Two vie for crown in Bourbon County Fair Queen contest

Later this summer, two local girls will compete against each other for the honor of serving as the 2007 Bourbon County Fair Queen.

On June 14, Fort Scott High School student Holly Schnichels and Uniontown Junior Senior High School student Holli Zellner will be judged on a series of qualifications to determine which of them will be crowned queen during the second annual Bourbon County Fair Queen Contest to take place the week of the Bourbon County Fair, July 15-21.

The girls will begin selling advance tickets to the 2007 Bourbon County Fair grandstand shows on Friday and will continue through June 15. They will also participate in the annual Good Ol' Days Parade this year by appearing on a float pulled by a truck donated by Shepherd Team Auto Plaza, contest organizers said. The Good Ol' Days Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

Advance fair tickets are $10 each for grandstand shows including a draft horse pull on July 19, a garden tractor pull on July 20, and the Jordan Snyder Memorial ATV Shodeo on July 21.

Last month, 2006 Bourbon County Fair Queen Elizabeth Meech met with this year's contestants for photographs and to socialize, as well as to discuss items they would need to know for this year's competition, such as proper attire for the contest and qualities that judges look for in contestants.

Meech will crown the winner of the contest during the 4-H horse show on Sunday, July 15. The 2007 queen will receive a $250 scholarship to Fort Scott Community College, a $250 scholarship to their college of choice, a belt buckle donated by the Uniontown Saddle Club, and a traveling crown donated by the Bourbon County Fair Board. The contestant who sells the most tickets will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Iron Star antique shop in Fort Scott.

Three out-of-town judges will rate the contestants in a variety of categories, including horsemanship, appropriateness of clothing, queens run, questions and tack (saddle) check, application, personal interview and essay. Contestants are chosen based on their participation in their community, and their ability to stand out from their peers and serve as a role models for young girls in the community.

The eventual fair queen will represent the Bourbon County Fair and its horse program and should go beyond the call of duty in school and community activities.

"The goal of this contest is to select a young lady who embodies what a teenage girl should be," a statement from the contest organizers said. "She should be well-spoken and carry herself with poise, respect and a sense of self-worth. She should be intelligent, energetic, honest and outgoing, show initiative with her own voice and thoughts, who participates in activities not just for recreation, but to make a difference."

Contestants must also be between 15 and 18 years of age, active in 4-H and FFA, and have at least one entry in the Bourbon County Fair. Each contestant will be personally interviewed by a judge, and administered two different tests; one consisting of random horse care questions, the other being a pattern testing each rider's horsemanship.

To enter the contest, young women had to fill out applications, submit essays outlining the reasons they wanted to be crowned queen, and raise at least $150 in sponsor money to help support the contest, officials said. Donations from the community help fund different aspects of the contest such as advertising, photographs, judge fees, and contest prizes. Any remaining funds are donated to the Bourbon County Fair Board, which also lends assistance to the contest, officials said.

The contest generated more than $800 in donations last year.

To donate money to the contest, visit www.geocities.com/bbcofairqueen/07 on the Internet, or e-mail organizers Rachel Martin, Jada Fuhrman or Kasey Eaton at bbcofairqueen@yahoo.com.