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50th Annual Fair Queen Pageant
Ring ends reign as Edgar County Fair Queen; ten young women vie for the 2008 title
Submitted by CINDY BELT
Ten young Edgar County women will compete for the title of Miss Edgar County Fair Queen at 7 p.m. July 20 before the grandstand at the fairgrounds north of Paris.
The pageant, under the direction of Tracy Quinn Porter, is being held during the second evening of the fair. Along with prizes, gifts and a $1,000 Simonton Windows Scholarship, the 2008 queen will represent Edgar County in competition at the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant in Springfield next January.
Representing Edgar County this past January at the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant was Beth Ring, 2007 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ring of Paris.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the pageant and Porter has invited all former Edgar County fair queens to attend as special guests at this year’s pageant. In addition, each contestant will give a prepared speech on stage, which is something new for the pageant this year.
Assisting Porter behind the scenes in the preparation of the crowning of the new queen are Loretta Morgan, 2006 Miss Edgar County Fair Kacey Hand, 2002 Miss Edgar County Fair Erin Harbaugh, Kathy Porter, Darla Foster, Melissa Mathias, Mary Jo Ingrum and Echo Johnson.
The queen contestants are fully engaged in the long hours of practices, learning all the fundamentals of a queen pageant, such as walking and turning gracefully while wearing high heeled shoes.
They are also being taught the right shades of lipstick and eye shadow to select to bring out their features in addition to selecting dresses, evening gowns and swim suits that are appropriate for them.
Meet the contestants:
Alesha McCarty is the daughter of Monica Hutchings of Paris. The 5-foot-5-inch brunette is a 2007 graduate of Paris High School. She is currently enrolled at Indiana State University where she is pursuing a degree in interior design and architecture with a minor in business. She is employed at O’Rielly’s Auto Parts in Paris. The 2005 Honey Bee Queen, McCarty entered this year’s pageant because she wants to represent Edgar County and be a good role model for young girls. She said the pageant experience has been very positive for her as she has gotten to know several people throughout the country as well as to make lasting friendships with fellow contestants. If she were to be selected queen, McCarty said that she would look at her role as a job not just a crown. She looks forward to the annual fair because everyone in the community goes to the fair and it’s great family fun.
A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Sasha Branson is the daughter of Doug and Sandy Keller of Paris. Branson is 5-feet 5- inches tall with brown hair. She is currently attending Lake Land College where she will earn an associate’s degree in interior design before transferring to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville to become a registered nurse. She is currently employed at Odd Fellow Rebekah Nursing Home in Mattoon. She has won the best casual award twice in the Honeybee Pageant. With that positive experience, she decided to enter the fair queen pageant. She admits learning a great deal from the Edgar County pageant experience especially in the areas of posture and how she presents herself. She said she has also gained more self confidence in the process. She would be proud to be selected Miss Edgar County 2008, and she said she would work to represent the county in the best way possible, especially being a role model for her 11-year-old sister. When she thinks about the fair, she thinks about fun at the demolition derby.
Allyson Norman entered the pageant to carry on a family tradition as her mother was the 1983 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. The 5-foot-5-inch blonde is the daughter of Kim Norman of Paris and Mike Norman of Colorado. The 2006 Paris High School graduate said the pageant process has taught her to stand tall and be strong and confident. She graduated in May with an associate’s degree in horticulture from Lake Land College. She is pursuing a second degree from LLC in agriculture business before she transfers to the University of Illinois or Southern Illinois University. to continue her ag studies. She plans to become a Farm Bureau manager. She is currently completing an internship at the Edgar County Farm Bureau in Paris. Norman feels her strong background in 4-H and FFA make her an excellent contestant for the crown as she says the fair is all about agriculture. Of the many aspects of the county fair, the truck and tractor pull are her favorites because she loves to hear the big diesels roll down the track.
Another contestant wanting to carry on her family tradition with the queen pageant is Shelby Calles. Her sister, Katie Calles, was the 2003 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. She stands 5-feet 8-inches tall with light brown hair and is the daughter of Robert and Penny Calles of Paris. A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Calles will attend Indiana State University this fall to pursue a dual major in elementary and special education. She is employed this summer at Teri’s Threads, and she also works as a babysitter. As a little girl, Calles said that she would get her little friends together and play pageant. She said she took her cardboard crown more seriously than her other playmates. Through her weeks of pageant practice she has gained confidence in modeling a swimsuit on stage before a large audience. Being Miss Edgar County, to Calles, would be an honor as she said she would represent her county and be a part of the fair. She enjoys attending the fair each year because she always sees old friends and she gets to enjoy fair food.
