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 Greenery and a black and gold banner provided the
backdrop for the pageant stage.
Master of Ceremonies Cameron Kurtz welcomed everyone to the fair
thanking the many sponsors who make the event possible.
Logan County Fair 2021 Queen Caroline Ahrends sang the National
Anthem to help kick off the evening and was then introduced by
Kurtz. Queen Caroline was escorted to the stage by her father Les
Ahrends.
After thanking everyone, Queen Caroline welcomed and thanked
everyone for supporting the pageant.
For the opening production number, queen candidates danced to the
song from ‘December 1963, Oh What a Night’ and then introduced
themselves.
The candidates competing for the title of Logan County Fair Queen
included:
Alyvia Gannon, Lincoln, daughter of Jaimi Gannon. Gannon will be a
sophomore at Eureka College.
Elizabeth Stewart, Lincoln, daughter of Angie Brooks and Chris
Brooks. Stewart will be a senior at Lincoln Community High School.
Claire Duffer, Lincoln, daughter of Laura Duffer and Jeremy Duffer.
Duffer will be a junior at Lincoln Community High School.
Ellyn Martinez, Lincoln, daughter of Karen Martinez and John
Martinez. Martinez will be a senior at Lincoln Community High
School.
Emma Stoltzenburg, Lincoln, daughter of Brian and Corky
Stoltzenburg. Stoltzenburg will be a junior at Southern Illinois
University in Edwardsville.
Julia Collins, Atlanta, daughter of Ashley and Josh Collins. Collins
will be a junior at Olympia High School.
To display communication skills, which is 40 percent of the score,
queen contestants spoke on a topic of their choice. Most talked
about their lives and lessons they have learned such as facing and
overcoming challenges, embracing people’s differences and lending a
helping hand. Other topics were changing how we see mental health
issues, treating everyone with decency and keeping music and arts in
school curricula.
For the pop question, contestants were asked a two-part question. To
lead into the question, Kurtz said at times, pageants receive
criticism for focusing too much on physical appearance. The question
was: Other than your outward appearance, what attributes do you most
like about yourself and how would you apply it to your time as Miss
Logan County Fair?
Answers included being hardworking, organized, determined, outgoing,
kindhearted, open minded, and very genuine. Others mentioned
confidence, a good work ethic and a drive to do best even in
challenges.
The rest of the scoring was based on an interview earlier in the day
plus an evening gown competition to display their stage presence.
The local Junior Miss competition began in 2017 for girls between
the ages of nine and 12. In 2018, the range was changed to ages 11
to 13.
The 2022 Logan County Junior Miss Alayna Briggs was escorted to the
stage by her father H.E. Westen. Briggs welcomed everyone and said
it has been a great month working with seven wonderful ladies. She
then told the crowd to sit back and enjoy the pageant.
Junior Miss contestants sashayed across the stage to the song ‘Dance
With Me Tonight.’
This year’s junior miss contestants included:
Ellie Wrage, Andrea Rogers, Preslee Sherren, Ashten Wolf, Jena
Boesdorfer, Isabella Pollice and Andrea Noltensmeier.
Seventy five percent of the junior miss scores came from an
interview with judges earlier in the afternoon. Another 15 percent
came from answering the pop question asked by Kurtz and 10 percent
on stage presence.
Kurtz asked each contestant if you could bring something new to the
fair, what would it be and why?
Answers included an online design category for visual arts, more
activities for littler kids and a food tasting contest. Other
answers were wristbands to get to the front of food stands like
Cullers and air-conditioned buildings.
Before the Little Miss contestants were introduced, 2021 Little Miss
Sofia Farmer was escorted to the stage by her father Brandon Farmer.
Farmer said the girls are beautiful and have been working very hard.
She then told everyone to have a fun night.
This year’s Little Miss contestants were Hadley Triplett, Kodi
Eigenbrod, Oaklee Vinyard, Alivia Birdwell, Luci Bobell, Hinley
Schneider, Sienna Pollock, Emerson Bolen, Reagan Anderson, Dawson
Logsdon, Macyn Winkelmann, Laney Coers, Scout Coers, Lillian
Rademaker, Charlee Gleason, Aera Merritt, Emersyn Brooks, Embeth
Leesman, Henley Hartman, Hadleigh McCain and Ella Hall.
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Little Miss contestants were judged on an interview
that made up 60 percent of their score. The other 40 percent of
their score came from their stage presence.
As always, the Little Miss contestants provided some adorable
moments as they introduced themselves telling their ages, where they
live and what they like about the pageant.
The Little Miss candidates’ favorite parts of the pageant included
making new friends, wearing pretty dresses, walking on stage and
having fun.
Time between sections was filled by special guests. These included
queens, junior misses, little misses and others with titles from
various Illinois counties such as Ford County, Fulton County,
Clinton County and Menard County.
Other guests included several former Logan County
Fair Queens, Junior Misses and Little Misses. Royalty ranged from
those from recent years to those who reigned many years ago such as
1974 Logan County Fair Queen Elise (Gleason) Anderson. Karson Mott
and Julia Collins had served as both Little Miss and Junior Miss.
Before results were announced, the outgoing 2021 royalty gave
farewell speeches.
Little Miss Sofia said she had a great year. She then thanked the
fair board, pageant directors and her “sash sisters” Queen Caroline
and Junior Miss Alayna.
Junior Miss Alayna Briggs said this past year was one of her best
years. She loved being part of the cancer fundraiser Pink Pumpkin
Auction and festivals. Briggs then thanked various family members
for all the help they gave her, her friends, “sash sisters” Little
Miss Sofia and Queen Caroline. She also thanked the fair board and
all who helped make everything go smoothly and especially the
pageant directors.
In her farewell speech, Queen Caroline Ahrends said she has been
involved in the fair since her first chicken scramble at age five.
Later, she spent summers preparing baked goods, art projects and
flowers for exhibition.
Becoming queen opened a whole new world for Queen Caroline as she
showed a sheep and experienced her first demolition derby. The
highlight of Queen Caroline’s year was the Miss Illinois pageant.
She feels the Logan County Fair Pageant is one of the best in
Illinois.
Queen Caroline then thanked the pageant directors for all their
assistance and dedication. She also thanked the fair board and
especially her family. Queen Caroline said she had many special
experiences with her “sash sisters” Little Miss Sofia and Junior
Miss Alayna. She advised the next fair queen to soak up every minute
because it will go fast.
Finally, the judges’ decisions were announced.
Emma Stoltzenburg was crowned 2022 Miss Logan County Fair Queen.
Isabella Pollice was crowned Junior Miss Logan County and Luci
Bobell was chosen as the new Little Miss Logan County.
First Runner-Up for queen was Ellyn Martinez.
The Dean Bruns Memorial Miss Congeniality Award was given to Alyvia
Gannon.
Crowd’s Choice and individual who was connected to the most
businesses was Emma Stoltzenburg.
Other awards for the Junior Miss contest were First Runner-Up Ellie
Wrage, Miss Congeniality Preslee Sherren, Crowd’s Choice Andrea
Rogers and most raffle tickets sold, Ashten Wolf.
Other awards for the Little Miss contest were First Runner-Up Reagan
Anderson, Second Runner-Up Lilian Rademaker, Crowd’s Choice Hadley
Tripplett, most raffle tickets sold Emma Bolen and most photogenic
Emersyn Brooks.
This fall, Queen Emma will be a junior at Southern Illinois
University in Edwardsville. She plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree
in Special Education in May 2024. After graduation, she plans to
teach pre-k through fifth grade students with learning and physical
disabilities. Her ultimate goal is to obtain a master’s degree in
Education Administration and open a school for students with
disabilities.
Some of Queen Emma’s honors have included the Lincoln Junior High
School Alumni Scholarship, James P. Maxwell Educational Memorial
Scholarship, National Honor Society and National Society of
Collegiate Scholars.
Queen Emma joined by Junior Miss Isabella and Little Miss Luci will
reign over the remainder of the Logan County Fair attending several
events and presentations handing out ribbons. The fair royalty will
also represent Logan County at various events throughout the year
with Queen Emma competing in January for the title of Miss Illinois
County Fair.
[Angela Reiners] |
