[AUG. 3, 2005] What are the characteristics of a fair queen candidate? Well, beyond
possessing beauty, this year's candidates displayed wit, candor,
elegance and charm, and that's just to start. These traits were
strongly backed by athleticism, leadership, scholarship and service
to others. They offered an array of strengths as broad as
appreciating the earth in her own backyard to travels abroad.
[Click
here for pictures from this event.]
Pageant director Deanne Mott presented the surprising number of 13
candidates, who represented all corners of the county, to a packed
grandstand at the Logan County Fair on Tuesday evening.
Mott and fair president Dean Bruns bid a touching goodbye to 2004
Queen Melissa Brisbin with great appreciation for the warmth of her
personality.
Brisbin recounted some of her experiences in this last year,
including the opportunity to learn about judging chickens just that
day, and raised chuckles when she said, "I think I could actually do
that now and be pretty good at it."
She graciously thanked everyone who has been a part of her reign
in the past year and gave thanks to her Father in heaven who granted
her the opportunity.
During the evening there was a presentation of visiting queens
and princesses. They were followed by individual presentations and
updates on past Logan County queens. Natalie Jeckel McGee, Miss
Logan County Fair 1997 and Miss Illinois County Fair 1998, addressed
the audience on how much she enjoyed her reigning queen experiences.
McGee lives in Decatur with husband Case, works at Lincoln College
and is a graduate candidate for a degree in higher education. She
added an update on her sister, Laurie Jeckel Mesko, the 1992 Logan
County Fair queen, who now lives in Minnesota with her husband and
two children.
During the question-and-answer portion of the competition, each
contestant was asked the same question while other candidates waited
in a soundproof booth. They were each asked, "If given the chance,
what would you tell Governor Blagojevich about the importance of
county fairs."
The girls all gave similar answers, identifying how community
comes together, everyone sees one another, and it is a great
educational experience and agricultural opportunity. A response from
Alexandrea Davis amused the crowd when she said she would tell the
governor how wonderful the Logan County Fair is and how everyone
comes out for it. Then she added that she would tell him he should
come down from Chicago and see it for himself.
While the large number of contestants could have slowed things
down considerably, it didn't. A new queen was selected before 10
p.m.
Christina Xamis of Lincoln was crowned Miss Logan County Fair
2005. The petite, athletically fit-looking blonde with a dazzling
smile commanded the stage with ease. She displayed great poise and
charm throughout the evening.
Xamis is the 20-year-old daughter of Jim and Cathy Xamis. She
graduated from Lincoln Community High School and attends the
University of Missouri at Columbia.
Abrigail Sasse of Beason was chosen as first runner-up. Sasse is
the 20-year-old daughter of David and Gail. She graduate of Lincoln
Community High School and attends the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
Sasse is also Beason's 125th anniversary celebration queen.
Carrie Meyrick was the second runner-up. The 20-year-old from
Middletown is the daughter of Diane Meyrick. She graduated from
Lincoln Community High School and attends Millikin University.
Receiving the special recognition as Miss Congeniality was
19-year-old Amber Turner of Chestnut. Turner is the daughter of Mike
and Suzie Maxheimer and Scott and Julie Turner. She graduated from
Mount Pulaski High School and attends Southern Illinois University
at Edwardsville.
