VIENNA — The 75th Maries County Fair kicked off with a local style and flair with the princess and queen pageants and a Little Mr. and Miss Contest. It was held on a new stage flanked by American flags located in front of the grandstand at the baseball diamond. 

Local people enjoy appreciating their youth and what better way  than to have them take the stage at the county fair. It was a pleasant evening in Mid-Missouri for the contests that pleased parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends. 

The fair’s theme, a Star Spangled Salute, was well represented in the American colors of red, white and blue clothing of the participants. 

The Little Mr. and Miss Contest began at 5 p.m. and there were folks there to watch it. Kaitlyn Neubert, 20, Vienna, the 2019 Maries County Fair Farm Queen, was emcee of the evening’s pageants. Neubert is a senior at Missouri State University, Springfield. She said the Little Mr. and Miss Contest and Miss Maries County Fair Pageant is brought to fair goers by the Tom Coffey Trust. “May we never forget Tom’s many contributions to the Vienna community,” she said. 

Ava Kloeppel took the stage and interviewed each Little Miss contestant as they came up onto the stage. All of the little girls looked so nice in their patriotic dress. They included Emeri Hamm, Olivia Hoelscher, Noralynne James, Raelynne James, Trinity Crum, Emarie Fawcett, Della Rowden, Ella Wansing, Ayla Byrd, and Kaleigh Miller. The girls were cute with their answers. They said the liked swimming and playing in water, some carried a doll or stuffed animal, and Raelynne James sang a song about loving Jesus. 

While the judges were making their tallies, Neubert said the 2021 Maries County Fair Food Truck Court and Pavilion located behind the grandstand, is presented by South Central Regional Stockyards. The 2021 exhibits hall is sponsored by The Flower Basket. The fair coloring contest is presented by Show-Me Land Surveying, TC James owner. 

The prizes for the contest are sponsored by Wishing on a Star travel agency, Jason and Jessica Crum, and the Tom Coffey Trust Fund, which provided light-up scooters for second place and bicycles for the Little Mr. and Miss. 

The 2021 Little Miss contest winners are Raelynne James, age 5, the 2021 Little Miss. She is the daughter of TC and Kacie James of Vienna. Trinity Crum, age 6, is the second runner up. She is the daughter of Jason and Trinity Crum of Vienna. Third runner up is Ella Wansing, age 5, daughter of Adam and Kayla Wansing of Dixon. 

There were five Little Mr. candidates. They included Hank Helton, Karsan Miller, Redding Beltz, Dallas Martin, and Kalvin Pendleton.  The boys looked sweet in their red, white, and blue shirts, some in cowboy boots and hats, and some carrying trucks, tractors and dinosaurs. 

Hank Helton, age 4, was crowned the Little Mr. He is the son of Sam and Sheena Helton. Calvin Pendleton, age 4, was the second runner up. He is the son of Shawn and Brandi Pendleton. Redding Beltz, age 4, was the third runner up. He is the son of Chaney and Tera Beltz.

Next was the Junior Princess, Princess and Queen Pageants. Miss Neubert said the Junior Princess Pageant is present courtesy of The Dance Academy. The Dance Academy encourages people to discover their soul through dance. Contestants were ages 7-11 years old. They included Autumn Wilkes, age 8, daughter of Katelyn Daugherty, of Vienna; Haley King, age 8, daughter of Coty and Michelle King, of Dixon; Isabella King, age 7, daughter of Coty and Michelle King, of Dixon; Veronica Helton, age 8, daughter of Vernon and Amy Helton, of Vienna; and Haven Holterman, age 8, daughter of Travis and Brandy Holterman. The girls performed a talent, and changed into more formal clothing to answer questions. 

Haley King was crowned the Junior Princess. The second runner up was Autumn Wilkes, and Haven Holterman was the third runner up.

The Princess Pageant was sponsored by The Market. “Tracy and her crew remind you that at the Market, you’ll find good food, great prices and excellent service,” Miss Neubert said.

Harper Cohlmia, age 9, a fourth grader at Maries R-1 Elementary School, was the only Princess candidate. She is the daughter of Aaron and Kara Cohlmia, of Dixon. She performed a dance routine and said she loves to dance. She was crowned the 2021 Fair Princess. 

The Maries County Fair Queen Pageant is presented by Central Missouri Driver Training, Becky Kleffner owner, reminding you to think safe, train safe, drive safe.

There were two queen candidates, Jillian Fick, 16, daughter of Jenny Fick, Vienna, and Elizabeth Veasman, 16, daughter of Tom and Diane Veasman, Brinktown. 

Fick performed a tap dance, beginning it wearing a long, black coat and black hat, which she took off and underneath was a sharp blue, iridescent jacket. She changed into more formal dress to answer questions. She is a junior at VHS, the student council president, and plays a clarinet in the Eagle varsity band. When asked what she could do to better her community, Fick said a community needs a lot more involvement, with people stepping up to do community service and serve members of the community such as its senior citizens.

Veasman did a HipHop dance routine. She is the junior class vice president, the Vienna FFA Chapter president, and is in FCCLA, SADD and a cheerleader. When asked how she would change in the world is the perception of women. Veasman said as women “we are capable, in charge, and in power.”

Veasman was crowned the 2021 Fair Queen and Fick was named second runner up.