Two vying for title of Miss Jacktown Fair
Two contestants will vie for the title of 2017 Miss Jacktown Fair Queen.
The Miss Jacktown Fair Queen pageant, as well as the Miss Jacktown Fair Princess pageant, will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday in Commercial Hall at the Jacktown Fairgrounds.
This year, the Jacktown Fair will celebrate its 152nd edition. The fair will officially kick off July 18 with the annual Jacktown Fair parade, and will run through July 22.
The two contestants who will compete for the title of Miss Jacktown Fair are Courtney Ross and Haley Pierson.
Each contestant was asked to write an essay of 300 words or less on “What the Jacktown Fair Means to My Community.” During the pageant, each contestant will participate in a seven-minute interview with the judges, model an evening gown and give a short introduction and three- to five-minute speech on “Why You Should Come to the Jacktown Fair.”
The new queen will be crowned by 2016 Fair Queen Laura Wise after the parade.
Ross, 16, daughter of Steven and Brandie Ross of Aleppo, attends West Greene High School. She is a member of the softball, volleyball and rifle teams. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, ski club, science club and the West Greene Chapter of Future Farmers of America.
Ross spends her time participating in Greene County 4-H clubs, singing at various events, hunting, camping with her family and working on the family farm. She raises cattle, pigs, lambs and rabbits.
Pierson, 18, daughter of Julie Whipkey and Johnny Pierson, is a recent West Greene High School graduate. Pierson participates in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. She enjoys fishing, hunting, riding horses, riding ATVs, working on the family farm and hanging out with friends. Pierson is employed at Tractor Supply.
Wise, 19-year-old daughter of Mary Ellen and Andy Wise of Graysville, is a 2016 graduate of West Greene High School and attends Slippery Rock University, where she is majoring in middle level education mathematics. Wise is involved in the Middle Level Education Association Club, was treasurer of the house counsel for her dormitory her freshman year, is a member of Alpha Sigma Tau and helped raise money for Morgan’s Army.
The 2017 Miss Jacktown Fair Princess pageant has five contestants.
Each contestant was asked to submit a poster advertising an event at the fair, model a sundress, give a short introduction and participate in a five-minute interview with the judges.
The new princess will be crowned at the end of the pageant by the 2016 Jacktown Fair Princess Payton Gilbert, 9, daughter of Robby and Jennifer Gilbert of New Freeport.
Contestants for princess are:
• BreAnna McDiffitt, 8, daughter of Sonny and Shirley McDiffitt of New Freeport. BreAnna is a member of the West Greene girls basketball team and the 2017 fall softball travel team. She was crowned the 2012 Little Miss Maple Leaf Queen, and was Autumns Fall Beauties “Most Beautiful” in 2012.
• Mia Rhome, 10, daughter of Adam Rhome and Katrina Beck of Wind Ridge. Mia enjoys volunteering at the Greene County Humane Society, rollerblading, ice skating, baking and reading.
• Kendra Tharp, 9, daughter of Natasha and Cory Tharp of Wind Ridge. She is a member of the Wind Ridge baseball team and West Greene Little League cheerleading squad and dances at the In Motion Dance and Fitness Center. She also takes classes at Buffington Martial Arts. Tharp volunteers at the Greene County Humane Society.
• Marissa Tharp, 10, daughter of Natasha and Cory Tharp of Wind Ridge. Marissa is a member of the Wind Ridge baseball team and West Greene 10-and-under softball team and dances at the In Motion Dance and Fitness Center. She is a West Greene Little League cheerleader and takes classes at Buffington Martial Arts. Tharp was crowned the 2015 Miss Firecracker.
• Cameron Wendell, 8, daughter of Chad and Cortney Wendell of Holbrook. Cameron is a member of the lamb club and softball team and participates in mixed martial arts.