Logan County Fair 

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Nicole Fink chosen
Logan County Fair queen

[AUG. 1, 2001]  It was a unique birthday present, one she says was a surprise. On the day she celebrated her 20th birthday, Nicole Fink of Beason was chosen Miss Logan County Fair, 2001.

"I did not expect to get it. I am very surprised," the blonde, blue-eyed newly crowned queen in the shimmering blue evening gown said as she hugged her bouquet of red roses.

"Every single girl here deserved this crown tonight," she added, and then named two other contestants who she thought had a better chance to win than she did.

The three judges, however, chose Nicole, daughter of Mike and Brenda Fink of Beason. The new fair queen is a Lincoln Community High School graduate who will be a sophomore this fall at St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, Ind., and wants to become a large animal veterinarian.

Nicole, who owns a quarter horse and loves to ride, also wants to own and operate a therapeutic riding facility where she can help young children overcome problems and disabilities through horseback riding. She has been a 4-H horticulture judge and while in LCHS was on the dean’s list and appeared in the "Who’s Who" publication for high school students.

She had entered the queen contest last year but did not win. She said her parents and friends encouraged her to try again.

 

The final choice was difficult, though, according to one of the three judges, Martin Green of Springfield. "They are all six very talented young ladies. It was not an easy decision."

"I think the judges had a very hard decision this year," added Penny Kilhoffer, pageant director.

First runner-up was Katheryne Stoll, 18-year-old daughter of Kenton and Marcia Stoll of Chestnut and a sophomore at University of Illinois. Katheryne is studying food science and nutrition.

Second runner-up was Erin Wind, 19-year-old daughter of Richard and Deloris of Lincoln. Erin is a sophomore at Lincoln College and her goal is to be a nurse.

Mary Wood, 19, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Wood of Lincoln, was chosen by the other five contestants as "Miss Congeniality." She is a sophomore at Eastern Illinois University and a pole-vaulter who qualified for the national Olympics.

The other two contestants were Anna Schmidt, 19, daughter of Gary and Kathy Schmidt of Lincoln, a sophomore at Lincoln College and a nursing major; and Ginnifer Sparks, 19, daughter of Steve and Patricia Sparks of Emden, a sophomore at Greenville College, where she is training for the youth ministry.

 

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To choose the queen, the three judges, all from out of town, interviewed contestants before the pageant, then judged them on swimsuit and evening gown competition. Contestants also gave a one-minute speech, either about the most memorable moment in their lives or the most influential person they have known. They were also required to answer a question they had not heard ahead of time. This year, the question was: "If you were loading Noah’s Ark today, what three things, besides the animals, would you include?"

As 2001 queen, Nicole will take over the duties of last year’s queen, Elizabeth Stoll, who said goodbye to her crown and her fans at the pageant. Elizabeth, daughter of Kenton and Marcia Stoll, is Katheryne’s sister.

"I have loved every minute of serving as your Logan County Fair queen," she told the crowd. "There’s no place like Logan County." She thanked friends, family and the members of the pageant crew and got a round of applause as she left the runway.

Nicole will preside over events during the rest of the fair and travel to other county fairs as well. In January she will go to Springfield to compete with other county fair queens for the title of Miss Illinois County Fair. The winner will be hostess for the Illinois State Fair and the ambassador of the state of Illinois at all county fairs in 2002.

More than a dozen queens from other county fairs attended the pageant, including several Junior Miss and Little Miss queens. Two former Logan County fair queens, 1998 winner Shannon Sandel and 1982 winner Kimberly Crane (Kim Manning), also attended the pageant.

Pageant director Penny Kilhoffer described this year’s contestants as "a wonderful groups of girls, very easy to work with and very supportive of each other."

Preparation for the queen contest started in June, with the six contestants visiting other county fairs. They attended three workshops and held three rehearsals, learning modeling skills and practicing speeches, she said.

Members of the pageant crew include Rochelle Johnson, Valerie White, Helen Miller, Georgia Nutt and Nina Westen. Escorts for the contestants were Joe Farris of Mount Pulaski and Bradley Stoll of Chestnut. Derek Long of New Berlin was master of ceremonies.

