Katelyn Bartlett is the new Wellesley Fair ambassador, taking over from Ali Khan.
The 17-year-old Waterloo-Oxford student won the title Tuesday night as the Wellesley Fall Fair got underway.
She and fellow candidates Anas Alskani and Katie Musselman each presented a short introductory speech followed by a longer speech with their reasoning on why they should selected as this year’s ambassador, and what they’ve learned throughout the candidacy process. After deliberating, the judges selected Bartlett to fill the role.
Along with presiding over the fair, Bartlett’s yearlong duties will likely find her at the upcoming Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival.
“Oh my goodness, I don’t even know what to feel. I’m just so excited for the year ahead of me and everyone I’ve met and everyone I’m going to meet. I’m just so excited to learn more,” said Bartlett in an interview following her selection as ambassador.
Her message to the community? “Just thanks for being such a supportive environment. I know we all have each other’s backs, and thank you so much for the community of Wellesley. I really do appreciate them.”
Bartlett wasn’t the only one feted at the fair’s opening, as the township’s citizens of the year were also presented with their awards. Lisa Weiler Haskins and Richard Hamming were named as citizens of the year, Alexis Boyd-Koudys is the junior citizen and Bob Reid was the recipient of the lifetime achievement award.
They, along with local officials and community members were piped into the Wellesley arena to kick off the 170th annual Wellesley Fall Fair.
The event got started with singing O Canada, introductions, speeches from dignitaries and an observed moment of silence for all the people in the community lost in the past year.
While the judges deliberated on the ambassadorship, the crowd listened to the serenading of local singer-songwriter Allister Bradley. That was followed by awards given out for long-time volunteers with the fair, for their years of service and the auctioning of first, second and third place winners for the baked goods entered into the fair, as well as baked goods from council members.
