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| Crowning moment: SF beauties take top honors in 2012 fair pageants |
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Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 10:00 pm
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By DONNA RYDER
Associate Editor
South Fulton High School was well represented at the Obion County Fair Monday night when two of its students took top honors in the evening’s beauty pageants.
Clare McConnell, 17, was crowned Fairest of the Fair, while Carly Ann Reams, 15, won Teen Miss. Both live in South Fulton. Miss McConnell is the daughter of Ty and Babette McConnell and Miss Reams is the daughter of Thea Vowell and Charles Reams.
Filling out the Fairest of the Fair court were first maid, Tara Marshall Elam, 17, of Union City, daughter of Tom and Yvonne Elam III and a student at Union City High School; second maid, Sabrina Michelle Clutter, 17, of Rives, daughter of Amy and Matt Nolan and a student at Obion County Central High School; and third maid, Molly Katherine Maclin, 16, of Union City, daughter of Hank Maclin and Brad and Cindi Cook and a student at UCHS.
The remainder of the Teen Miss court included first maid, Morgan Ann Jones, 15, of Obion, daughter of Carrie Butler and Scottie Jones and a student at OCCHS; second maid, Morgan Lee Laster, 15, of Rives, daughter of Tim and Jennie Laster and a student at OCCHS; and third maid, Kate Ellen Terrell, 14, of Union City, daughter of Rob and Renea Terrell and a student at Union City Middle School.
Fair president Brenda Baker was well pleased with the opening night of the 2012 edition of the Obion County Fair. She said the new gate system worked really well, with 865 season tickets scanned. She said the season tickets, which are the only ones considered for the nightly drawing, must be scanned. She said if fairgoers come early or if they go through one of the two gates with no scanning system, they must go to one of the main gates to have their tickets scanned. Ticket numbers scanned the previous day will be deleted from the system and only tickets scanned on each day of the drawing will be considered for the nightly prize. Monday night’s winners included Brittany Lyell of Rives, who won $1,000, and Anna Townsend of Union City, who won the Pick Tennessee Basket.
“The weather was perfect. ... We had a good crowd and the rain in the morning settled the dust,” Mrs. Baker said.
The fair was kicked off with opening ceremonies being held at the Reelfoot Bank Stage.
Named to the Obion County Fair Hall of Fame this year was former University of Tennessee Extension Service agent Claire McCollum, who served as the home demonstration extension agent from 1961-93. Former extension agent Bob Montgomery, who worked with Mrs. McCollum for many years, made the introduction. Mrs. McCollum, the widow of Sam McCollum, was unable to attend due to health reasons, but the honor was accepted by her family.
The McCollum family’s participation in the fair was noted and it was mentioned that Mrs. McCollum was also involved with junior livestock when her children and grandchildren showed animals.
The opening also included the dedication of a flag- pole and flag in honor of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 913th Engineer Co., the Union City-based unit which will return home Thursday from deployment to the Middle East. The national anthem was sung by Jamie Worrell during the ceremony.
The Rev. James Kinsey, pastor of Sunswept Baptist Church in Union City, led in prayer and the fair was officially announced as open by Union City Mayor and fair board member Terry Hailey.
The Hunter Miller Livestock Barn was filled with Obion County youth who participated in the poultry show. Mrs. Baker said 109 children were registered for the annual event, with Alexus Hooper of Union City winning grand champion. Mrs. Baker said Miss Hooper’s chicken was sold for $1,400 at the auction and she also will receive $250 in fair premiums. She sent special thanks to all the individuals and businesses who turn out each year to support the area’s youth in these venues.
The duck calling contest was also held Monday night. Winners included first place, Matt Tate of Kenton; second place, Garan Fox of Obion; third place, Tucker Davis of Union City; and fourth place, Vincent Cooper Scott of Fulton.
Other winners announced included Queen of the Kitchen, Sherri Hanna of Kenton; Best Dressed Closet, Frances Brown of Hornbeak; and Green Thumb Award, Sara Archie of South Fulton.
Mrs. Baker said Obion County residents have done an amazing job this year with their entries, which are showcased in the Raymond Phillips Junior Exhibits Building and the Domestic Arts Building. She said entries are up in adult categories, especially the senior citizens crafts. She said because of the lack of space in the junior building, the fair decreased the number of lots available in several categories this year and has asked for a reduction in the junior art for next year. “Space-wise, it’s helping,” she said.
Mrs. Baker said the commercial exhibits building is as full as she has seen it in a while and she had more requests for space, which she doesn’t have.
Two things she encourages people to take note of at the fair this year are the new LED lights on the ferris wheel and the Show Me Safari pig races, which are sponsored by Williams Sausage. She said she noticed the lights Monday night during the drawing. “They are amazing.” She said not only are they energy saving, but they can now have patterns.
The pig races are hilarious, Mrs. Baker said, adding it is an audience participation event. There are three races, with four pigs in each race. Four people are picked from the crowd to be cheerleaders for the pigs and if their pig wins they win a small stuffed pig.
“Everybody had the best time. There’s something different for everyone,” she said.
Mrs. Baker said some people may have heard about swine flu at several fairs. She wants to assure local residents the Obion County Fair board is doing everything it can to take all health precautions it can. Restroom facilities are available for washing with soap and water, but there are also hand sanitizing stations throughout the barn and in the petting zoo area.
Every animal on the grounds has to have health papers, even animals which can have papers that are brought to the pet show on Saturday, she said. She added someone from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture will be at the fair all week long.
“We don’t want anyone to come here and get sick,” she said.
The swine flu cases associated with fairs have been isolated incidents found in Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii.
Tonight is Pay-One-Price night. A special admission and hand stamp will be available for $10. It includes admission to the fair and all carnival rides. Everyone, regardless of age, will pay this fee after 6. Season tickets, which are $25, will be accepted for admission, but it will not include the ride hand stamp.
There’s a full slate of events scheduled for tonight. A Century Farms reception will be held in the barn at 5, followed by moto-x racing in the outdoor arena at 6 and pageants for Petite Miss, Little Miss and Junior Miss at the stage at 6:30. KYTN Karaoke Idol finals will be at the Back Porch Stage at 7.
After showing animals this morning, area youth will sell their livestock during the annual Obion County Junior Livestock Association auction at 7. Tonight will also be the first showing of the youth musical FairShow at 9 in the Whitney Cozart Pavilion.
On Wednesday, fairgoers can see the junior and open swine show and championship wrestling and participate in a cornhole tournament and stick horse rodeo.
For more information, visit the fair’s website, www.obioncountyfair.net.
Published in The Messenger 8.14.12 |
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