WHITNEYVILLE - The 46th annual Tioga County Fair got under way Monday and runs through Saturday. Before the festivities even began, though, in a quiet ceremony Sunday night, the fair queen was crowned. Quiet, because this year there was just one contestant - Melissa Wiles, 19, of Mansfield. Queen coordinator Jen Thomas said some years it just turns out that way.
A graduate of Mansfield High School, Wiles is a student at Mansfield University studying nutrition and psychology.
Her family lives near Mansfield and practices sustainable agriculture in its garden.
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CHERYL R. CLARKE/Sun-Gazette
The 2012 Tioga County Fair Queen Melissa Wiles stands in front of the antique tractor display at the Tioga County Fair Monday.
"We also have an orchard where we grow apples and peaches," she said.
In her spare time, Wiles works as a waitress at Perkins Restaurant in Mansfield.
During the fair, Wiles handed out ribbons to winners of the various animal shows and rode in one of the demolition derby cars to start the show. She also sang the National Anthem for the truck and tractor pulls.
She will represent Tioga County at the state Fair Queen competition in Hershey and also at the State Fair Convention Jan. 24-26.
She will appear at Farm-City Day in October and also at other major events and festivals throughout the year representing the fair.
Wiles said she loves Tioga County and looks forward to representing it during her reign.
