“I just recently started school at State Tech in July, pursuing a degree in nursing,” says Taylor Gehlert. “Although the program is challenging, for the first time I’m so excited to get up every morning and go class. The content is fascinating and the instructors have been fabulous. I’m more inspired than ever to excel.” Gehlert, the reigning Queen of the 2019 Belle Fair, is speaking of the nursing program at State Technical College of Missouri in Linn.

A native of Belle, her family moved to Wardsville when she was young. She attended St. Stanislaus School through 1st grade, then transferred to Blair Oaks where she graduated in the Falcon class of 2017. Two years at East Central College in Rolla followed, during which time her mother, Tricia Temmen, and her have run a small row crop operation on a farm outside of Belle. She is scheduled to graduate from State Tech in May with her LPN. She intends to continue education for at least a Bachelor of Science degree.

“My mom, a nurse practitioner, has worked at St. Mary’s for more than 21 years, and I can’t wait to follow in her footsteps,” says Gehlert, explaining her immediate career objective. “My goal is to be a labor and delivery nurse at St. Mary’s. My family has a long history at St. Mary’s dating back to the 1930’s when my great-grandmother worked there, as did her sister who was one of the Franciscan Nuns with SSM.”

As for being a fair queen, she says she is “honored to represent my small town.”