Schools out and that means that the 2011 Huntingdon County Fair is just a couple months away! Be sure to check out the premium book and get your entries into the fair office as soon as possible! I am very excited for the upcoming fair and I hope that all of you are just as excited as I am.
Recently, I attended the Pork Pizazz 4-H club, where I talked about Farm Safety, the Huntingdon County Fair, and played a few games. Then I was fortunate enough to attended 2 Elementary Schools in the Mount Union Area School District. First I was off to Mapleton Elementary, where I proudly attended grade school. A gave a presentation to the entire student body and staff. I started by talking about my adventures and accomplishments at Mapleton and told students to cherish those moments because the memories that you make while you're young, are the ones that you will cherish forever. I explained how I had the dream of becoming Fair Queen, and how I set my sights on my dream and worked really hard to accomplish my goal. Then I talked about the Huntingdon County Fair and had some very eager students tell me about their experiences at my fair. After that it was time to go over the Farm Safety rules. The students were very attentive and responded extremely well when I asked them Farm Safety questions. After that I split the students by grade level and we played a game as I handed out prizes. Then we had a lengthy question and answer period. After that I introduced a contest. I asked the students that wanted too, to write me a story about their favorite part of my fair and if they could change something about the fair, what would it be?" The winner of the best essay would win tickets to the 2011 Huntingdon County Fair. Once I got the essays back I spent the evening reading them and got over 30 stories from students from kindergarden to sixth grade. They were completely adorable and I loved reading them.
Then I was off to Shirley Township Elementary where I met with Mrs. Danish and Ms. Smith's first grade classes. I reviewed the Farm Safety's with them and talked about the Fair. I then passed out prizes and T-shirts to children that got questions right. After that we did a little craft. We used toilet papers rolls, painted them pink, tied a string around them and made pig snouts. Right before we went to lunch the kids put their pig noses on and seen who could make the best pig noises. It was so cute and the children really enjoyed it. Then I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Mrs. Danish's class. It was so sweet to see the little girls and even the boys bicker over who got to sit beside the Queen. That always puts a smile on my face and makes me love my title as Fair Queen even more. I was then fortunate enough to speak at the Captain Jack FFA Banquet, which was very special to me since I am a member of that Chapter.
Being the 2010-2011 Huntingdon County Fair Queen has really had an impact on which path I will choose after I graduate. Being the spokesperson for the Fair and the Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Organization has made me realize that I really enjoy speaking in front of people, being in the media, being a leader and stressing the importance of different ideas and situations. Therefore I plan to go to college and major in Communications. That way I can be a spokesperson, be in the media, be a leader and stress the importance of things for my lifelong career and not just one year. There is so much to say and do and you can not accomplish everything in one year, so for me to go to college and major in communications and make a career out of being a spokesperson would be absolutely amazing. Who knows maybe I could be the next Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture or someday the President of the United States. All I know is that this wonderful experience as Huntingdon County Fair Queen has really had an important role in my life and is a small stepping stone towards a wonderful career that I could have ahead of me.
I encourage all girls out there ages 16-21 to be a part of the 2011 Huntingdon County Fair Queen Pageant this year! Trust me, this is an experience that you will never forget. Download a copy of the Application from the Premium Book and attend the annual social. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me at (814) 251-3209 or contact any of the Fair Queen Coordinators.
Until Next Time,
Marra A. Aurand
2010-2011 Huntingdon County Fair Queen
