With a monstrous storm threatening the state, an excited Unionville High School senior arrived in Hershey on Thursday, Jan. 21, to represent the region at the 30th Annual State Fair Queen competition.
Fortunately for Shannon White, neither the weather nor the disappointing news she received ahead of it offset what she called an amazing opportunity.
White said the support she received from the Unionville Community Fair organizers, and even a past Fair Queen, was phenomenal, and she thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the 59 other competitors, whom she described as a like-minded, collegial group.
Each contestant prepared a brief speech highlighting the activities at her county or community fair, wrote an essay about the fair’s significance in her life and local community, gave a stage introduction during the fair convention annual banquet, and was interviewed by three judges.
Top honors went to Darby Kasper of the Tioga County Fair, but White won big, too, she said. The process boosted her self-confidence and gave her invaluable experience in interviews and public speaking that she knows will serve her well in the future.
Still, she’s having trouble shaking the distressing news she learned that weekend: Other Unionville High girls may not get the chance to succeed her.
The Unionville Community Fair Queen and Princess Pageant annually marks the start of a celebrated tradition, the Unionville Community Fair, which is now imperiled after 91 years. Last week, the fair’s executive board issued a public plea for two key volunteers to fill two-year terms as president and treasurer.
The board said it had conducted a rigorous but unsuccessful recruitment for the posts to ensure that the fair would continue its unbroken record of honoring the area’s agricultural heritage, promoting environmental education and providing unparalleled family entertainment, such as cow pie Bingo and the fun-filled lip-synching contest.
Because the fair requires advance preparation, the board concluded that the positions need to be filled by Feb. 29 for the 2016 Unionville Community Fair to be held. The reigning Fair Queen fervently hopes that the right people will come forward.
White said it’s hard to imagine that other young girls might not collect the same magical memories she cherishes from years of exhibiting at the fair and marveling at the competition. She said her entries included sewing projects – she plans to pursue fashion design in college – photos, and cakes. And in addition to a plethora of blue ribbons, she won three best-of-show honors.
The pageant segment is even more special, White said, and she’s eager to share it with others. The reigning queen typically presents the crown to her successor, and as White learned, the bonds from that experience run deep.
White said she met Lindsey Townsend, the 2009 Fair Queen, because Townsend helped out with this past year’s pageant. Both bonded over a shared passion for the pageant, the fair, and the area’s rich agricultural history. White said she was overwhelmed with gratitude when Townsend showed up in Hershey to support her.
“She was so great,” said White. “She gave me a lot of good advice and helped to make me less nervous.”
White said her advice to girls considering the pageant would be emphatic. “You absolutely have to do this; it’s been the best experience of my life,” she said.
Not being able to deliver that message would be downright unfair, she said.
Anyone with interest or questions about the Unionville Community Fair is asked to contact Danielle Chamberlain at 610-299-7525. All interested fair supporters are encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting at the Willowdale Chapel, 675 Unionville Rd., Kennett Square, Pa., on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
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