 Fair secretary Mike Maske shrugged off what neither he nor any other
fairgrounds committee member has control over, saying, "It wouldn't
be a fair without rain."
The evening was cloudy, but thankfully not rainy. As it was, the
track and fairgrounds were a sea of mud after a morning deluge, and
fairground crews had worked all afternoon just to get the high side
of the track dry enough to put some 200 folding seats down.
Normally contestants are brought up in an entourage of cars, but
that wasn't to be this year. The muddy grounds would have been too
much on the ladies in their evening finest. Only the 2008 reigning
queen, Sabra Boyd, was driven in; the other contestants stayed in
back of the stage.
Visiting queens from Mason and Sangamon counties, as well as the
Illinois State Fair queen, Morgan Metz, made their way across the
track from the grandstand after crews laid down old signs and
plywood to keep them from sinking into ankle-deep mud.
The evening started out quickly with a dance number by the
contestants and Boyd. Although the stage was some 80 yards from the
stands, it was obvious they had worked hard to get the number down
and thoroughly enjoyed working with each other.
A new event added this year was the Little Miss Logan County Fair
contest, and Imagin Werner, a 4-year-old, took home the honors.
Werner is the daughter of Brock and Hayley Werner.
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In the queen competition, this year the contestants themselves
picked Arielle Alley, the 19-year-old daughter of Shane and Crystal
Alley, as Miss Congeniality.
Amy Schumacher, 21-year-old daughter of Steve and Jan Schumacher,
was voted second runner-up. Jessica Owen, 19-year-old daughter of
Jack and Reatha, was voted first alternate.
As master of ceremonies Cameron Kurtz teased the contestants and
the crowd with a slow delivery of the final results, Emily Berglin,
18-year-old daughter of Jay and Kalyn, had to wait several moments
to find out that she was our new queen.
Berglin was crowned 2009 Miss Logan County with the assistance of
both Boyd and Metz, the county and state fair queens.
Although Berglin held back tears of joy upon hearing her name,
her opportunity to relish her achievement will have to wait until
the fair is over. Her schedule on Wednesday held a full day of 4-H
awards, an open horse show and evening scrambles. And every day
after for the week is just as full, which means that she will have
to wait till the fair is over to savor the moment with family and
friends.
This week, she might also need to bring along a pair of hip
boots.
[By
MIKE FAK] |
