Silver Queen and King reign at 2021 Arkansas Valley Fair – La Junta Tribune Democrat
With the 2021 Arkansas Valley Fair finally underway, Lillian Penn of Eads and Robert Kennedy of Rocky Ford were crowned Silver Queen and King Wednesday morning at the Gobin Building, 105 N. Main St. in Rocky Ford.
Runners-up in the competition included Ruth Smith of Rocky Ford and Robert Wedel of Moundridge, Kansas. The event was hosted by Rocky Ford’s Pioneer Home Health Care and Bent County Healthcare Center.
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Penn was born in Oakland to Charles and Cordelia Sawyer Gay. She married Jimmy John Penn in 1943. Penn has five daughters, 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She enjoys painting and was involved with the Bent County Art Guild and Artists of the Plains.
“Painting aspens was my preference but I also brought the beauty of Southeast Colorado to life through my paintings,” Penn said.
Kennedy was an only child born to Bert and Catherine Kennedy in 1947. After two years of service as a deckhand operator in the U.S. Navy, he earned a master’s degree. He worked as an artist, writer and clerk. He has lived in New York, Los Angeles, Colorado Springs and Rocky Ford.
In 1986, Kennedy married Heidi Miranda. He enjoys art, writing, singing and was involved with the Democratic Party. He said his biggest accomplishment is “becoming a real Picasso” and his one wish is “that I could go home.”
Smith was adopted in 1950 at a month old by William and Gwendolyn Smith. Over the course of her career, Smith worked as a speech therapist for the Rocky Ford, Las Animas and Cheraw School District along with La Junta Boces. She met her late husband Paul Smith while working in Rocky Ford.
“I took something to his classroom and he said he took a look at my red hair and instantly fell in love,” Smith said.
Smith also enjoys cross stitch, crossword puzzles, playing the piano, reading and word-search puzzles.
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Wedel was born to Henry and Nora Wedel in 1929. He was raised with five siblings during the Great Depression. During the Korean War, he served as an active duty member of the Navy for 4 years. Following service in the Navy, he became a minister and did missionary work.
“I could fix all kinds of machinery or mechanical things,” Wedel said. “I built a big implement to pull several one ways behind a caterpillar to farm. When I was about 15, a carnival came to town.
“There was a big storm and the Ferris wheel was a bunch of twisted metal. My brother and I, with a little help from my dad, put it back together.”
La Junta Tribune-Democrat reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com