OFFICIAL RULES FOR MISS MCHENRY COUNTY QUEEN PAGEANT 2016 LOVENA HUNTER, JULIE BASCO, & AMANDA GOERLITZ, CO-DIRECTORS Female candidates are invited to enter the Miss McHenry County Pageant to be held on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, as a feature of the 2016 McHenry County Fair. The Queen must be available to participate in fair events from August 3 August 7th. The candidate must be: a U.S citizen between the ages of 16-21 years of age, single, never married, divorced, or had a marriage annulled, cannot have a child, be pregnant, can never have been pregnant and is not the adoptive parent of a child. Must be a resident of McHenry County for at least (6) months before the contest deadline and at the time of the pageant. Girls must be sixteen (16) years old by August 3, 2016 and not be twenty-two (22) before January 1, 2017. Was born female and have always been a female. A candidate can never have been or be convicted of a felony. Professional models are eligible to enter the contest. It is also acceptable if she attends a modeling or charm school. Candidates will not be allowed to smoke in public or be seen in bars where liquor is sold. Restaurant/Lounge is acceptable. It is acceptable for Contestants to work in a restaurant where alcohol is served. If Miss McHenry County marries during her reign, or for any reason is unable to fulfill her obligations as the reigning Miss McHenry County for the full term she is chosen, she will immediately relinquish her title, scholarship, crown, banner, trophy, and all prizes awarded to her, as Miss McHenry County 2016. She will be succeeded for the remainder of that term by the next eligible runner-up. Any person who has held the title of Miss McHenry County or who has served as a County Fair Queen in any other county is not eligible to enter the Miss McHenry County Pageant. Previous Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant participants are not eligible to compete a second time in a Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant. Miss McHenry County 2016 agrees to participate in functions which may arise in connection with the McHenry County Fair s activities or on behalf of the Fair during the year. These activities shall take precedence over other personal appearances. During the fair she will present trophies and ribbons, milk a cow or goat, visit the barns, and attend other fair functions. At fair events, the Queen will be chaperoned by a committee member. No friends or family may accompany the Queen at this time. Since this is a County Fair, the Queen will have obligations dealing directly with animals. If the candidate has any known allergies or fear of animals, this may not be a contest she would want to enter. There are 5 mandatory appearances for the Queen. Please reference the 2016 calendar to preview these events. The winners must be able to fulfill the other scheduled obligations to the best of their abilities throughout the year. 1
Entries in the Miss McHenry Contest may be sponsored by a local community organization, business, or service organization. IMPORTANT: The entry fee of $125.00 is due on or before Wednesday June 29, 2016. Make check payable to the McHenry County Fair Association/Queen Pageant. Send payment and entry form (or drop off) to: McHenry County Fair Association 11900 Country Club Road Woodstock, IL 60098 EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP The McHenry County Fair Association will award a $2000.00 scholarship to the Queen, 1 st Runner-up will receive a $750.00 scholarship and the 2 nd Runner-up will receive a $250.00 scholarship. Educational scholarship terms; winner must provide proof of registration and copy of transcripts from the college or vocational training program. Scholarship money will be issued for a full-time student upon proof of minimum of C average, after the first semester of college. The allocation of funds for the scholarships will be paid by the Fair Association directly to the college of your choice after proper documentation has been provided to the Fair Association. Contact the Fair Office at (815) 338-5315 for details. WELCOME MEETING The first meeting for the Miss McHenry County candidates is scheduled for Wednesday, June 29 th, 2016, 6 PM 8 PM in Building D located at Rt. 47 & Country Club Rd. at the fairgrounds in Woodstock. This is a Welcome meeting for all candidates, and committee members. Parents are invited to attend. Attendance is mandatory for all candidates. We will review the rules, the calendar, and schedule, along with a general Q & A. Do not alter the format of the application Candidates should send in completed Entry Form by June 29 th. The application and entry forms can be found online at: www.mchenrycountyfair.com PRACTICE SCHEDULE Wednesday, July 6 th 6 PM 9 PM Building D Wednesday, July 13 th 6 PM 9 PM Building D 2
Wednesday, July 20 th 6 PM 9 PM Building D Wednesday, July 27 th 6 PM 9 PM Building D Tuesday, August 2 nd 5:00 Final Practice Grand Stand-Mandatory Wednesday, August 3 rd is Pageant Day. Interviews will be held in Woodstock during the day. You will not be able to use your cell phones at any time during the day. You might want to just leave them home because whatever you have with you must remain off. The pageant will be in the evening of August 3 rd. Parents and family do not have reserved seats. Aug 4th-Aug 7th The Queen will need to be at the Fair every day. Let your employer know now that you will need time off from work. CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2016-2017 MISS MCHENRY COUNTY August 4-7th McHenry County Fair (MANDATORY) September 2016 (Date TBD) Fair Appreciation Dinner November 3, 2016-Northern Zone Meeting, Ottawa, IL (MANDATORY) November, December, January-Prep for State Pageant-mandatory time