The reign of Sarah Huber will come to end this week as a new young woman will be crowned Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen.
This year’s pageant will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Hamilton County 4-H Grounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville.
This year’s 20 contestants vying for the title include Courtney Adams, Sheridan; Taylor Bedwell, Fishers; Emily Burris, Noblesville; Dorian Bush, Noblesville; Stephanie Chinn, Westfield; Victoria Comin, Noblesville; Kayleigh Crane, Fishers; Katie Fillingsness, Fishers; Rachel Flanders, Noblesville; Kendall Gatewood, Noblesville; Morgan Hasler, Atlanta; Christy Kettler, Westfield; Kyleigh Kimbrell, Noblesville; Miranda Lipps, Atlanta; Jana Lowery, Fishers; Madison McFadden, Noblesville; Kara Moody, Noblesville; Kelly Moorhous, Arcadia; Zoe Schwab, Noblesville; and Shelbi Tidd, Fishers.
“They are a great group of girls,” pageant director Molly Drummond said. “They are doing fabulous and paying attention to our suggestions.”
Moorhous is competing in her third pageant. She finished fourth runner-up in 2011 and third runner-up last year. Moorhous said she first entered the pageant to make new friends and has continued to make more every year.
“I make friends from different areas of the county,” she said.
As an experience participant, Moorhous has tried to assist new members with advise about being on court, the time commitments and what to do during the pageant.
“It’s the little things,” she said, “like watching when walking down the runway that your big, puffy dress doesn’t knock over the plants.”
Drummond said the contestants contain a mix of returning contestants and first year participants like Morgan Hasler.
“I came in not knowing what exactly to expect. The experience has been really good. Everybody has been really nice and inviting,” Hasler, a nine-year member in 4-H, said. “The best advice I’ve been given is to have fun and be myself.”
While she hasn’t competed before, Hasler has attended previous pageants.
“I would answer the (contestant’s) questions with my mother sitting next to me,” she said.
Contestants will be judged on the basis of personality, poise, presence and beauty. This judging is divided into three categories – professional wear, formal wear and a four-minute interview with the judges. To be eligible, a contestant must be between the ages of 16 to 19 by Aug. 19 and must be an active 4-H member in Hamilton County this year. Previous winners cannot compete again.
The new queen and her court will make appearances during this year’s Hamilton County 4-H Fair on July 18 through 23.
