Six young women have stepped up to run for Idaho County Fair royalty positions for the 2025-2026 year.
Avery Brown, Molly Fowler, Ellie Kouril, Ella McLeod, Mikayla Rowland and Bethany Stowell will run for titles of queen, first princess and second princess. The new court will be crowned Friday night of the fair, Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m., in the Schmidt Building.
Whether she’s running cross-country, raising livestock, or planning a future in mental health care, Ella McLeod brings a deep sense of community and compassion to everything she does.
The 16-year-old Prairie Junior/Senior High School student is entering her junior year and has begun building an impressive resume. A resident of Grangeville, McLeod is the daughter of Liz and Tom McLeod and has lived in Idaho County all her life. Her service to the Idaho County Fair spans nine years and includes experience with market lambs, sewing, cake decorating and raising rabbits. She has also contributed four years to the fashion board.
McLeod is involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities including the Cottonwood Saddliers 4-H Club, Prairie’s track and cross-country teams, HOSA and the Prairie League. She also works at Cash and Carry in Grangeville, where she has been employed for three years.
With a love for travel, hunting, and spending time with friends, McLeod balances her academics and service with hobbies that keep her grounded. After high school, she plans to attend college and pursue a degree in counseling, with additional studies toward a career in psychiatry. Her life goals include visiting all 50 states and every continent, as well as being accepted into medical school.
McLeod cites her strongest personal quality as the ability to connect quickly with others — a trait that makes her both a natural leader and a trusted friend.
“I am a very social person and can make friends with strangers quickly and easily,” she said.
At the center of her world is her family. Her mother, a teacher and prom advisor at Prairie High, and her father, a firefighter and BLM employee in Cottonwood, serve as inspiring role models. Her younger brother, about to enter seventh grade, shares her family's creative spirit.
“My family has helped shape the person I am,” McLeod said. “They continuously support my dreams and help me accomplish them.”
For 15-year-old Mikayla Rowland, service, dedication, and leadership are more than goals — they are a way of life. A sophomore at Prairie Junior/Senior High School, Rowland brings a level of commitment to her school, community, and especially her work in 4-H, where she has grown into a capable leader and role model.
Born and raised in Idaho County, where she has lived for 14 years, Rowland is the daughter of Brent and Tara Rowland. With a strong family foundation and the support of her older sisters, Chloe and Halee, she has embraced every opportunity to grow, learn and lead.
“My strongest personal quality is my dedication,” Rowland said. “When I start something, I work hard to finish it. I don’t give up easily, even when things get tough. I stay focused and push through.”
Rowland's list of accomplishments is as long: At school, she is actively involved in student leadership, having served as both freshman and sophomore class treasurer and representative. She participates in BPA, Prairie League, and varsity sports including basketball, volleyball and softball.
Her extensive involvement in 4-H includes participation at the club, county, district, state and national levels. A proud member of the Cottonwood Saddliers and Livestock 4-H Club since 2017, she has served as reporter, treasurer and recreation leader. At the county level, she is part of the Idaho County Ambassadors and the Fashion Board. District and state leadership roles include camp leader for the Northern District and multiple positions on the Idaho 4-H State Engage Act and Develop Summit Steering Committee. This year, she represented Idaho at the National 4-H Ignite Summit in Washington, D.C.
Rowland’s fair involvement is equally vast, with participation in more than 20 4-H projects ranging from market animals to cake decorating, gardening and robotics. She has been a familiar face at the Idaho County Fair, contributing to fashion show planning, working the Snack Shack, and assisting in demonstration contests and table setting competitions. She also lends a hand at the Cottonwood Livestock Auction and has been a babysitter for the past two years.
Her hobbies reflect her project-based passions: decorating cakes and cupcakes, crafting, caring for animals and playing sports. These interests have allowed her to develop creativity and a sense of responsibility. When she's not working on 4-H projects, she enjoys time with her animals, friends and teammates.
After high school, Rowland plans to attend the University of Idaho and pursue a STEM career in either engineering or cybersecurity. Her long-term goals include becoming a leader in her future career, continuing her involvement in 4-H to mentor younger members, and setting a positive example by being kind, responsible and hardworking.
Above all, family is at the heart of everything she does.
“My family means a lot to me because they are always there when I need them,” she shared. “I’ve learned to be kind, hardworking and honest. I want to make them proud.”
Molly Fowler, 15, is a sophomore at Prairie Junior/Senior High School. She is a familiar face through her involvement in a wide range of school and community activities — from athletics to leadership organizations.
Fowler, daughter of Ammerae and Bo Fowler, is a dedicated member of 4-H, where she serves as a historian. Her leadership extends across several groups including Prairie League, the MOD Squad, Stall and Hat committees, and various church-based programs such as vacation Bible school. A multi-sport athlete, she competes in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.
Outside of school and extracurriculars, Fowler works as a nanny and enjoys hobbies that reflect her creative and personal interests — beading, painting, and reorganizing her bedroom space. Her plans after high school include pursuing higher education potentially in veterinary science, a path inspired by her love for animals and science.
Fowler said her three biggest life goals are to become a veterinarian, to have a family, and to travel the world. She describes her strongest personal quality as being an “overcomer,” having worked hard to manage social anxiety and a learning disability.
