Clark takes Miss Putnam County crown

Saturday, July 11, 2009

It took the judges nearly an hour of deliberation to do it, but at the end of the 2009 Putnam County 4-H Fair Queen Contest Saturday night, they chose Chelsea Clark as the winner of the crown.

"Wow, this is big for my head," she said, trying to balance the tall, sparkling tiara. "I'm grateful, though. Really, really grateful."

For Clark, the long wait before the announcement wasn't nearly so nerve-wracking as the competition itself.

"When I walked off that stage when it was all over, I thought 'Whew! I'm done,'" she said. "It was just such a relief to be done."

Clark had nothing but good things to say about her fellow contestants.

"This contest was really fun," she said. "We had such an amazing group of girls, and we meshed really well."

Clark, 19, said she waited until completing her 10th year in 4-H to enter the queen contest.

"I took a lot of other projects," she said. "I wanted to be able to give this my all."

Clark said she was "in shock" and "so excited."

"I really want to thank my friends, my family and God," she said.

Clark was crowned by Cheryl Mitchel, Miss Putnam County 2008. Mitchel called her year as a titleholder "absolutely wonderful," and cited "free food and ice cream" as a couple of her favorite perks.

"At the state fair, I met so many wonderful girls and had an absolute blast," Mitchel said. "Here in Putnam County, I made lifelong friends on the court."

Mitchel lauded the efforts of the 2009 contestants.

"We had one who came to rehearsals even though she had tonsillitis, one who had a bee sting that led to crutches and one who had poison ivy," she said. "All I can say is, judges, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes. They are all amazing and all deserve something."

Mitchel said traveling to other county fairs and going to the state fair reinforced in her mind how good the fair in Putnam County is.

"We really have something special here," she said.

Other members of the 2009 court included first runner-up Kristen Fry, second runner-up Bailey Birt, third runner-up Sammi Jo Gardner, fourth runner-up Logan Doyle and Miss Congeniality Elizabeth Wiley.

Best Formal Wear honors went to Clark, while Birt was named Best Professional Wear winner.

A gallery of photos from the pageant will be posted Sunday at www.bannergraphic.com.

Comments
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  • Am I mistaken or didn't Vanessa Baird actually win the Indiana State Fair Queen contest after winning Miss Putnam County approx 20 years ago.

    -- Posted by iceman on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 12:14 PM
  • Yes, there have been several Putnam County Fair Queens to go on to the Indiana State Fair and place in the top 10 (or sweet 16, depending on the year) and even place as a runner-up. Vanessa Baird in 1985; Leanne Mitchem in 1986; Angela Staley in 1988; Jackie Campbell was the Indiana State Fair Miss Congeniality in 1992; Joanna Clodfelter in 1996; and Cheryl Mitchel in 2008 just to name a few.

    -- Posted by QueenCommittee on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 4:07 PM
  • why so many runner-ups?

    -- Posted by senior'08 on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 6:21 AM
  • congrats Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    -- Posted by senior'08 on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 6:21 AM
  • Congrats Chelsea! You are a great role model for this county! Good Luck at State!!!

    -- Posted by cattlequeen on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 9:15 AM
  • Disappointing reactions, appreciate being a runner-up girls.

    -- Posted by yesman23 on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 3:00 PM
  • lots of runner ups!!

    -- Posted by northput on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 7:56 PM
  • The picture you posted on the Monday paper was cute but did a terrible injustice to her and her parents. Who wants to look back and have a silly picture to remember the event by. The picture you have posted here should have been on the front page of the paper and maybe posted the other one on a different page. That special girl would have liked to see her beautiful picture when she opened the paper. I think you should reprint the beautiful picture you have here. I am sure her mother was disappointed in your choice of picture.

    -- Posted by Sallygirl on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 9:18 PM
  • I agree with the comments - Chelsea's Picture should have been on the front page! And it should have been a picture of her only. The other one was cute but belonged on a different page. I enjoy seeing the Queen's Picture and their beautiful smile. PUT HER PICTURE IN THE PAPER THIS WEEK AS AN OFFICIAL KICK OFF TO THE FAIR!

    -- Posted by smartmom on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 10:46 AM
  • why are posts continuously being removed??????

    -- Posted by farm_girl on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 8:08 AM
  • I thought the photo was cute,fun and different..... An injustice to her parents ? Really! I bet there are several other parents of queen candidates that did not win that would have been happy to have their daughter pictured as queen in that photo. What a bunch of complainers........Obviously none of you would win a congeniality contest.......

    -- Posted by Just_Me on Thu, Jul 16, 2009, at 11:01 AM
  • There are lots of pictures on this site of the Queen Contest-click on photo's. There are 159 wonderful photo's of this event. As far as injustice to the parents=good grief if you knew them they wouldn't feel that way at all about the picture on the front page. Neither would Chelsea.I know they are very proud of her and I know Chelsea had a wonderful time with the other girls and the team that worked so hard to make this event happen.

    We just had a wonderful parade last evening-the best ever I thought. Didn't have all those semi's they use to have-just the one from Walmart which was fine-Walmart is our major source of shopping in our fine community. Better candy and gifts were thrown to the kids. My little grandaughter had a great time so did others around me.

    Seems someone complains about things in this town even if it is a positive event.Good Luck Chelsea and have a great time. Any rudeness during the fair just give that beautiful smile.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Sat, Jul 18, 2009, at 12:14 PM
  • bam,

    Just so you know I am a parent of a previous Putnam County Fair queen and I also know her parents well and I still stand by my first comment! I respectfully disagree with you and you must have never been a queen's mother so you do not understand. I will agree with you on the the fair parade was one of the best.

    -- Posted by Sallygirl on Sun, Jul 19, 2009, at 2:10 PM
  • I don't know why, but this year in particular I've received many posts and messages about the Putnam County Fair Queen Contest - including a link to this site.

    It's been more years than I'd like to admit, but since I'm here, I'll share the following:

    First, congratulations to Chelsea, and everyone else who competed! What a classy photo!

    More importantly, as the years pass and the pictures fade, it is the memories and what we've learned about ourselves that endures - not which picture was chosen or where the picture appeared.

    Competitions encourage an individual to strive to be the best that she can be, to improve upon herself. They teach us about who we are.

    Every young lady who took the initiative to compete is worthy of recognition. Young ladies who didn't compete this year will look to those women the next time they are faced with a decision about something they want to do but aren't sure about. The ladies who didn't win the crown will use what they've learned - including from the Queen - in their next endeavor.

    Competitions also teach us about leadership, and carry into our professional and personal lives. The winner who shares the spotlight with her court, who recognizes that a different year, different judges, different clothes, could have made the difference between the crown or not, who maintains her authentic humility while celebrating her achievement, is the one who will use her experience to help her continue to be successful.

    I hope Chelsea is enjoying every minute of her reign, and I congratulate ALL of the women who competed.

    Vanessa L. Norsworthy

    PS I did earn the Indianapolis 500 Festival Queen title, and a few others; I was a runner-up in the Indiana State Fair Queen Contest. Arie Luyendyk was the Winner of the 1990 Indianapolis 500. My reign as the Putnam County Fair Queen was perhaps the most sentimental, given my long involvement in 4-H and the opportunity to be an ambassador for the same. All of my reigns were special, fun, and great learning, but I have chosen never to let them define me.

    -- Posted by VLNorsworthy on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 10:28 PM
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