Miss Fayette County participating in state pageant

By Editor | January 13, 2011 |

The IAAF Convention will be held this Thursday through Sunday at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. At this convention, county fair officials can get ideas and book events for their 2011 fair.
A big part of this convention is the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant. Miss Fayette County Fair Queen Amy Pippin will compete for this title, along with 65 other contestants from throughout the state.
Fayette County Pageant Director Kim Fitch, along with crew member Vicki Koonce, and hair and makeup stylists Sarah Cripe, Angel Kopp and Kallye Eyman from Maranatha’s, will attend this year’s convention. Many family members, fair board members and friends will also be there to cheer her on.
Pippin is the 21-year-old daughter of Mark and Penny Pippin of St. Elmo. She is attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to obtain a degree in agriculture education, with a minor in health and nutrition.
After graduation in May 2012, she has plans to obtain a job as a high school agriculture teacher.
Instructions will be given for the weekend during the official roll call time on Thursday at 2 p.m. Also at this time, official swimsuit and evening gown pictures will be taken.
Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2010 Haley Freeman will then host a party for all of the contestants.
Friday will be the interview day. Each contestant will have a personal interview with the five judges.
This is a big part of the competition, because the title of Miss Illinois County Fair is a job. The new queen will be an employee of the state of Illinois for the year.
She will be the hostess of both state fairs and will travel throughout the state to other county fairs, and she will speak to the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate.
The preliminary competition is held on Saturday. Each contestant will compete in evening gown and swimsuit competitons, and deliver a 60-second speech.
Pippin will be in the evening group, which begins at 7 pm. The public is invited to attend. All events are at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.
Sunday is the final day of competition. All 66 contestants will do a dance routine, and the top 12 finalists will be announced. This is reserved seating only.
There will be a banquet, and the top 12 finalists will compete in speech, evening gown and swimsuit competitions, and answer three pop questions.
Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2011 will be announced following these competitions.
Anyone who would like to send Amy a card wishing her good luck may send it to RR 2, Box 90, Farina, Ill. 62838.