2022 fair queen named 500 Festival Princess  

A recent Wayne County 4-H Fair queen has earned a prestigious statewide honor.

Zoe Brock was one of 33 college-aged women selected as a 500 Festival Princess. They are ambassadors for the 500 Festival, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis and Indiana. 

Brock was among hundreds of applicants reviewed for leadership, academic stewardship, community involvement and embodiment of the Hoosier spirit.

Wayne County’s 2022 fair queen is currently a sophomore at Ball State University majoring in strategic communication. She is a Richmond High School graduate. 

Organizers of the 500 Festival Princess Program say Indiana’s most community-driven, scholarly minded young women are recognized through the program. They will be able to develop professional skills, create meaningful connections statewide and receive leadership guidance from the festival’s board members, according to a news release. 

Princesses represent 17 Indiana colleges and universities and 20 cities and towns across Indiana. They have a cumulative grade point average of 3.70. Their majors range from biomedical health sciences to education and communications. 

They will collectively spend about 1,500 hours educating Hoosiers about the history of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 through visits to local schools, youth programs, community celebrations, nursing homes and hospitals. 

Nonprofits, schools, businesses and individuals can request princess visits on the festival’s website.

Support for the program comes from the National Bank of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 500 Festival Foundation.

Brock receives a $1,500 scholarship from Marlyne Sexton, philanthropist and president of the Sexton Companies, and the 500 Festival Foundation. She also receives a Khamis Fine Jewelers custom pendant necklace with a checkered outline of Indiana and an INDYCAR design. 

The 500 Festival Queen Scholar, who will be announced May 17, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.