Standing 5-feet 9-inches tall is Victoria Minge, the daughter of Elizabeth Rigdon and Randy Minge of Paris. She is a 2008 graduate of Paris High School and is enrolled in general studies at Lake Land College. Later she plans to transfer to Indiana State University to major in fashion merchandising before attending the Fashion Design School in Indianapolis, Ind. She is employed with Savoree Properties. Competing in the Honeybee Pageant for four years, Minge earned the best interview award in 2004, the best casual wear in 2005, the best evening gown in 2006 and was named the first attendant in the 2007 pageant. She has also earned the title of 2007 Miss Paris, and 2007 Miss Wabash Valley for Dream Girls USA. To become Miss Edgar County would be a personal victory for her as she has overcome a neurological muscle disease diagnosed over eight years ago. As Miss Edgar County, she would work to get the community more involved in the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Brittni Rios, who stands 5-feet 8-inches tall and has brown hair, is the daughter of Joe and Terri Rios of Paris. A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Rios is spending the summer caring for her brother and sister while her parents are at work. She plans to attend Eastern Illinois University this fall where she will be a chemistry pre-med major. Her long-term goals following medical school and residence are to become an anesthesiologist. Rios has always wanted to enter the Miss Edgar County Fair Queen Pageant, and she finally got the courage to enter this year with encouragement from her friends. She’s learned through the process that any young girl in the county can be a pageant contestant. She would like to wear the queen’s crown so she can represent Edgar County. Plus, the crown would symbolize her hard work through the pageant process. When Rios thinks of the Edgar County Fair, she automatically thinks of food and carnival rides.
After finding last year’s pageant to be so much fun, Taylor Bell entered the 2008 pageant. She is the daughter of Delmar and Lori Bell of Paris, and she is 5-feet 6-inches tall with blonde hair. A 2006 graduate of Paris High School and a graduate of Lake Land College Cosmetology Program, Bell received her cosmetology license in December of 2007. She completed her state boards in January. Bell now owns her own business, Wake-Up with Make-Up, and is also employed as a stylist at Scissor Shack Salon in Paris. She has gained self confidence in the pageant and said she now feels more comfortable standing on stage before hundreds of people. A 12-year member of the Edgar County 4-H, Bell finds the Edgar County Fair to be her favorite time of the year. She said she would be extremely proud to be named Miss Edgar County Fair. Plus, she added, it would be a great birthday present as her birthday is July 28.
Emily Tessman, the daughter of Kevin and Felicia Tessman of Paris, is currently a junior at Indiana State University, majoring in political science. She plans to become a lobbyist for the United States Congress. She is a 2006 graduate of Paris High School and is employed as a waitress at the Paris Pizza Hut. Tessman entered the pageant for a variety of reasons. Working her way through college, Tessman said she could use the queen’s scholarship prize. She said she also enjoyed her time as the 2003 Honeybee Queen. And finally, she is participating in the pageant as a tribute to her late grandmother, Ruthie Tessman. Standing 5-feet 5-inches tall with auburn colored hair, Tessman describes the pageant as a learning opportunity. She has learned about stage presence along with self esteem and she said when one stands up straight, people notice. Representing Edgar County would be an honor to Tessman if she were crowned fair queen. She doesn’t have just one favorite aspect of the fair as she enjoys it all.
A 2006 graduate of Paris High School, Kristin Myers is the daughter of Amy Jones of Marshall and Scott Myers of Paris. She currently attends Lake Land College where she plans to earn an associate’s degree in nursing before transferring to Indiana State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her long term goal is to work in a children’s hospital oncology unit. She is employed at Syngenta Seeds, Inc. in Paris. The 5-foot-4-inch tall contestant with brown hair has wanted to enter the pageant for a long time, and finally got the courage to enter this year. She’s learned through the process to be confident and content with herself. Myers, who enjoys interacting with people, said she would wear the fair queen crown proudly. When she thinks of the Edgar County Fair, she immediately thinks of the tractor pull, which is a tradition for the Myers family. She has happy memories of watching her late grandfather, Larry Myers, participate in the fair event.
A sophomore at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Melanie Spung is majoring in sciences with a pre-dentistry focus. She is a 2007 graduate at Paris High School. She plans to attend Southern Illinois School of Dentistry in Alton and become a dentist, working in public health. She is currently employed as a dental assistant with the Edgar County Health Department. She also works as a lifeguard with the Paris and Edwardsville YMCAs and as an assistant teacher at Lori’s Pins and Needles in Paris. The 2006 Honeybee Queen, Spung said she entered this year’s fair queen pageant because she enjoys pageants. She has gained self confidence through the pageant process, and she is learning to enjoy being on stage. Spung said, if crowned, she would take the title of Miss Edgar County Fair Queen seriously. The 5-foot-3-inch tall contestant with dark brown hair always looks forward to the demolition derby at the Edgar County Fair.
The pageant, under the direction of Tracy Quinn Porter, is being held during the second evening of the fair. Along with prizes, gifts and a $1,000 Simonton Windows Scholarship, the 2008 queen will represent Edgar County in competition at the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant in Springfield next January.
Representing Edgar County this past January at the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant was Beth Ring, 2007 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ring of Paris.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the pageant and Porter has invited all former Edgar County fair queens to attend as special guests at this year’s pageant. In addition, each contestant will give a prepared speech on stage, which is something new for the pageant this year.
Assisting Porter behind the scenes in the preparation of the crowning of the new queen are Loretta Morgan, 2006 Miss Edgar County Fair Kacey Hand, 2002 Miss Edgar County Fair Erin Harbaugh, Kathy Porter, Darla Foster, Melissa Mathias, Mary Jo Ingrum and Echo Johnson.
The queen contestants are fully engaged in the long hours of practices, learning all the fundamentals of a queen pageant, such as walking and turning gracefully while wearing high heeled shoes.
They are also being taught the right shades of lipstick and eye shadow to select to bring out their features in addition to selecting dresses, evening gowns and swim suits that are appropriate for them.
Meet the contestants:
Alesha McCarty is the daughter of Monica Hutchings of Paris. The 5-foot-5-inch brunette is a 2007 graduate of Paris High School. She is currently enrolled at Indiana State University where she is pursuing a degree in interior design and architecture with a minor in business. She is employed at O’Rielly’s Auto Parts in Paris. The 2005 Honey Bee Queen, McCarty entered this year’s pageant because she wants to represent Edgar County and be a good role model for young girls. She said the pageant experience has been very positive for her as she has gotten to know several people throughout the country as well as to make lasting friendships with fellow contestants. If she were to be selected queen, McCarty said that she would look at her role as a job not just a crown. She looks forward to the annual fair because everyone in the community goes to the fair and it’s great family fun.
A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Sasha Branson is the daughter of Doug and Sandy Keller of Paris. Branson is 5-feet 5- inches tall with brown hair. She is currently attending Lake Land College where she will earn an associate’s degree in interior design before transferring to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville to become a registered nurse. She is currently employed at Odd Fellow Rebekah Nursing Home in Mattoon. She has won the best casual award twice in the Honeybee Pageant. With that positive experience, she decided to enter the fair queen pageant. She admits learning a great deal from the Edgar County pageant experience especially in the areas of posture and how she presents herself. She said she has also gained more self confidence in the process. She would be proud to be selected Miss Edgar County 2008, and she said she would work to represent the county in the best way possible, especially being a role model for her 11-year-old sister. When she thinks about the fair, she thinks about fun at the demolition derby.
Allyson Norman entered the pageant to carry on a family tradition as her mother was the 1983 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. The 5-foot-5-inch blonde is the daughter of Kim Norman of Paris and Mike Norman of Colorado. The 2006 Paris High School graduate said the pageant process has taught her to stand tall and be strong and confident. She graduated in May with an associate’s degree in horticulture from Lake Land College. She is pursuing a second degree from LLC in agriculture business before she transfers to the University of Illinois or Southern Illinois University. to continue her ag studies. She plans to become a Farm Bureau manager. She is currently completing an internship at the Edgar County Farm Bureau in Paris. Norman feels her strong background in 4-H and FFA make her an excellent contestant for the crown as she says the fair is all about agriculture. Of the many aspects of the county fair, the truck and tractor pull are her favorites because she loves to hear the big diesels roll down the track.
Another contestant wanting to carry on her family tradition with the queen pageant is Shelby Calles. Her sister, Katie Calles, was the 2003 Miss Edgar County Fair Queen. She stands 5-feet 8-inches tall with light brown hair and is the daughter of Robert and Penny Calles of Paris. A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Calles will attend Indiana State University this fall to pursue a dual major in elementary and special education. She is employed this summer at Teri’s Threads, and she also works as a babysitter. As a little girl, Calles said that she would get her little friends together and play pageant. She said she took her cardboard crown more seriously than her other playmates. Through her weeks of pageant practice she has gained confidence in modeling a swimsuit on stage before a large audience. Being Miss Edgar County, to Calles, would be an honor as she said she would represent her county and be a part of the fair. She enjoys attending the fair each year because she always sees old friends and she gets to enjoy fair food.
