Logan County Fair

Contestants prepare for more than 'Queen for a day'

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[August 01, 2015]  LINCOLN - With the Logan County Fair quickly approaching, preparations for the popular opening night Grandstand event, the Queen and Little Miss Pageant, have been rigorously underway. The Pageant takes place this year on Tuesday, Aug. 4 beginning at 7 p.m.

Rehearsals for the candidates have been held at the Family Life Center in Mount Pulaski. Under the direction of co-directors Amy Cherry and Deanne Mott and assistant directors Julie Cooper and Bethany Rea, eleven contestants have been preparing for the various components of the competition: The judges interview, an onstage pop question, the swimsuit competition, and the evening gown competition.

At their first rehearsal, contestants did an Instagram scavenger hunt in groups as a way for the contestants to get to know one another, and then had official photos taken by Michael Gowin photography. That evening, they also chose a line up and received contestant numbers. All three high schools in Logan County: Hartsburg-Emden, Lincoln and Mount Pulaski, are represented by the various contestants.

As candidates continued preparations, they worked on walking across the stage, answering practice pop questions, and doing mock interviews.

Mott says they map out the set up of the stage and have the contestants practice walking across the gym to the spots they will need to be for the various parts of the competition.

During the Sunday, July 26th final rehearsal, the contestants each practiced answering a different pop question. The night of the pageant the candidates will be brought out on to the stage one at a time as the others remain in a sound proof booth. They do not know the question beforehand, and each will be asked the exact same question, which they will have to answer on the spot as they.

Cherry and Mott posed various questions about such topics as what their career aspirations are; how the pageant helps one develop as a person; what the most important part of the competition is; whether a college education is necessary to have a successful career; who the most influential woman in Illinois is; what the most important element in a family is; and what the responsibilities of a fair queen are? The most unique questions they posed was, "If you could be a tractor, what part would you choose to be and why?"

At the final rehearsal, the group also practices dance steps with a choreographer for the opening number. This part is not judged, but as the opening number, it is the first time the audience sees all the contestants.

This year's dance routine is to the 50's song "One Fine Day," which is the theme of the pageant.

The day of the event, contestants will have their actual interview with the judges, which is worth 35% of the final score.

On the evening of the pageant, the contestants will give speeches to demonstrate their communication skills, which accounts for 30% of the score.

Next, will be a swimsuit competition to show their beauty and physique, which account for 15% of the score.

The evening gown competition helps display their stage presence, and accounts for 15% of the score.

Finally, the pop question exhibits their ability to answer a question on the spot, accounting for the final 5% of the score.

The young women's lives are impacted by being Queen for years to come as they learn to do interviews and to be in front of a crowd. Mott also noted that what they learn translates well into their future career since the interview and communication skills components make up more than half their scores.

This year's queen contestants are:

  • Allison Bone, 17, Lincoln, daughter of Paul and Jennifer Bone; attends Lincoln Community High School
     
  • Molly Buse, 19, Beason, daughter of Bob and Kathy Buse; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Lincoln College
     
  • Abigail Cline, 18, Lincoln, daughter of Theresa Cline; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Purdue University
     
  • Lizzie Ford, 17, Elkhart, daughter of Kelby and Angie Ford; attends Mount Pulaski High School
     
  • Lizzi Herzog, 20, Lincoln, daughter of Christopher and Gretchen Herzog; graduate of Lincoln Community High School and Lincoln College; attends North Central College

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  • May Hudspeth, 19, Lincoln, daughter of Phillip Hudspeth and Lori Metelko; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Lincoln College
     
  • Jessica Plummer, 18, Lincoln, daughter of Doreen Plummer and Joseph Plummer; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Lincoln College
     
  • Amber Siddens, 20, Lincoln, daughter of Nancy Siddens; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attended Midwest College of Cosmetology
     
  • Lindsey Strange, 19, Emden, daughter of Trisha Strange; graduate of Hartsburg-Emden High School; attends Heartland Community College
     
  • Madelyn Thomas, 18, Hartsburg, daughter of Ross and Shelley Thomas; graduate of Hartsburg-Emden High School; attends Lincoln College
     
  • Ashton Wakeman, 18, Mount Pulaski, daughter of Micah and Laura Wakeman; graduate of Mount Pulaski High School; attends Lincoln Christian University

Little Miss contestants are:

  • Jaelyn Anderson, 7, Lincoln, daughter of Jamie Stephens and Chris Anderson
     
  • Myah Bowman, 7, Lincoln, daughter of Donnie and Amanda Bowman
     
  • Mia Clark, 7, Lincoln, daughter of Sarah Clark and Clint Clark
     
  • Aleaha Crane, 6, Lincoln, daughter of Jeremy and Stefanie Crane
     
  • Chloe Deilkes, 5, Lincoln, daughter of Andrew Deilkes and Megan Deilkes
     
  • Lydia Doolin, 5, Emden, daughter of Dan and Shannon Doolin
     
  • Araya Hurley, 7, Lincoln, daughter of Stephanie Hurley
     

  • Kaeli Jones, 6, Lincoln, daughter of Rich and Jani Jones
     
  • Eva Leonard, 5, Mt. Pulaski, daughter of Corey and Lisa Leonard
     
  • Isabella Miller, 8, Lincoln, daughter of Dale and Shelly Miller
     
  • Isabella Pollice, 6, Lincoln, daughter of Sal and Amanda Pollice
     
  • Preslee Sherren, 5, New Holland, daughter of Robert and Alison Sherren
     
  • Jessa Werner, 8, Beason, daughter of Brock and Hayley Werner
     
  • Ashten Wolf, 5, Beason, daughter of Heather Gaule and Randy Wolf
     
  • Madisen Wurth, 6, Beason, daughter of Lewis and Crystal Wurth

The pageant will take place Tuesday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. and no matter the results, the contestants have fun and gain memories as they learn poise and communication in this rewarding experience of a life-time.

[Angela Reiners]

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