The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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March 18, 2010

Queen contestants putting final touches on presentations

By Mary Rainwater Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — Nine young ladies are putting the finishing touches on their presentations for the Walker County Fair Queen Contest this Saturday, when judges will determine which candidate will best represent the 2010 Walker County Fair.

This year’s contestants — eight from Huntsville High School and one from New Waverly High School  — include: Kaci King, a HHS sophomore; Shelby Beaird, a HHS freshman; Kaci Weeks, a HHS freshman; Randy Crapitto, a HHS senior; Shannon Riley, a HHS senior; Shyanne Riley, a New Waverly sophomore; McKayla Currier, a HHS senior; Reba Brown, a HHS junior; and Cherie Lee, a HHS junior.

The Queen’s Contest will begin with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m., where the contestants and panel of three judges will meet for the first time.

“This will be the first time for the girls to make an impression on the judges,” queen’s contest chair Marjetta Spriggs said. “It gives the judges an opportunity to meet the girls and see how they interact with others.”

After the breakfast, beginning at about 8:30 a.m. in the Walker County Fairgrounds Cattleman’s Room, each of the nine contestants will give 8-10-minute presentations about their respective projects.

“The girls can use any visual aides — whatever they want that pertains to their topic,” Spriggs said. “At the end, judges will ask individual questions about the project.”

Some of the projects being presented include: “Pigs: From the Barn to the Hospital”; “Shelby had a Little Lamb: From Pasture to Show”; “The Lean Pig”; “Artificial Insemination”; and several more.

“The public is invited to attend and hear the presentations,” Spriggs said. “But they will not be allowed to enter while a presentation is taking place.”

After breaking for lunch with contestants, judges will meet with and conduct 10-minute interviews with the candidates.

“They will be asked questions about the Walker County Fair Association, current events and some fun questions, just to see how they respond,” Spriggs said. “The girls will then be free to go.”

The real work then begins, when judges will compile contestant scores — but not before being presented documentation on each candidate’s fair participation.

“That part is submitted to the judges last to prevent any bias going in to the contest,” Spriggs said. “It will show what the candidates have been involved in and answers questions like why the fair is important to them and why they want to be fair queen.”

Judging takes place in four areas, where candidates can earn up to 100 points — personality and poise, 20 points; appearance and attire, 20 points; project presentation, 40 points; and fair participation, 20 points.

“The winner’s name is sealed in an envelope and locked away until the opening ceremonies,” Spriggs said. “No one except the judges know who the winner will be.”

According to Spriggs, the candidates are likely spending these final days before the contest “fine tuning” their presentations.

“We have encouraged them to practice giving their presentations, especially to those who have knowledge of their topic,” Spriggs said. “And they are probably practicing for their interviews.”

The 2010 Walker County Fair Queen will be crowned during the fair’s opening ceremonies, taking place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, in the main building at the Walker County Fairgrounds.

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