A Country Pageant

Little girls dream the most wonderful, magical things. They hope to grow up to become ballerinas, astronauts, athletes, lawyers, home-makers, doctors, princesses. Their minds create amazing fantasies, and they work to create these as realities.

Beaver Fair Pageant Contestants

The contestants of the 2017 Beaver Community Fair Pageant.

Growing up, I wanted to be the first female astronaut on Mars, where I would do ballet and sing opera. I believed I would pirouette, leap and fly through the air with the lesser gravity, as the satellite message of my first step out of the space-craft showed the world my Opera singing abilities. I spent years taking ballet lessons, working out and running everyday, and burying myself in home science projects.

Starting High School, my goals shifted to better reflect my talents and skills. I would be an Olympic softball player and Orthopedic Surgeon. But Hey, that's a girl's prerogative right, to change her mind?

I recently moved to Pennsylvania, and the community here is AMAZING!!!!!!, it is so different than every military town and city I have called home. My eagerness to participate in this great culture lead to an opportunity to photograph the Beaver Fair Queen Pageant. These beautiful ladies stunned me with their skills and hobbies. I thought i would be seeing a beauty pageant, but this was a whole different wheel house. There is a perception about Beauty Pageants created by shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and Miss Universe, but these girls completely changed my idea. They are judged on their knowledge and ability to promote the industry associated with the PA Association of County Fairs.

Each girl was not on stage to be just a princess in a beautiful dress, they were involved in their community. They showed livestock and work everyday to care for these animals. They go to school and hope to build a strong network to benefit the county and its members. They fix tractors and ride horses, they milk cows and raise chickens and rabbits. They may not always have on makeup and have dirt under their nails, but they are building character, developing discipline and respect, skills which will take them far in this ever changing society.

While we were walking the fair grounds after the pageant to get some pictures and show off these beauties, I received a request I was not ready for, "Can we take some pictures with their cows?"

2016 Beaver Fair Queens

These Fair Queens are called dairy girls. They have been raising and showing their cows since they were 8 years old. The coolest part is they picked out their calfs themselves and raised them! Aren't they just gorgeous!?

Dairy Girl

a junior queen and her cow

What did you want to be when you grow up? How did you work towards your goals? What special skills are you glad you learned? Do you use them now?

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2 Comments

Oct 31, 2017, 7:15:17 AM

Michelle Kane - JS,

Thank you so much for filling me in on this information. The correction has been made to the post.
-Michelle

Oct 25, 2017, 8:51:16 PM

JS - This was the fair queen pageant, not a beauty pageant. The young ladies are representing our fair, and the larger PA Association of County Fairs. Though they are all beautiful inside and out, selection is based on their overall knowledge and ability to advocate for the industry. Thank you for capturing the special day.

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