In less than a year, the 2013 Adams County Fair queen will exchange her crown for a pair of wings – Air Force wings, that is.

Alexandra “Alex” Nelms, of Thornton, is going into the military when her reign as queen ends.

“It opens the doors for me to travel and get my foot in the door in an honorable way,” the 19-year-old said.

Nelms is currently studying graphic design and business marketing at Larimer County Community College in Wyoming. Her dream, she said, is to eventually work for Disney, but the Air Force seems a more realistic goal at this point in her life.

Until then, however, Nelms will focus on her duties as the fair queen, which entails charity work and making appearances at parades and other functions, such as the Greeley Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days,  and of course, the events at the 2013 Adams County Fair.

“As the 2013 Adams County Fair queen, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge in the equestrian field, innovative ideas to enhance the royalty program and the patience of a queen who cares about the future of our children,” said Mary Willis, fair co-chair.

Nelms graduated from Mountain Range High School last year. She is an accomplished trick rider and an alumnus of the Westernaires organization, where she learned a lot about horsemanship and drill maneuvers.

“Since I was able to sit up, my mom had me on a horse,” she said.

She will be riding her horse, Apollo, for her royalty appearances.

Getting to feel as much at home in front of a crowd as she does on a horse is something Nelms was able to achieve last year as she served as the 2012 Adams County Fair lady in waiting. She credited that accomplishment to the 2012 Adams County Fair Queen Danielle McCormick.

“Danielle was able to help me learn how to better present myself; she brought up my self-confidence quite a bit,” Nelms said.

She wants to be sure to be a good influence on her own lady in waiting, Savanna Hamilton, of Brighton.

“I want to make sure I make a good impression and be remembered as a good queen and set a good example for Savanna,” Nelms said.

Nelms is the daughter of Kristin Vigil, and the older sister of Raena, 6, and Andrew, 7.

The Adams County Fair is from July 31 through Aug. 4 at Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton.