4-H pageant offers valuable
experience
By Sara Fisel
Staff Writer
Who would have thought a fair would be the place
where a young woman could increase her self-confidence, better her social
skills and work on her poise?
The Miss Tippecanoe County 4-H Queen pageant could
be just the place.
Fourteen applications were turned in for the upcoming
year's pageant, but this number proves to be smaller than last year.
Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 21 and they must have
completed a minimum of four years in 4-H. Contestants may participate
in the pageant for a maximum of only two years, and the queen must be
available for her duties and appearances throughout the entirety of
the fair. These include various community events such as the Christmas
parade.
The pageant is held at 7 p.m. on July 21 beginning
at the fairgrounds. The pageant begins with a kickoff fund-raising fashion
show at 10 a.m. on July 7 at the fair. During the pageant, contestants
model various items of clothing. Part of the money that is raised is
used for the luncheon on the day of the pageant as well as to cover
the expenses for the prizes given.
Michelle Sunderland, the fashion show's chairperson,
is excited for this year's contestants.
"Before the actual pageant the girls go through
four weeks of workshops, are groomed for interviewing skills, learn
runway skills and also attend a beauty workshop where they learn about
makeup, hair and nails," said Sunderland.
The 1999 winner, Karen Rumble, recalls the day's
events of the pageant. Rumble said contestants began their interview
process by meeting the judges, wearing a business suit. The young women
go through a three-minute interview with each judge individually. Judges
take questions off of the contestants' applications.
"It wasn't like a Miss America pageant, and he
didn’t ask me how I would save the world. Instead, it was based
on questions about my future college career," said Rumble.
After the interviews with the judges, the girls
participated in the evening gown competition.
"The point of this contest was to measure our poise,
posture and the way we held ourselves in front of the 1,000 quota crowd,"
said Rumble. "If we did not hold ourselves well or were fidgety in front
of the audience, the judges would see that. It was also how we flattered
our dress and how well we modeled ourselves."
After the queen is crowned, her main duties take
place during the fair. Queens must be present for all judging, animal
judging and other shows. They are to be role models for the kids, speak
at high schools to promote 4-H and participate in the Christmas parade.
The following year, queens must be prepared to hand down the crown.
This year’s winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship
from Farm Bureau Insurance of Tippecanoe County, a new car for the week
of the fair from Bob Rohrman Dealerships, her crown, a silver tray,
a bouquet of flowers and an assortment of other gifts from local businesses.
Each member of her court will receive gifts and prizes as well.
The prizes are nice, but winning isn't everything,
said Sunderland. "Even if they do not win, every girl gets the same
valuable experience."
Contestants go through four weeks of workshops
in which they have learned skills that will help them while applying
for jobs and interviewing for colleges. The skills they have learned
will help them through their entire lives, said Sunderland. They are
taught how to carry themselves, social skills and how to interact with
a variety of people.
"What they learn from the entire competition is
far more valuable than any prize could give," said Sunderland.
Rumble agrees. "The pageant would have been well
worth my time even if I wouldn't have won. I would have done it a second
year and still would have gained just as much from being in it," said
Rumble.
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