[Joan Crabb]

[Click here to read Monday, July 27, article:
"Six great contestants prepared for Logan County Fair queen contest," with photos]

Pictures

 

Schedules

65th Annual

LOGAN COUNTY FAIR

Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, July 30 — Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001

(* Denotes time of judging)

Monday, July 30

9 a.m. — All Dept. W projects exhibit (Home Beautification, Miscellaneous, Gardening and Crops)

Tuesday, July 31

Queen pageant night

7:30 a.m. — 4-H and Dept. H Rabbits

8 a.m. — 4-H and Dept. H Poultry

8:30 a.m. — Young farmer kiddie tractor pull ( moved to front of Republican tent)

* 8 a.m. — Textiles (closed judging)

9 a.m. — Ribbon-cutting ceremony at front gate

9 a.m. — Dept. M Fine Arts (closed judging)

9 a.m. — Dept. M Photography (closed judging)

9 a.m. — Dept. J Agriculture Products (closed judging)

9 a.m. — 4-H and Dept. H Horse and Pony Show

11 a.m. — Dept. L Floricultural, except glads and potted plants (closed judging)

1 p.m. — 4-H Cats and 4-H and Dept. H Junior Goats

7:15 p.m. — Opening ceremony with Interveteran Council

7:30 p.m. — Queen pageant

Drawings: P & M Communications DSS 18-inch satellite dish, CEFCU cash drawing; must be in grandstand or track seats to win.

Wednesday, Aug. 1

Talent contest night

8 a.m. — 4-H Swine

8 a.m. — 4-H, Dept. H and Dept. B Dairy

8 a.m. — Dept. H and Dept. B Milking Shorthorns

9 a.m. — Open Horse Show

9 a.m. — Textiles (closed judging)

10 a.m. — Dept. O Culinary, except cakes and candies (open judging)

3 p.m. — Dept. M Style Show, in Special Events Building

6 p.m. — Luehrs' Ideal Rides open

7:30 p.m. — Talent contest, junior and senior divisions

Cash drawing; must be in grandstand to win.

Thursday, Aug. 2

Tractor pull contest

* 8 a.m. — 4 H Beef; 4-H and Dept. H Junior Sheep

1 p.m. — Kids Day - Kids Way, south end of grounds, under tent

1:30 p.m. — Harness racing

4 p.m. — Winning Smile contest, in Special Events Building.

4 p.m. — Round robin Livestock Showmanship

5-6 p.m. — Flying Feet Cloggers, in front of special events building.

6 p.m. — Luehrs' Ideal Rides open; "Ride - A - Thon" 6 p.m. to closing, $12 to ride all evening (weather permitting)

6:30 p.m. — Tractor pull contest

Cash drawing; must be in grandstand or track seats to win.

Friday, Aug. 3

Senior citizens day and 4-H night

* 8 a.m. — Dept. F Sheep

* 8 a.m. — Dept. G Swine

* 10 a.m. — Dept. O Cakes and Candies (open judging)

* 11 a.m. — Dept. L Potted Plants and Glads (closed judging)

11 a.m. — 4-H livestock and article consignment deadline

1:30 p.m. — Harness racing

2 -4 p.m. — Pick up 4-H premium checks at 4-H office at north end of fairgrounds

3 p.m. — Senior citizens entertainment in Special Events Bldg.

4 p.m. — Lin Pro dance, in front of Special Events Building

6 p.m. — Luehrs' Ideal Rides open

7 p.m. — Pig and calf scramble meeting

7:30 p.m. — Children's chicken and goat scrambles; pig scramble, ages 9-15 as of Aug. 5; calf scramble, ages 12-17 as of Aug. 5

Cash drawing; must be in grandstand to win.

