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Stevens set to compete in State Fair Queen Pageant
INDIANAPOLIS -- On the eve of a three-day competition against dozens of other Indiana county fair queens, Miss Putnam County Fair 2015 admits she is little tense going into the 2016 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant.
Belying her nervousness, though, Kristen Stevens maintains the chipper disposition that served her well in becoming and serving as the fair queen.
"I'm a little nervous about it, but I also know that I have such a great county that will be back home supporting me and rooting for me that I'm not as nervous," Stevens told the Banner Graphic.
With three judge interviews on Friday, preliminary judging on Saturday and the finals on Sunday, the competition gives Stevens another chance to represent the county she's proud to call home.
"Being queen in Putnam County was an awesome experience. It was great after the fair hearing so many people congratulating me on a great week and thanking me for the appearances I made," Stevens said. "It's also great knowing I'll have a number of people there to support me."
The bulk of the in-person support will come on Sunday, when the competition moves to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, where plenty of seating will be available for the 1 p.m. finals.
The Sunday portion will give the nearly 90 participating county fair queens the chance to model their formal attire for the public. All of them will introduce themselves, after which the top 10 will be announced.
At that point, the 10 finalists will continue in a competition similar to the public portion of the county fair queen contest, when they are judged on modeling their formal and business attire, as well as answering an onstage question.
Leading up to the finals, Friday's interviews will be closed to the public, and Saturday's preliminary judging will have limited seating available in the State Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall.
On Saturday, the contestants will be judged as they model their business and formal attire.
Gearing up for the intense competition, Stevens used her Christmas break from Purdue University to prepare her outfits, do mock interviews and get comfortable talking about Putnam County and Indiana.
She's also had to pick up some new skills.
"At the contest, I'm not able to bring a hair stylist, so I've had to learn to do my own hair and makeup, so that's been a challenge," Stevens said.
The queen has also enlisted some help in getting ready.
"I want to thank Paula Birt and Sandy Clark. They have literally helped me with every aspect from my clothes to my interviews," Stevens said. "It's been great having them there to coach me along the way."
Another bit of coaching came from her predecessor. Miss Putnam County Fair 2014 Brittany Birt finished in the top 10 of last year's State Fair competition.
"I spent some time on the phone with Brittany (Wednesday) night," Stevens said. "She gave me some pointers and told me what to expect. And she also told me to be myself and have fun."
The daughter of Gary and Julie Stevens of Greencastle, Kristen will begin her second semester as a Purdue freshman on Monday, returning to West Lafayette Sunday evening after the contest.
Stevens enjoyed her first semester at Purdue, where she is studying agriculture and pledged Delta Gamma.
"It was great. I've made a lot of friends. My classes weren't too hard," Stevens said. "It was an easy transition from being in high school and living at home to being at college and living on my own."