Miss Whitley County Fair to be crowned Saturday

In what begins a week of practice and preparation for the Miss Whitley County Fair Pageant, the seven contestants came to Seasons Restaurant for the traditional tea.
Tammy Walker, the pageant director, said while the contestants may only know one another by name. With the daily rehearsals, organizers realized the contestants need an opportunity to sit down and just talk.
The contestants include:
Whitney Baker, 2013 Corbin High School Graduate, daughter of Marvin Baker and Renae Hooker;
Terra Canada, 2013 Whitley County High School Graduate, daughter of Melinda Canada;
Savanna Cobb, Whitley County High School, daughter of Terre Cobb;
Megan Cole, 2013 Whitley County High School Graduate, daughter of Diane and Brian Cole;
Taylor Hamlin, 2013 Corbin High School Graduate, daughter of Jeff and Gina Hamlin;
Julia Higginbotham, Williamsburg High School, daughter of David and Lora Higginbotham;
Mckenna Rains, 2013 Whitley County High School Graduate, daughter of Jerry and Kristin Rains.
“Starting Wednesday, they are going to be together all the time,” Walker said. “I told them, ‘By the time this week is over, you will love each other, or you will hate each other.’”
In addition to getting to know one another, the contestants had the opportunity to meet someone who has walked in their high heel shoes.
“Each year, we choose someone we think the girls can relate to and that has made a career after the pageant,” Walker explained.
Maria Harrison, who was crowned Miss Whitley County Fair in 1983, spoke with the contestants.
“It was the thing to do,” Harrison said, when asked what enticed her to enter the pageant.
Harrison said participating in pageants can really help girls build confidence.
Harrison has been using some of that pageant experience to further her career. She is still getting up in front of a group of judges. Those judges are the high school students who sit in her English classes at Williamsburg High School every day.
“Enjoy all of the pageantry,” Harrison said when asked what advice she would offer to the contestants.
“Try to be yourself,” she said. “Don’t try to fake anything. Take is seriously, but, at the same time, have fun.”
The pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Whitley County High School gymnasium.
Walker said the contestants will be vying for approximately $8,000 in scholarship prizes that may be used at the college of their choice.
The contestants will participate in swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions. In addition each contestant will give an onstage speech.
The theme of this year’s pageant is, “Protectors of the Red, White and Blue.”
“Each girl will choose a branch of the U.S. Military as the topic for their speech and will explain why they chose that branch,” Walker explained, noting the speech replaces the talent competition.
Walker said this pageant will be in memory of Alexandra Hamilton, a Whitley County High School student who died of injuries she received in a car wreck in December.
Hamilton was very popular and very active in area pageants, participating in Miss Nibroc and Miss Laurel County Fair in 2012.
A table honoring Hamilton will be set up during Saturday’s pageant and a special ballet dance will be performed during the pageant.
“We want to dedicate this pageant to Alexandra,” Walker said.
Walker noted that the pageant would not be possible without the hard work of the organizers. They include: Iona Patrick, Lincoln Patrick, Theresa Black, Corissa Byer, Beth Anne Cupp and Gail Fredericks.
In addition, Walker offered her thanks to the businesses and organizations throughout Whitley County, who make the pageant possible by donating money, prizes, other items and equipment.