to prepare with your County Director to prep and shop for all necessary items for State. ALL clothing and accessories for State must be approved by your County Director. January 13-18, 2017-Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant, Springfield, IL (MANDATORY) June-July 2017 Welcome meeting and practices with 2017 candidates (MANDATORY) 2017-Pageant, Miss McHenry County 2017 (MANDATORY) JUDGING There will be a panel of qualified men and women who are genuinely interested in you. They are serious, yet fun-loving people. They want to enjoy this experience as much as you. Be yourself! Each category carries a percentage of the total score. Each category is judged and scored independently from all other categories. Personal interview = 35 points. Speech and Communication = 25 points. Beauty and Physical Condition = 20 points. Stage Presence = 20 points. Total = 100 points. The top 5 candidates will 3
answer the On Stage Questions. There will be 2. You will be in your Evening gown for this final phase. On- Stage Questions = 10 points. The interview will take place August 3, 2016, the day of the pageant. This is a required part of the judging. The interview will last 4 minutes. There are no wrong answers. The judges will be especially interested in your mental alertness, sincerity, and general knowledge. You will be seated across from the panel. Be aware of your appearance, vocabulary & manners. Each contestant should find a business suit or dress for the interview process. Check to be certain your clothing fits correctly when seated and your skirt is not too tight or short. After interviews a light meal will be served. Bring extra clothes to change into. Swimsuits must be solid in color, one piece, and have a built in bra. The leg must extend to the hipbone but not above and cannot be tank in style. Speeches are 60 seconds to 90 seconds in length. Your subject may be any event, any person, or anything that is important to you, as long as it is not immoral, political or controversial. Topic should be appropriate for all age levels. This is your 90 second opportunity to tell the judges about something that may not be covered in the regular interview process. Something you know well and are comfortable speaking on. No props, poems, or singing is permitted. It is imperative that you memorize your speech and that you do not go over the 90 second mark. Points may be deducted for going over in time. Evening gowns- This phase of the competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her personality, gracefully moving with poise and confidence. Choose an Evening Gown that reflects your own individual style. You will see a wide variety of gowns-partially beaded-chiffon with fuller skirts- halter style with straight skirt- fully sequined and beaded, with trains and without. Choose one in your best color that compliments you and makes you feel like a queen; but follow these guidelines: It must be floor length and should lightly touch the floor. Splits in skirts should be no further than 4 inches above the top of the knee. Open backed dresses must stop at your natural waistline. Hi low dresses are not allowed. Make sure to practice in your gown, including short flights of steps and simple pivots. Choose accessories to enhance your look, not overwhelm you. DO NOT wear powder or lotion that has glitter in it. Shoes should have a back and a heel between 2-4. Shawls or wraps, and gloves will not be allowed during the competition. There are many pretty evening shoes available; however, you don t want to draw attention to your feet rather than your face. The best bet are shoes the same color as your hemline. Clear plastic shoes have a tendency to either stretch or force your foot forward, making it difficult to either keep the shoe on or walk on stage. Candidate agrees the time, manner, and method of conducting and judging a contest shall be solely within the discretion of the pageant officials and the decisions of the judges are final. The judges will choose a winner 4
and four runners-up. Prizes will be offered in addition to the right to compete in the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant. Here are a few general guidelines for clothing: GENERAL ATTIRE Always choose clothing that fits correctly and makes you feel great. Check hems on skirts to see that the skirt isn t too short when you sit down and that it is straight all the way around. Skirts and dresses, must be no shorter than 2 above the knee Make sure blouses and jackets can button without gaps. All shirts must be full length, no crop shirts. In general, heels on shoes should be at least 2 tall but no higher than 4 IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE YOUR SHOES and INTERVIEW RESUME AT ALL PRACTICES. Remember, the Pageant in essence is a job interview, and you need to dress the part. As you make your clothing selections they should fit the description of classic, elegant, stylish. ALL CLOTHING AND JEWELRY MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PAGEANT DIRECTORS. MAKE CERTAIN TO TRY EVERYTHING ON THE WEEK BEFORE THE PAGEANT. The Fair Association & Miss McHenry County Pageant is not responsible for lost or stolen articles or money. Please make sure all articles of clothing and accessories are labeled with your name. Any personal articles, i.e. makeup, clothing, tapes, etc. that are left at Farm Bureau or in dressing area s after the contest will be kept at the Fair office for ONLY 14 days. After that time, the Director will not be responsible. MAKE UP & HAIR Hair extensions may be worn but should look natural. Please check with directors if in question. Different portions of competition require different approaches to make-up and hair. During your interview you should look professional and polished, with classic make-up to enhance your features. Hair should be kept out of your eyes but this does not necessitate an evening updo. You will need more color during the stage portion of your competition as the lights will wash you out. Your final appearance will be in your evening gown and should style your hair in the way that works with your dress and makes you feel like a queen! TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS All visible tattoos must be covered with cosmetics. Cover stick make-up for this is available at larger department stores. Piercings are limited to a maximum of two in each ear lobe only. All other body piercings/jewelry must be removed for competition. This includes tongue and nose piercings 5
