Shown are the 2021 Elkhart County 4-H Senior Queen and her court. Seated is 2021 Senior Queen Michelle Blough. Standing from left, are Irene Rassi, Ramonda Huber, Gloria Lantz and Cathy VanHuystee. Photo provided by Sharon Edwards.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

GOSHEN — Have you reached the age of elegance and will be at least 60 years of age by the opening day of the fair? Do you volunteer at church, within a club, in the community?

Why not participate in the 2022 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Queen Pageant?

The rules are simple. The contestants must be U.S. citizens and can be sponsored by any business, organization, group or individual. If a sponsor cannot be found and assistance is needed, the queen pageant director can assist.

Contestants may reside in any county outside of Elkhart County if it is an adjoining county and if the majority of her activities are in Elkhart County. The contestant also does not have to be involved in 4-H. “We have had a lot of past queens who were not heavily involved In 4-H,” said Sharon Edwards, pageant director.

This year’s pageant is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 19, at Goshen College Music Center (Sauder Concert Hall).

“This is a really low-pressure event,” Edwards stated. “We have some activities before the pageant and the ladies really get to know each other. They do have a lot of fun. There are a lot of friendships that are made and each one of them are always very special to me.”

The senior queen contest is an opportunity for ladies over 60 in the community to show the time they give to their community through church, clubs or any organization. Volunteers are hard to find today and this is a way to recognize these ladies who continue to give their time without asking for anything in return.

Edwards noted the pageant is a fun way to celebrate the time they give to others.

The senior queen always has a fun, enjoyable week. They attend various activities, reign over the two senior days, and travel the fairgrounds via a golf cart. The queen will also have the honor of having front row track seats to the concerts, a carriage ride in the parade and many other things. Once the fair is finished, the senior queen may be asked to speak at civic group meetings.

The contestants will meet at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 20, to get-acquainted brunch and meeting. A rehearsal for the Queen’s Gala has been set for 6 p.m. Monday, June 27, and at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, will be the Queen’s Gala, a style show by the senior queen candidates and fair queen candidates.

An appreciation luncheon will be held for pageant sponsors at noon, Wednesday, July 13, at Maplecrest Country Club.

Pageant day will be a busy day. Contestants will meet at noon, Tuesday, July 19, at Sauder Hall on the Goshen College campus. Preliminaries will begin at 1 p.m. This will include an interview, a walk through on stage and a light snack/supper. The pageant will begin at 5:30 p.m.

During the pageant each candidate will be asked a question about themselves. Scores will be complied to announce the second runner-up, first runner-up and the new 2022 Senior Queen, who will be crowned by Michelle Blough, 2021 Senior Queen.

Entry forms are available online at www.4hfair.org/seniorqueen and must be submitted by May 31 to the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Office, 17746-D CR 34, Goshen, IN 46528.