Fair Queen and candidates

After this weekend, one local high school student will reign supreme as the winner of the 2007 Bourbon County Fair Queen contest, which is scheduled to take place Sunday evening in Fort Scott.

Last month, Fort Scott High School student Holly Schnichels and Uniontown Junior Senior High School student Holli Zellner were judged on a series of qualifications that will determine which young woman will be crowned queen during the second annual contest, after their scores are tallied by contest organizers later this week.

The eventual fair queen is chosen to represent the Bourbon County Fair and its horse program, and also based on her participation in school and community activities, and her ability to serve as a role model for other young women.

"The goal of this contest is to select a young lady who embodies what a teenage girl should be," a statement from contest organizers said.

Since last month, the contestants have been selling advance tickets to the Bourbon County Fair that takes place next week at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, and will continue selling those tickets until 5 p.m. Thursday, contest co-organizer Rachel Martin said. The Bourbon County Fair board will receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to the event, and each contestant will also receive a portion, Martin said.

Advance fair tickets cost $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.

The girls were judged last month in a number of categories, including horsemanship, appropriateness of clothing, queens run, questions and saddle check, application, personal interview and essay. Martin said she recently coached both contestants on their horse riding and interview skills, and also traveled around the community with the contestants distributing fair schedules to local businesses.

Elizabeth Meech, the winner of last year's contest, has also been working with both girls this year, talking to them about proper contest attire and certain qualities that judges look for in contestants. Meech will also crown the winner during the 4-H horse show scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, and will also present the girls with their prizes.

The new fair queen will receive a traveling crown, donated by the Bourbon County Fair board, a buckle donated by the Uniontown Saddle Club, a $250 scholarship to the college of her choice, and a $250 scholarship to Fort Scott Community College. The contestant who sells the most tickets to the fair will also receive a $50 gift certificate to the Iron Star antique shop in Fort Scott.

The runner-up contestant will receive a sash, and both girls will receive other prizes, Martin said.

All eligible contestants must 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 is personally interviewed by a professional judge, and is administered two different tests; one consisting of random horse care questions, and the other a pattern that tests each rider's horsemanship.

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