Twelve young boys and twenty-seven young girls competed for the prestigious titles of Miss and Mr. Knox County Fair. While only two winners could be crowned, every competitor stepped out of their comfort zone to take part in the event.
To be considered, each contestant was required to speak and answer questions about themselves in front of a large crowd for approximately two minutes. Some questions were lighthearted—such as “What is your favorite color?” or “What do you do for fun during the summer?”—while others were more introspective, including “What does being a kid mean to you?” Answers were evaluated on a thirty-point scale for content and delivery.
In addition to the public interview, participants had to be at least seven years old by July 1. The dress code required girls to wear red, white, or blue tea- or floor-length dresses, while boys wore jeans paired with a red, white, or blue collared shirt.
The event was sponsored by Courtney Culbertson, a local realtor from the Mount Vernon area, and hosted by Julie Chester.
Several responses from the children drew laughs from the audience. One particularly memorable moment came when a contestant was asked about the best part of being a kid and replied, “Don’t know, don’t care.”
From the large pool of participants, four girls and four boys were selected as finalists and honored with their respective placings.
Mr. Will Meyers was named the winner on the boys’ side, while Miss Kiara Hammons took home the title for the girls. Judges remarked that this year’s scores were the closest in the event’s history, coming down to the wire to determine the winners.
All in all, the competitors demonstrated remarkable courage and confidence in their presentations and should be proud of their accomplishments.