Standing 5-feet 9-inches tall is Victoria Minge, the daughter of Elizabeth Rigdon and Randy Minge of Paris. She is a 2008 graduate of Paris High School and is enrolled in general studies at Lake Land College. Later she plans to transfer to Indiana State University to major in fashion merchandising before attending the Fashion Design School in Indianapolis, Ind. She is employed with Savoree Properties. Competing in the Honeybee Pageant for four years, Minge earned the best interview award in 2004, the best casual wear in 2005, the best evening gown in 2006 and was named the first attendant in the 2007 pageant. She has also earned the title of 2007 Miss Paris, and 2007 Miss Wabash Valley for Dream Girls USA. To become Miss Edgar County would be a personal victory for her as she has overcome a neurological muscle disease diagnosed over eight years ago. As Miss Edgar County, she would work to get the community more involved in the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Brittni Rios, who stands 5-feet 8-inches tall and has brown hair, is the daughter of Joe and Terri Rios of Paris. A 2008 graduate of Paris High School, Rios is spending the summer caring for her brother and sister while her parents are at work. She plans to attend Eastern Illinois University this fall where she will be a chemistry pre-med major. Her long-term goals following medical school and residence are to become an anesthesiologist. Rios has always wanted to enter the Miss Edgar County Fair Queen Pageant, and she finally got the courage to enter this year with encouragement from her friends. She’s learned through the process that any young girl in the county can be a pageant contestant. She would like to wear the queen’s crown so she can represent Edgar County. Plus, the crown would symbolize her hard work through the pageant process. When Rios thinks of the Edgar County Fair, she automatically thinks of food and carnival rides.
After finding last year’s pageant to be so much fun, Taylor Bell entered the 2008 pageant. She is the daughter of Delmar and Lori Bell of Paris, and she is 5-feet 6-inches tall with blonde hair. A 2006 graduate of Paris High School and a graduate of Lake Land College Cosmetology Program, Bell received her cosmetology license in December of 2007. She completed her state boards in January. Bell now owns her own business, Wake-Up with Make-Up, and is also employed as a stylist at Scissor Shack Salon in Paris. She has gained self confidence in the pageant and said she now feels more comfortable standing on stage before hundreds of people. A 12-year member of the Edgar County 4-H, Bell finds the Edgar County Fair to be her favorite time of the year. She said she would be extremely proud to be named Miss Edgar County Fair. Plus, she added, it would be a great birthday present as her birthday is July 28.
Emily Tessman, the daughter of Kevin and Felicia Tessman of Paris, is currently a junior at Indiana State University, majoring in political science. She plans to become a lobbyist for the United States Congress. She is a 2006 graduate of Paris High School and is employed as a waitress at the Paris Pizza Hut. Tessman entered the pageant for a variety of reasons. Working her way through college, Tessman said she could use the queen’s scholarship prize. She said she also enjoyed her time as the 2003 Honeybee Queen. And finally, she is participating in the pageant as a tribute to her late grandmother, Ruthie Tessman. Standing 5-feet 5-inches tall with auburn colored hair, Tessman describes the pageant as a learning opportunity. She has learned about stage presence along with self esteem and she said when one stands up straight, people notice. Representing Edgar County would be an honor to Tessman if she were crowned fair queen. She doesn’t have just one favorite aspect of the fair as she enjoys it all.
A 2006 graduate of Paris High School, Kristin Myers is the daughter of Amy Jones of Marshall and Scott Myers of Paris. She currently attends Lake Land College where she plans to earn an associate’s degree in nursing before transferring to Indiana State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her long term goal is to work in a children’s hospital oncology unit. She is employed at Syngenta Seeds, Inc. in Paris. The 5-foot-4-inch tall contestant with brown hair has wanted to enter the pageant for a long time, and finally got the courage to enter this year. She’s learned through the process to be confident and content with herself. Myers, who enjoys interacting with people, said she would wear the fair queen crown proudly. When she thinks of the Edgar County Fair, she immediately thinks of the tractor pull, which is a tradition for the Myers family. She has happy memories of watching her late grandfather, Larry Myers, participate in the fair event.
A sophomore at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Melanie Spung is majoring in sciences with a pre-dentistry focus. She is a 2007 graduate at Paris High School. She plans to attend Southern Illinois School of Dentistry in Alton and become a dentist, working in public health. She is currently employed as a dental assistant with the Edgar County Health Department. She also works as a lifeguard with the Paris and Edwardsville YMCAs and as an assistant teacher at Lori’s Pins and Needles in Paris. The 2006 Honeybee Queen, Spung said she entered this year’s fair queen pageant because she enjoys pageants. She has gained self confidence through the pageant process, and she is learning to enjoy being on stage. Spung said, if crowned, she would take the title of Miss Edgar County Fair Queen seriously. The 5-foot-3-inch tall contestant with dark brown hair always looks forward to the demolition derby at the Edgar County Fair.
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