STANFORD — Seven young women had to weather a storm Monday evening before competing for the Mrs. Lincoln County Fair title.

But, about 45 minutes after the scheduled start, the rain had eased up and only some minor tweaking of the sound system remained before the pageant was underway.

By the end of Monday night’s pageant, there was a respectable-sized crowd, despite some wet seats and Ashley Marie Bohlman had made the move from first runner-up to Mrs. Lincoln County Fair, wearing the crown that narrowly eluded her last summer.

Last year, Bohlman looked on holding a small trophy as Natasha Brown was crowned the queen. This time around, Brown put the crown on Bohlman before she made her way down the runway to accept the crowd’s congratulations.

The Mrs. Lincoln County Fair contestants, who had to be 22 years of age and up and presently married, were judged in evening wear, and judges decided Bohlman was the top candidate for the crown. She will preside over the remainder of the 2018 Lincoln County Fair, which concludes Saturday.

Bohlman, 26, who is married to Nathan Alan Bohlman, is a stay-at-home mom who helps her husband out on their leased beef and crop farms in Crab Orchard. As a way of helping her community, Bohlman donates to different charity organizations when possible and she is also currently reaching out to be a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House in Lexington.

When asked what her greatest non-academic accomplishment was, Bohlman said “Being a mother to the most sweet, fun and beautiful daughter, Elizabeth.”

A dream vacation for Bohlman would be to take Elizabeth and her husband on a vacation to Disney World.

Each of the Mrs. Lincoln County Fair contestants was asked who they would invite to their family dinner and why. For Bohlman, getting to sit down with her late grandfathers was tops on the list.

“My grandpa Ell and grandpa Williams because I never got a chance to get to know them.”

The first runner-up in the contest was Chrystal Phillips. Phillip, 48, is married to Jayme Phillips of Stanford.

A Photogenic award was also presented and that honor went to Kortnee King. King, 28, is married to John King of Danville.

The remaining Mrs. Lincoln County Fair participants were: Stephanie Hill, 33, wife of Jeremy Hill of Somerset; MaKayla Walls, 24, wife of Levi Walls of Hustonville; Stephanie Lynn Leach, 35, wife of Jason Leach of Somerset; and Arlena McFarland, 38, wife of Jeremy McFarland of Hustonville.