Queen candidates display talents during pageant

     Seven contestants for the title of Great Jones County Fair Queen displayed their talents, creativity and ability to answer questions on the spot, before a full-house crowd at the Queen Pageant Sunday, July 8 at the Eagles Club in Monticello.

     The contestants took part in the interview portion of the competition at the Citizens State Bank Youth Development Center before heading to the Eagles for the pageant.

     Following introductions of the finalists by pageant director Marcia Kray, the costume competition began, in which the contestants took turns performing a skit and/or song describing what the fair means to them.

     Rachel Ross sang “The Fair Necessities” to the tune of “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book.” Jabezz Husmann sang an altered version of the Florida Georgia Line song “Up Down,” while wearing a strawberry smoothie costume.

     Hanna Wall, calling her skit the “Animal Experience,” brought out two dogs that performed tricks while wearing costume lion’s manes around their necks. Jessi Welter made pineapple whip, which she said debuted at the fair last year, and gave samples to the judges.

     Sydney Ballou, in a costume depicting cotton candy, performed a rap about the fair before tossing cotton candy samples to the crowd. Taylor Cruise performed “Five Reasons I Love the Fair,” with a costume or t-shirt for each. Marissa Recker performed on piano and in various costumes, in “Rendition of the Fair on Piano.”

     The evening gown competition followed, with the contestants circling around the audience before taking the stage, one by one, to answer questions posed by 2017 Great Jones County Fair Queen Shay Stephen and 2017 Great Jones County Fair Princess Lauren Von Behren.

     Each was asked: “What is your favorite quote, and why?” and “What makes you unique?” Then, each had to answer a random question drawn out of a bowl.

     Rachel Ross drew a question about the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to begin accepting girls.

     “I think that was a very bold move, and I believe each person should feel comfortable whatever they are, and that we should be accepting of others.”

     Jabezz Husmann said her favorite quote was: “Keep trying even if times get rough.”

     Hanna Wall was asked what cause she would advocate for if given a blank sign to take to a march.

     “I think that my sign for the march I would advocate for is animal rights, and it would say that all animals’ rights matter.”

     Jessi Welter said her maturity is what makes her unique, and used the example of starting work at a local bank. “I wanted to prove to all of them that they have the same work ethic and drive (that) anyone else does.”

     Sydney Ballou said her favorite quote was, “She believed she could, so she did.”

     Taylor Cruise, asked what makes her unique, said: “I can do a lot of things that guys do, I can weld, I can restore tractors, I can do a lot of things that maybe a lot of women do not do.”

     Marissa Recker was asked if she felt today’s youth face more pressures to perform than previous generations.

     “I do think that the youth today face more pressure,” Recker said, “because we are so caught up in statistics, and scores of basketball games, and how fast you can run, and I think that sports and other things were more focused on just enjoying it in previous generations.”

     The judges are Jacqueline Ehrlich, the 2017 Iowa State Fair Queen; Nichole Fisher Moreau, a Monticello High School graduate who was 1993 Miss Teen of Iowa; and Gary McConnell of the Iowa State Fair Board. Dr. Ken Paulsen was the elite sponsor of the contest.

     The 2018 Great Jones County Fair Queen and Princess will be named at the crowning during Sneak-A-Peek night at the fair, Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m.