GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Rosie Williams isn’t too particular, especially if it’s picking her favorite ride at the Clay County Agricultural Fair – as long as it goes fast, up and down and in circles.

The 7-year-old RideOut Elementary student said she planned to ride the merry-go-round as soon as opening ceremonies were completed Thursday afternoon at the main gate.

Rosie joined Ashton Hernandez as the inaugural winners of the fair’s greatest fan program. Rosie was selected as the Fairest Fair Kid; Ashton was chosen as the Greatest Fair Fan. Both will receive a shirt, button, free admission and “the ultimate bragging rights,” according to fair executive director Tasha Hyder.

Other fans nominated both, and both were easy picks, Hyder said.

Rosie is blind, but her gregarious laughter and energy quickly became one of the most-compelling storylines of last year’s fair. Her photographs of her giggling uncontrollably on a mini-scrambler called Wild Ride and touching Lew-E’s clown’s nose were liked and shared more than 100 times on social media.

This will be the seventh year Rosie has been to the fair. She plans to be there on opening day, during Sunflower Hours on Saturday, April 1, and again on Wednesday, April 5.

“You know, I think we’re all kids,” Hyder said. “You know, kids are the greatest fans, but Rosie gives us a little extra. If you were there with Sunflower Hours last year and just heard her laugh, enjoy her day with no cares in the world. It’s pretty easy to understand why she was chosen.”

Ashton is such a fan of the fair that she chose fair food for her wedding reception. The menu included corn dogs, funnel cakes, turkey legs, sausage dogs and nachos.

She also had family photos after the wedding taken at the fair.

Her first stop was along the food court.

“That’s the first thing I always do – get an Amish doughnut,” she said. “I can’t wait to get a doughnut,” she said. “That always puts you in a good mood.”

When the fair was canceled in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic days before opening, friends were so concerned about Ashton that they stopped by her house to make sure she was all right.

“When we canceled in 2020, everyone checked on her because they knew she would be affected,” fair executive director Tasha Hyder said. That’s the type of fan we were looking for. She definitely checked all of the boxes.”

Ashton said she started going to the fair as a child. When she was dating Matthew, they started a tradition to have their photo taken every year at the fair. Now married, the Hernandez family photo now includes cousins, babies and other family members.”

“It really is a family aFAIR.”

Now a working mother, she said she wouldn’t be able to go all 11 days, but she will be there most nights – especially for the concerts.

“I love the food and all of the concerts,” she said. “My favorite was Thomas Rhett. I also saw Vanilla Ice.”