Queen Rosie Hacklander and King Roger Oldfather

Faribault County has two new Outstanding Senior Citizens who will be going on to State competition.

Roger Oldfather of Kiester and Rosie Hacklander of Blue Earth were crowned at a program on Tuesday at the county fair.

Oldfather was the only candidate for the men’s title. There were two other ladies in contention with Hacklander; Beulah Voltz of Elmore and Bonnie Braund of Walters.

All were being honored for the hours of volunteering they do in their respective communities and churches.

Oldfather is the mayor of Kiester and has been an active volunteer in that community for years. He has been instrumental in work for the Kiester Theater and the bowling alley there.

Hacklander has been very active at the Senior Citizens Center in Blue Earth, serving as one of the kitchen workers there. “Rosie has logged in over 3,200 volunteer hours since 1999,” Senior Citizens Center Director Middy Thomas said. Many of the center’s members were in attendance on Tuesday to support Hacklander.

“I was totally surprised,” Hacklander said afterward. “I didn’t think I deserved it.”

She moved to Blue Earth 11 years ago after she married Darrel Hacklander. Both had lost their first spouse and then met at a widowed persons group in Fairmont.

“I just believe in being active and giving something back to the community,” Hacklander said. “I want to help my fellow man.”

Both Oldfather and Hacklander will now go to the State Fair as Faribault County representatives. At the state program, two men and two women will be selected as State Outstanding Senior Citizens.