Lynndi Lockenour
The fair isn’t far off and as the fun-filled days approach, many can already smell the funnel cakes and cotton candy. Festivities begin Tuesday with one of several main attractions, The Queen Coronation. Though the actual judging is conducted the previous Saturday, only the committee knows who will be crowned Tuesday evening.
This year 15 girls between the ages of 17 and 22 will vie for the title of Miss St. Charles County. Debbie Lloyd, coordinator for the pageant, said this year she had 10 people on the waiting list to compete. “We do a preliminary meeting where we give the girls the rules and regulations,” she said. “And if for some reason they cannot compete, then we use someone from the waiting list.”
Businesses from around the county donate money to be given as prizes. This year’s largest donor is Lindenwood University, offering the winner a $9,600 renewable scholarship and a $2400 Work and Learn scholarship. (Those amounts could be set to change). Lloyd said these scholarships are new to the contest. “Usually the winner gets $500, which they could choose to use for college and a $1,000 savings bond,” she said.
The queens begin activities in the first weeks of June and conclude the competition with the announcement of the winner Tuesday night. Debbie said each week between those dates the girls spend one day doing an activity together. This year the activities included: miniature golf, an ice cream social, swimming party, participating in O’Fallon’s Fourth of July parade, attending a Rascals game and making an appearance on Show Me St. Louis.
The girls are judged on four categories including: talent, personality, portfolio and personal appearance. Prior to the judging, contestants’ summit a portfolio, which Lloyd said is similar to a resume, for the judges to review. Each contestant also attends a six-minute interview with the judges where she must dress in business attire. “For some of these girls this is the first time they’ve ever had to do anything like this,” she said.
This year six of the contestants competed in last year’s contest and Lloyd said even a few of the girls have competed in what she calls “real pageants.” “We try not to make it stressful,” she said. “We just want the girls to have fun and enjoy spending time together.
The panel of judges consists of four people. Lloyd said she tries to avoid choosing the same judges every year since several of the girls might compete in the competition more than once. She also said two of this year’s judges are male, which is a change-up from previous years. “I thought the girls might not want male judges,” she said, “but they were excited about it. Lloyd said sometimes the men are more critical than women. “Sometimes they think of questions that women wouldn’t,” she said. The girls do not receive their questions before hand nor does Lloyd know what the judges will ask. “The only thing we tell them is not to judge the girls based on if they are involved in 4-H or FFA,” she said. “That’s not what the contest is about.”
This year Miss Missouri will be emceeing the Queen Coronation. Those girls who placed in the top five in the talent portion of the competition will perform Tuesday night as well. Also, the girls are required to learn a group dance, which they will also perform for the audience. “We are just hoping it won’t be extremely hot,” Lloyd said. “With the girls dancing and performing their talents I don’t want them to have to worry about the heat.” The Queen Coronation will take place Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. in the Entertainment Center.
Besides the Queen Coronation, there are other activities available all week to suit everyone. Treasurer of the Fair Board for nine years, Mary Ann Vehige said one attraction, which draws the largest number of people, is the demolition derby on Saturday. “People seem to like that a lot,” she said. The race begins at 7 p.m.
Other crowd pleasers include the rodeo on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 8 p.m., tuck and tractor pulls, Ugly Pick-Up Contest and live music. Admission for the fair events is as follows: season passes cost $22 before July 25 and $25 after July 25. Daily pass prices are $8 for adults Tuesday-Thursday and $10 for adults Friday and Saturday. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $5 and those under age six are free. Senior Citizens tickets are $5 as well. All ticket prices include rides, entertainment and parking. For more information on fair events and information call 636-327-6949.
