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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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Sabra Boyd crowned 2008 Logan County Fair queen

Heavy rains, wind don't stop pageant

[July 30, 2008] At 6:33 p.m. the city of Lincoln's warning sirens went off. Not exactly what one would prefer to hear when a fair queen pageant is about to get under way.

Regardless of conditions, at the end of the night, Logan County had a new queen, Sabra Boyd, a 17-year-old from Lincoln.

The storm that rapidly traveled through the county with 60 mph winds left before the event was to begin at 7:30. But a continuous drizzle soaked the grandstand, leading fair officials to go to their plan B.

According to Mike Maske, secretary of the Logan County Fair board, the queen pageant is held on opening night if at all possible. The new queen is tied into so many continuing events at the fair that unless safety is an issue, the show must go on.

This time, with a lot of help from fairgoers, some 200 folding chairs were brought into the Lincoln Stage wing of the Exhibition Building. The area was far smaller than the grandstand, which can hold up to 2,000 people, and those on hand said that a throng of people wanting to see the pageant stood in the doorways and spilled deep into the next wing of the building.

Under these less-than-ideal circumstances the five contestants for the crown still did an admirable job, although some things were a little unusual and could have thrown them off their rhythm. As an example, to prevent overhearing before their turn, contestants were placed in nearby SUVs while other contestants were asked the all-important current event pop question.

The young women were asked to give a one-minute speech about a significant experience that shaped them from their past, and then responded to the pop question: Today people are choosing to think and act in ways to improve the environment and go green. Many people are doing things like using recyclable grocery bags and car-pooling. What can the Logan County Fair do to go green and help the environment?

Below is a brief summary catching high points of each girl's response:

Sabra Boyd, queen

One-minute speech:

She showed a pig at the Logan County Fair. She fed and walked Fergy and won top prize for showing her pig. She loves the Logan County Fair. It has helped broaden her horizons. She now has a great love and appreciation for the Logan County Fair.

Response to question:

I believe the Logan County Fair could change to recyclable paper cups and use more recyclable materials, possibly to be used over and over, to save Mother Earth.

Pharmacy

Megan Farmer, runner-up

One-minute speech:

Megan recalled her semester in Barcelona, Spain. She packed her whole life into two suitcases. Living in a foreign country with no family and friends was an amazing experience in her life. You have to learn from the bad and live in the good.

Response to question:

I think that the Logan County Fair should recycle everything we use, including all cardboard and paper materials, to go green.

Amy Ramlow

One-minute speech:

She had the opportunity tutor two Hispanic boys and was able to use four years of Spanish. She was able to help these boys, using experiences from her past

Response to question:

The Logan County Fair could go green by putting recycling bins near trash cans in order to waste less trash, in order to protect Mother Earth.

[to top of second column]

Jairris Vermeire

One-minute speech:

You gotta want it. She learned a great deal from being in the band -- learned about self-control, discipline and endurance. These lessons have shaped her as a person, and now she can apply these principles to her life.

Response to question:

One thing the Logan County Fair can do to go green is to use recyclable materials while serving food and presenting awards.

Kristie Anderson

One-minute speech:

At a farmers market, her grandpa had heart problems and needed to go to the hospital. Her grandpa was her No. 1 fan. She learned two valuable lessons from her grandpa's heart attack: