The Daviess County Fair pageants are set to return this summer with a full slate of competitions, expanded divisions, and an emphasis on leadership and community involvement.
Pageant Director LaTasha Shemwell said this year’s events will bring several of the competitions back to the Daviess County High School auditorium, while younger divisions will be held at the fairgrounds.
“We’re so thankful to bring back the older pageants to the Daviess County High School auditorium,” Shemwell said.
The schedule begins June 19 with the Miss Preteen Daviess County pageant, followed by multiple divisions on June 20, including Miss Teen, Miss, Ms., and Mrs. Daviess County. Those events will take place at Daviess County High School.
Younger divisions will follow the next weekend, with the Baby and Toddler pageants set for June 27 and the Little Miss and Mister pageants scheduled for June 28 at Bittel Hall on the Daviess County Fairgrounds.
In addition to the June events, organizers have also announced July dates for the Miss Preteen and Miss Teen competitions, offering additional opportunities for participants.
The Miss Preteen competition is scheduled for July 10, with interviews at 5 p.m. and the pageant at 7. Miss Teen will take place July 11, with interviews at 11 a.m. and the pageant beginning at 1 p.m.
Contestants in both divisions will compete in multiple categories, including professional interview attire, themed casual wear, and formal wear. The preteen division will feature a “Boots and Bows” theme, while the teen division will incorporate a Kentucky Derby theme.
Entry fees are $55 for Miss Preteen and $60 for Miss Teen, with general admission set at $10. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
Shemwell said one of the key goals of the pageant program is to provide opportunities for participants of all experience levels.
“We do practice with our contestants, so they don’t have to come in with any experience,” she said. “At the end of the day, I get the queens involved in the community. It’s not just about wearing a crown. It’s about getting involved in the community, doing outreach, events, and raising funds for different organizations and causes.”
Winners in each division will be crowned as both local representatives and fair representatives. Local winners participate in community events such as parades and outreach efforts, while fair winners advance to the state-level competition, where they represent Daviess County against contestants from across Kentucky.
“The local winner gets to participate in all of our community outreach programs … representing Owensboro,” Shemwell said. “The fair queen represents us at the state level.”
Shemwell said the program has seen success in recent years, with multiple contestants earning state titles.
Beyond competition, she said, pageantry helps build confidence and leadership skills.
“It builds self-confidence. It builds future leaders,” Shemwell said. “We have a lot of successful ladies who are entrepreneurs now, businesswomen, in the law field, teachers. It just builds leadership.”
New additions this year include expanded adult divisions and additional leadership within the organization. Shemwell said Heaven Fulkerson will direct the younger divisions, while El’Agance Shemwell will oversee the Miss, Ms., and Mrs. competitions.
Registration is currently open, with forms available on the Daviess County Fair Pageants Facebook page. Payments can be submitted digitally, and organizers encourage early registration.
“We’re taking entries now, so the sooner they get their entries in, the better,” Shemwell said. “We’re just excited about this new year.”
