Taylor Lekin is 17 years old and the daughter of Jason and Mandy Lekin of Toledo. She will begin her senior year at South Tama County High School next fall. In high school, Taylor has been involved in football and wrestling cheer, golf, softball, STC FFA, National Honor Society, Student Council, and the school’s newspaper-The Blue Crush. During her junior year she served as a Captain for football cheer, Vice President of Student Council, and Treasurer for her FFA chapter. She was recently selected as Vice President of the STC FFA and editor of The Blue Crush for the upcoming year. Taylor has also received many academic honors while in high school. In her community, Taylor has been involved in Tama County 4-H serving as President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Reporter during her 8 year membership of the Toledo Techs, and a member of County Council and the Youth Advisory Committee. Taylor has also been an avid advocate for the beef industry as a member of the Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team and has been selected as the Tama County Beef Queen for the past two years. In her spare time Taylor enjoys raising cattle with her family, working at the State Bank of Toledo, and being involved in her community. Taylor’s future plans are to attend Iowa State University and study agriculture.

Brooklyn Henderson, 17, is the daughter of Kristen Jaennette and Jeff Henderson of Tama. Brooklyn will be a senior at South Tama this fall. She is dedicated to her education and is an honor roll student. Brooklyn just completed her nurse’s aide class and passed exams to be a certified nurse’s aide. In her community, Brooklyn is passionate about giving back, helping others, and educating them. Brooklyn helps advocate for the Iowa Animal Rescue Transport and Animal Shelter. She has helped raise money for the animal shelter by volunteering to help with giving animals baths on spa day, selling 50/50 tickets at the Iowa Speedway, collecting and donating food and needed supplies. Brooklyn shows her passion for animals by educating for the Iowa Friend of Companion Animals about puppy mills and shows her support walking with banners in parades. Brooklyn also shows her love for the community by volunteering at South Tama youth sports, being a princess guide at Daddy daughter dances, she has covered daycare for parenting groups, helped with animal adoption events, volunteered in nursing homes, packaging food boxes for kids against hunger, and is actively engaged in church. Brooklyn is a role model for her younger siblings as she is the oldest of 4. Brooklyn has been racing dirt track cars since she was 14 years old. She was determined to show that hard work pays off and that you can do anything you put your mind too. She has learned to maintain her 2 race cars by changing oil and tires, making other necessary repairs and general mantience. In 2017 Brooklyn was The Points Champion at the Keokuk County racetrack and in the top 10 in points at the Brooklyn Raceway and Barnes City track. Brooklyn works part time at Mike’s Pizza in Toledo and plans to attend Des Moines Area Community College for 2 years then transfer to University of Iowa to pursue a degree in nursing