The new 2017 Allentown Fair Queen who will reign over the upcoming 165th agricultural and entertainment exposition was crowned Aug. 13 during contest finals at Christopher’s Restaurant at the Columbian Home, 1519 Greenleaf St., Allentown.

Zaren Kerper of Fleetwood was chosen from five contestants to succeed 2016 Queen Juliet Long of New Tripoli.

After a longer than usual deliberation to choose the new queen, judges Leslie Bartholomew, Michael H. Firestine and Stephanie Baunach chose Kerper.

Kerper won a $1,000 scholarship to be presented in two installments of $500 each from Lehigh-Northampton Pomona Grange No. 68.

Kerper, 18, is the daughter of Rachel and Richard Kerper Jr.

A 2017 graduate of Oley Valley High School, she will attend Kutztown University majoring in English this fall.

She received the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation Scholarship and has won numerous awards in the food science industry.

Active in FFA and 4-H, her goal is to become an editor and writer focusing on the agricultural industry.

Kerper spoke with The Press after being named the new queen.

“It is definitely unreal,” she said. “All the other girls were amazing and did a wonderful job.

“It is an honor to be chosen. I hope to see everybody at the fair Aug. 29 through Sept. 4.”

The other finalists were:

·Ayla Blatt, 18, the daughter of Brian and Susan Blatt of Kutztown. A 2017 graduate of Kutztown High School, she will attend Penn State University majoring in animal science.

She is aspiring for a career in the dairy industry working as a nutritionist, and also plans to continue her education to become an agricultural teacher.

Also active in 4-H and FFA, she enjoys showing her animals at fairs and the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

She is the president of the Northern Berks 4-H Diary Club, president of the Pennsylvania Junior Guernsey Breeders Association and Berks Junior Holstein Club.

·Taylor Evans, 18, is the daughter of Kristy and David Evans.

A 2017 graduate of Parkland High School, she will attend Moravian College to major in biology.

A high honor roll student, her activities included chorus, band, theater and peer counseling.

She was a first place district and third place regional champion at the Computer Science Fair.

Her career goal is to become a veterinarian.

·Amber Hunsicker, 17, of Bethlehem, is the daughter of Ivette Geist and Thomas Hunsicker.

A senior at Liberty High School, she is an honor student taking a full honors schedule as well as college courses at Northampton Community College.

She plans on attending Penn State University to become a police officer and eventually a detective.

A sergeant for the Bethlehem Police Explorer Post 301, she currently enrolled in a protective services course at Bethlehem Vo-Tech.

She has been a member of The Great Allentown Fair Youth Group for many years assisting with Lil’ Farm Hands activity center for young fairgoers.

·Liana Panik, 17, is the daughter of James and Allison Saeger Panik of Emmaus. A senior at Emmaus High School she is a high honors student and member of the National Honor Society.

She has earned Principal’s Honor Roll status numerous times, and also earned a Silver Award for the National German Exam. A member of Lehigh County 4-H, she competes in barrel racing and gymkhana competitions and has won two state and reserve state championships. She plans on attending college majoring in biology or biochemistry for a career in the medical pediatric or veterinary fields.