CULLMAN – The Cullman County Fair will take place between September 24th and October 3rd this year at Sportsman Lake Park. Citizens from across the county are getting things ready for the big event.
The Lions Club has been busy getting everything cleaned up and looking good around the fairgrounds.
Area farmers have been out in the fields, cultivating the perfect produce – and their best animals for the event.
Residents have been sewing, canning and cooking up their finest recipes to take home first place ribbons – and bragging rights for the coming year.
There’s another, much smaller group of people who are also looking forward to this year’s fair. It’s a group of high school girls that will be competing in the Fair Queen Pageant.
Each of the young ladies has been shopping for the perfect dresses and practicing their individual talents for months; each hoping to win the coveted title of 2015 Cullman County Fair Queen.
Each girl represents one of the eight high schools in Cullman County. They will compete for a $1,500 scholarship award given by the Fair Association.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the school in which she enrolls. The winner will also receive a hand-finished, natural-color portrait awarded by "Photography By Theresa Burns" of Cullman, and a diamond pendant from Doug Doggett Jewelers of Cullman.
The first runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Fair Association. In the event the winner is unable to fulfill any of her duties, the first runner-up will serve in lieu of the Queen.
The second runner-up will receive a $500 scholarship from the Cullman Lions Club.
Wallace State Community College will give a one-year scholarship in the field of performing arts to the winner of the Talent portion of the contest.
Cullman Lioness Club will award $200 toward a Scholarship for Miss Congeniality.
Last year’s Cullman County Fair Queen was Miss Josie Oliver, the representative from Cullman High School. Josie is the daughter of Tom and Jamie Oliver. She will be crowning the 2015 Cullman County Fair Queen on Tuesday, September 29 at the Coca-Cola Theatre.
This year's 2015 Fair Queen hopefuls are:
- Representing Cold Springs High School is Miss Ciara Parker. Ciara is the daughter of Timmi & Brad Parker.
- Representing Holly Pond High School is Miss Elizabeth Thompson. Elizabeth is the daughter of Theresa & James Thompson.
- Representing Good Hope High School is Miss Hannah Dillashaw. Hannah is the daughter of Brenda & Taft Dillashaw.
- Representing Hanceville High School is Miss Ivey Box. Ivey is the daughter of Lisa & Herman Cunningham.
- Representing Cullman High Schoolis Miss Laura Ellard. Laura is the daughter of Mark & Lisa Ellard.
- Representing Fairview High School is Miss Lizzie Mae Garrison. Lizzie is the daughter of Priscilla & Derrick Garrison.
- Representing West Point High School is Miss Tess Hembree. Tess is the daughter of Heath & Leslie Hembree.
- Representing Vinemont High School is Miss Amanda Hyjek. Amanda is the daughter of Freda & John Hyjek.
The pageant is a major part of the Cullman County Fair and there will be lots of people to support the girls and cheer for their school.
The pageant starts at 7 p.m. on September 29, and the crowning will take place at approximately 9 p.m. Thomas Warhurst will emcee the pageant.
For information about the 2015 Cullman County Fair, visit the fair’s website at cullmanfair.com. Visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/Cullman-County-Fair-139306606083529. Follow @CullmanCoFair on Twitter and @CullmanFair on Instagram.