Saturday, Aug. 4

* 8 a.m. — Chili cook-off

* 8 a.m. — Dept. A Open Beef

* 8 a.m. — Dept. H Junior Beef

8 a.m. — 3-on-3 basketball

1 p.m. — Harness racing

2 p.m. — Luehrs' Ideal Rides open

6 p.m. — Quarter midget races

Cash drawing; must be in grandstand or track seats to win.

Sunday, Aug. 5

Family day -- discount rides

12 noon — Logan County Cake Classic

1 p.m. — Luehrs' Ideal Rides open

1 p.m. — Harness racing; Downstate Classic for 2-year-olds

2 p.m. — 4-H livestock auction in show ring at north end of fairgrounds

3 p.m. — Pick up premium checks for open classes at secretary's office

4 p.m. — Exhibits released for pickup

5 p.m. — All 4-H exhibits must be removed

5 p.m. — Logan County Cake Classic auction, in Special Events Building

6 p.m. — Closing ceremony with Interveteran Council

6 p.m. — Demo derby

Adult season and exhibitor ticket cash drawing; need not be present to win.

 

Luehrs’ Ideal Rides schedule

Tuesday, July 31 — "Bargain Night"; all rides take one ticket; 16 tickets for $15 or $1 each.

Wednesday, Aug. 1 — Carnival opens at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 2 — "Ride-a-Thon Night," 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., $12 per person; ride any ride as often as you like!

Friday, Aug. 3 — Carnival opens at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 4 — Carnival opens at 2 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 5 — "Family Day"; carnival opens at 1 p.m.; all rides take one ticket!

(All times are weather permitting.)

Luehrs' Ideal Rides website: http://www.luehrs.com/ 

4-H show schedule

Saturday, July 28

8 a.m. — 4-H Dog Show (fairgrounds)

Monday, July 30

9 a.m. — All Dept. W projects exhibit (including Indoor, Flower and Herb Gardening, Vegetable Gardening, Crops, and Miscellaneous)

1 p.m. — Visual Arts and Flower Arrangements judging

4-4:30 p.m. — 4-H and Junior Swine weigh-in for premiere and carcass animals (at Benners)

Tuesday, July 31

7:30 a.m. — 4-H and Junior Rabbit Shows

8 a.m.— 4-H and Junior Poultry Shows

8:30 a.m. — 4-H horse papers check-in

9 a.m. — 4-H Horse and Pony Show

10 a.m.-noon — State fair 4-H delegate appointments at 4-H office (meeting room)

1 p.m. — Cat Show

1 p.m. — 4-H and Junior Goat Show

2-3 p.m. — Dairy health and registration papers checked at show pavilion

4-4:30 p.m. — Wethers weigh-in

4:30-6 p.m. — 4-H and Junior Barrow Show weigh-in

5-6:30 p.m. — Sheep, swine and beef health and registration papers checked at show pavilion

Wednesday, Aug. 1

8 a.m. — 4-H Dairy Show (with junior and open shows)

8 a.m. — 4-H and Junior Swine Shows

9-9:30 a.m. — Heifer health and registration papers checked at show pavilion

10 a.m. — 4-H Steer and Commercial Heifers weigh-in

Thursday, Aug. 2

8 a.m. — 4-H Beef Show

8 a.m. — 4-H Sheep Show

2-4 p.m. — State fair 4-H delegate appointments in 4-H office (meeting room)

2:30-3 p.m. — Livestock sign-up/judging

4-6 p.m. — State fair 4-H alternate appointments at 4-H office (meeting room)

Friday, Aug. 3

11 a.m. — 4-H livestock sales and article consignment deadline

2-4 p.m. — Pick up 4-H premium checks at 4-H office (meeting room)

7 p.m. — Chicken and goat scramble meeting at show pavilion

7 p.m. — Pig and calf scramble meeting at show pavilion

7:30 p.m. — 4-H grandstand show, 4-H judging of scramble steers and calf scramble

Sunday, Aug. 5

2 p.m. — 4-H auction at show pavilion with Cake Classic auction to follow

4-6 p.m. — All 4-H exhibits must be removed

Friday, Aug. 17

Logan County Exhibit Day at Illinois State Fair

 

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