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Exiting fair queen proud of her crown
jstevens@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG - Next month, Lindsey Longstreth will relinquish her title as the 2008 Greene County Fair Queen.
And for the 17-year-old soon-to-be senior at Waynesburg Central High School, this act of succession might not be as easy as she thinks.
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She said when she "came of age," which was 14, she became a contestant for Miss Rain Day in 2006, but didn't win.
She was, however, crowned Junior Miss of Greene County in 2000.
But it was last August when Longstreth won out over three other contestants - Annie Bailey, Kelly Morris and Samantha Sisler - to win a title she frankly said she would not trade, even for the Miss Rain Day tiara.
"Those pageants are really not my thing," she said. "I am not into the girlie girl stuff. I decided to run for fair queen because a fair has its roots in agriculture. And I love animals. I had rabbits, sheep and horses. I am just more of an ag girl," she said.
The fair queen is determined by a personal interview, an impromptu question, a brief speech on "Why You Should Come to the Greene County Fair," a written essay based on reasons for wanting to be the fair queen and an evening gown competition.
Longstreth said she was at the youngest age to enter the fair queen competition (16) and one of the contestants was in college. For Longstreth, that was somewhat intimidating.
The age range for a fair queen is 16 to 20.
The past year has been very busy for Longstreth, with her having attended and participated in nearly 50 events and activities since winning the title.
Except for two, most of her appearances were optional. "I just went out and did things on my own," she said. "I just wanted to get out in the community and raise the awareness of the agricultural side of the fair."
Some of her optional appearances included Greene County Expo in September, Historical Society Harvest Festival in October, and a Salvation Army kettle bell ringer.
Of course one of her "required" function was to participate in the 2009 Pennsylvania Fair Queen competition Jan. 24 at Hershey, an event in which she placed in the top five.
"To a certain extent, the state pageant was similar to the county pageant," Longstreth said, "except on a much larger scale."
During an interview earlier this year, she said, "When they announced the numbers of the top five, I was ecstatic. I had to look down and check my number. I couldn't believe it."
Longstreth readily accepts the responsibility given to the fair queen. "We are considered the ambassador for the fair. Our job is to get out there and visit the other fairs as well and let them know about our fair," she said.
She said she has enjoyed her reign a lot. "It has been fun. I love it," she said.
Longstreth said she is looking forward to beginning her senior year at Waynesburg Central, but also said she is ready to be done with high school. "But I think it will be a good year."
So, what lies ahead for this young ambassador? "I am not positive at this point. I have thrown around being a veterinarian or becoming a pastry chef. I am really not sure."
It is pretty clear, though, whatever she decides to do she undoubtedly will embrace it with the same enthusiasm and commitment she has demonstrated in other areas of her young life.
