people with disabilities and active or retired members of the military with ID between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
A full events schedule can be found on the fair's website at www.aacountyfair.org.