Registration is now open for applicants interested in competing to be queen of the 69th annual Okanogan County Fair in 2016. The competition is open to young women throughout the county who are between the ages of 15 and 19 and currently enrolled in high school.
Applicants must be single, childless, a past fair participant and agree to include a fair project during her reigning year. The application, program guidelines, and contract of agreement can be found online at www.okfair.org. Applications are due at the fair office on the fairgrounds at 175 Rodeo Trail Road, Okanogan, by Aug 1. Additional information is available by calling (509) 322-1671 or emailing fair@co.okanogan.wa.us.
Royalty candidates will be judged in four categories: portfolio, personal interviews, pageant and personality.
Reigning queen Alexee Howell, a senior at Tonasket High School, will crown her successor during coronation ceremonies at the upcoming 68th annual fair on Sept. 10–13.
Howell, the daughter of Marcie and Kyle Howell, is active in Tonasket’s Associated Student Body, the Range Riders Club, and FFA. She said her year as ambassador for the fair has been an enjoyable experience and one she wouldn’t hesitate to repeat.
In addition to its other perks, the queen’s reign serves as a solid addition to a high school community service resume, she said.
“I feel honored to have been able to represent our fair this year at parades and community events across our county,” Howell said in her welcome statement in the fair’s premium book. “I enjoyed meeting people and inviting everyone I could to come to our Fair and have the best time.”
While she is a horse owner and rider herself, Howell stressed that it is not a requirement for an applicant to own or ride a horse.
“You do have to be prepared to give up some Saturdays,” Howell said.
Fair royalty is encouraged to attend local events around the area and Howell has been busy doing just that. She plans to appear at Conconully’s Independence Celebration on Saturday (July 4), and travel to Waterville for the North Central Washington Fair on Aug. 27-30.
Katie MacLean of Okanogan, daughter of Gary and Brenda Stevens and a former 2012 Miss Omak Stampede, will serve as royalty adviser.