“I want to be happy with myself without turning myself down,” she said.
Family and mental health hold top priority in her life. She credits her support system — her parents, one brother, and four sisters (one by marriage) — with helping her feel loved and inspired. The family enjoys going on adventures together whenever they get the chance.
Fowler has lived in Idaho County for six years.
Sixteen-year-old Avery Grace Brown has a deep love of agriculture, strong family ties, and unwavering determination.
For Brown, happiness is the foundation of a meaningful life.
“Everyone should know what makes them happy and not rely on others to make them happy,” she shared. She believes in self-awareness, reflection, and the power to take action when something needs to change.
Brown, a junior at Grangeville High School, is the daughter of Rocky and Nichole Howe and Jacob Brown. She has lived in Idaho County for the past six years, and has been active in the community through school, fair involvement and youth leadership.
As an engaged member of Grangeville FFA — where she currently serves as chapter secretary — Brown has participated in a variety of agriculture-related activities including swine and poultry exhibitions. Her past fair experience spans both Asotin and Idaho counties, with 10 years of 4-H and two years in Grangeville FFA. She’s also a member of Business Professionals of America (BPA), student council, youth group, and Varsity Blue Choir, and she participates in cheerleading and softball, as well as competitive dance.
Outside the classroom, Brown works for the Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps crew and as a scale operator at Columbia Grain, adding practical experience to her growing portfolio of agricultural knowledge and responsibility.
Brown enjoys an active lifestyle filled with camping, fishing, swimming, and sports, as well as spending quality time with her family and friends. After high school, she plans to attend the University of Idaho to pursue a career in agriculture education — a goal fueled by her desire to inspire and teach the next generation of students.
Her life goals are clear and heartfelt: to raise a happy family, educate future agriculture students, and one day own a farm with lots of animals.
“I think my strongest personal quality is stubbornness,” she smiled. “I am determined to work toward my goals when I set them and can focus on getting things done when they need to get done. My siblings would agree!”
Her family plays a central role in her identity and goals.
“We have strong bonds,” she said. “We like to go on trips together, have a lot of fun, and really love each other.”
“If I want something, I’m going to work as hard as I can to get it,” said Bethany Stowell.
At just 14 years old, Stowell is already carving out a path grounded in hard work, creativity and a love for family and community. A homeschooled sophomore at Stowell Academy, she is active in 4-H, church ministries, and a variety of performing and visual arts — all while working in her family’s business and planning a career in healthcare.
Stowell, the daughter of David and Dori Stowell, lives in Grangeville and has called Idaho County home for the past 13 years. The youngest of five children, she draws strong inspiration from her close-knit family. She credits her parents for supporting her dreams — from attending every soccer game to chaperoning her choir trips. Her siblings and extended family, including nieces and a nephew, live nearby in Lewiston and Kooskia.
Active and driven, she participates in youth group, vacation Bible school, the 4-H Ambassador program, and on the 4-H Fashion Board. She’s also involved in Irish dance, swimming, soccer, choir, and the children’s ministries at her church. Her favorite hobbies — sewing, baking, crafting, playing piano and participating in 4-H projects — reflect a thoughtful blend of artistic talent and discipline.
Her fair involvement includes a diverse range of 4-H activities such as market swine, rabbit, baking, sewing and Making the Most of Me projects. She’s particularly passionate about her baking entries and loves making treats for friends and family. Her hands-on work ethic extends into her job with her family’s business, where she’s learned early lessons in responsibility and entrepreneurship.
After high school, she hopes to attend Lewis-Clark State College and become a phlebotomist. Her goals also include traveling to new places every year and gaining meaningful experiences.
She names her mom and dad as the most important people in her life.
“They have always been there when I need them, and even when I think I don’t,” she said. Their love and dedication have guided her through challenges, including health setbacks, and inspired her drive to succeed and give back.
16-year-old Ellie Kouril is a junior at Grangeville High School, is the daughter of Monica Walker and Jim Kouril, and has lived in Idaho County her entire life.
Throughout the years, she has developed a strong presence in school and civic organizations including FFA, HOSA, Youth Government, and BPA, where she currently serves as her chapter’s vice president and recently represented her school and community at the national level.
Kouril identifies leadership as her strongest personal quality.
“I excel in leadership roles as I’m honest, make sure to have clear communication, and am empathetic toward everyone’s feelings,” she said. “I will always take accountability.”
Her passion for agriculture began when she first ran for Idaho County Fair Royalty, an experience that inspired her to participate in photography exhibits and join FFA to further explore and appreciate the world of ag fields.
Kouril currently works at The Brickhouse, where she quickly rose from hostess to server. She’s also active in hobbies such as hiking, outdoor adventures, photography, and baking, especially when shared with friends and family.
After high school, Kouril plans to pursue a career in cosmetology at the University of Hawaii, with an added goal of incorporating healthcare into her professional journey. Her life goals reflect her dual interests in service and self-expression: growing as a leader by volunteering in her community, and becoming a positive role model for younger children.
For Kouril, family is the cornerstone of her life. Raised in a close-knit household by hardworking parents and grandparents, she places strong value on spending time together, honoring traditions, and continuing her great-grandfather’s family business.
“I’ve learned the importance of helping others and putting my family first,” she said.