Additional Notes: Cell phones are not allowed in the dressing room and cannot be used by contestants during rehearsals. No parents or friends will be allowed to attend any of the practices. No one other than candidates and committee members are allowed in the dressing rooms during the day of the pageant. During one of the practice sessions, you will select Miss Congeniality. Miss Photogenic will be chosen by a panel of professional photographers. Miss McHenry County 2016 agrees not to enter any other pageant during her reign. All personal appearances, photographic sessions, and photographic releases must be approved in advance by the pageant director. Entrants agree to abide by the rules of the County and State contests now in effect and as they may hereafter be announced for the good of ensuing pageants. Each candidate will sign a statement agreeing to full cooperation and responsible participation in scheduled events in conjunction with the County Pageant. Contestants must follow all of the above rules and obligations incurred as Miss McHenry County, attending all practices starting at the scheduled time and continuing until the session is over. Contestants must notify a Pageant Director at least 2 hours before the scheduled session if they will be late, or are unable to attend any scheduled practices. Because of the amount of material covered in each practice if a contestant misses more than one practice, she will be automatically be disqualified. If you do not call, it will be considered a missed session and disqualification. A calendar is attached for review before submitting your application. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PAGEANT? One of you will be the next Miss McHenry County Queen. Not only is this a once in a life time opportunity, it is a job. As the Miss McHenry County Fair Queen, you will represent the McHenry County Fair Association and become a volunteer employee of the Association during the Fair. You will work alongside Board members to promote the Fair and help increase the awareness of the importance of the agricultural industry in McHenry County. You will spend the entire 4 days of the McHenry County Fair on the grounds. You may do radio interviews, tour the buildings, judge contests, present ribbons and trophies, and take lots of pictures!! You must be able to follow directions, take advice, think ahead, and be dependable. The Queen must understand that her actions reflect not only on herself, but also on the pageant, the Fair Association, and the Fair Board. Therefore, it is imperative that the Queen be proud of and honorable to her title. The winner will represent the McHenry County Fair Association in the 2017 Miss Illinois County Fair Contest in Springfield IL January, 2017. The winner must be available to fulfill her obligation. The McHenry County Fair Association will pay for her expenses to the State contest with the exception of clothes, shoes, make-up and a hair stylist. The candidate will be accompanied during this time by a chaperone provided by the McHenry Fair Association. Immediately following the Fair the winner must complete all paperwork to be submitted to the State Pageant. The Director will sit down with the new Queen and her family and review all paperwork and photo sessions required for State. It is imperative that we do not miss deadlines. There are no exceptions. 6
Looking ahead, if you are selected as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2017, the Queen will serve as hostess of the 2017 Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair, visit county fairs throughout the summer and participate in other functions arranged by the State Pageant Director during the year. She agrees not to enter any pageant during her reign as Miss Illinois County Fair. Any questions, please contact any of the pageant directors listed below: Lovena Hunter at 815-347-0561 - Julie Basco at 224-628-0592 - Amanda Goerlitz at 847-802-0163 7
MISS MCHENRY COUNTY QUEEN PAGEANT OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM 2016 (Type information in this form and return with entry fee by June 29, 2016) NAME OF CANDIDATE: BIRTHDAY: CANDIDATE S ADDRESS: CITY, ZIP: PHONE NUMBER: E-MAIL: FATHER S NAME: FATHER S ADDRESS: FATHER S PHONE NUMBER: MOTHER S NAME: MOTHER S ADDRESS: MOTHER S PHONE NUMBER: SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: SPONSOR CONTACT PERSON: SPONSOR PHONE NUMBER: SPONSOR ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: I CERTIFY THAT THE CONTESTANT LISTED ABOVE IS ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE AS OUTLINED IN THE OFFICIAL RULES Contestant Signature (Parent/Guardian Signature if Contestant is under age of 18) PLEASE ENCLOSE A CHECK FOR $100.00 MADE PAYABLE TO: MCHENRY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION/QUEEN PAGEANT RETURN THIS FORM AND ENTRY FEE TO: MCHENRY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION 11900 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, WOODSTOCK IL 60098 ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY June 29, 2016 8