Marshall-Putnam Fair Royalty

The Marshall-Putnam County Fair got off to a royal start with the three annual queen pageants July 10. Contestants competed for the titles of M-P Fair Little Miss Pageant, the M-P Fair Junior Miss Pageant and the M-P Fair Queen Pageant.

Local Putnam County contestants fared well with Hennepin resident Elizabeth Larsen winning the Junior Miss Pageant. Larsen said the contest had gone better than she had hoped, and her interview was sharp.

“I thought it went really well. In my interview, I was really smiley, and I just answered everything truthfully,” said Larsen.

The Junior Miss Pageant winner earns a $100 cash prize from the M-P Fair Association; her crown, sashes, luggage, flowers and a gift bag from the pageant committee; a $100 EE U.S. savings bond from the First State Bank of McNabb; a photo session and photo from Summitt Photography of Henry; and a gift from Renee Streitmatter, a Mary Kay consultant in Sparland.

Lauren Passini of Standard then took home the M-P Fair Queen pageant crown. Passini had worked to make her interview skills stronger after competing in the contest last year.

“I was a little worried. I think it had gone pretty well, and I was very excited about it,” she said.

Passini won a Miss Illinois County Expense package from the M-P Fair Association; a Miss Illinois County clothing allowance, crown, sashes and gift package from the M-P Fair Pageant committee; an academic/trade scholarship from local businesses and municipalities; flowers from Barb’s Flowers of Lacon; a photo session from Summitt Photography of Henry; and gifts or gift certificates from the 2008 Miss Alaine Noll and family of Toluca, Cheryl’s Beauty Shop in Washburn, Prime Quarter Steak House in Princeton and Renee Streitmatter a Mary Kay consultant of Sparland.

The 2013 M-P Fair Little Miss Pageant was won by Abbie Stanbary of Henry.

M-P Fair Pageant Director and former 1997 M-P Fair Queen Terra Brozak was thrilled the pageant went well.

“I was very pleased with the quality of contestants that we received this year,” she said. “I am very pleased with my royalty. It’s great to have Putnam County girls representing us again. I was a Putnam County Queen as well. It’s very nice to have Lauren and Elizabeth to come from the Putnam County area. Also we love the support we have received from all the businesses this year and individuals and look forward to a great year with these three girls.”

Source: Putnam County Record