Thursday evening will be a crowning affair.
Following the parade and opening ceremonies of the 154th Listowel Agricultural Fair, eight local contestants will take to the stage and compete for the title of 2010 ambassador of the fair.
This is an annual event featuring young citizens of this community who wish to take advantage of this truly remarkable experience.
We find it disappointing, however, that misconceptions of these competitions still seem to be prevalent.
Too often, people think ambassador pageants and beauty pageants are synonymous.
It’s ignorant, and it belittles what these contestants are trying to accomplish for themselves and for the Municipality of North Perth.
There’s plenty more to it than a pretty dress and sparkling smile.
This year, eight female contestants have decided to compete. In doing so, they’ve agreed to a number of terms.
They’ll be riding in the opening night parade. They’ll take part in an interview with a panel of judges. They’ll give a prepared speech to an audience of attendees and an impromptu speech, which will give them a chance to think on their feet.
The winner is then in for a busy and enlightening year.
She will attend the OAAS Fair Convention in Toronto, the CNE in August and all required Listowel Agricultural Society functions over her 2010-11 reign. The local representative may even have a chance to proceed with her pageant career, should she fare well at the CNE.
She must be a resident of North Perth or of the Listowel District Secondary School area and have past involvement in the agricultural fair.
She should also have some agricultural knowledge and be capable of representing the rural, farming component of this community.
No bathing suits or Vaseline-on-the-teeth tricks here. It’s doubtful audience members will hear any generic answers regarding world peace, either.
Instead, this pageant is about personality, confidence and a heart for the community. These are things you can’t fake.
One gets out of life what he or she puts into it. These young ladies have seen an opportunity for themselves and have taken full advantage of it.
These are women who are proud of who they are and where they come from. They’re getting involved, meeting new people, having new experiences and encouraging each other through the journey. They’re preparing and rehearsing to put their best foot forward in front of their peers, the judges and the public.
They’re all striving for the same goal – to represent their home and their community and grow as an individual.
We think that’s a pretty fair definition of beautiful.
Regardless of the outcome, the contestants can revel in the pride of their parents, relatives and friends who will come out to cheer them on.
Thanks to the ambassador competition committee members for their hard work. As for contestants Destiney Carson, Torie Clarke, Chelsea Dewar, Samantha Donegan, Nicole Hoffele, Nicole Howard, Nicole Nunn and Natalie Whaley, best of luck and we applaud your contribution to this year’s Listowel Agricultural Fair.
See you at the grandstands.
- S.B.