GOSHEN — By the end of tonight, one local young woman will leave the Elkhart County 4-H fairgrounds as the 2012 Fair Queen, a title that will bring a busy next week.

Only one will become this year’s queen, but several of the 50 contestants said they focus on just making friends and having fun during the competition as much as winning the crown and title.

Cathleen Poole, a 2012 Northridge graduate, was hesitant about joining the queen contest, anxious that the other 49 girls might be competitive and “not be very nice.”

Ends up, though, that “it doesn’t really feel like we’re even in a competition now,” she said. “We’re just hanging out, having fun.”

The Fair Queen contest is at 8 tonight at the fair grandstands, but contest activities for the contestants began almost two months ago.

Contestants first gathered in early June for an orientation to go over what events would be coming up: workshops, practices, the Queens Gala, judging, tonight’s contest and Sunday’s parade.

PreparatioN

Contestants who wear pantyhose the night of the queen contest, should be sure to put duct tape in their high heels to keep their feet from slipping in their shoes, contest veterans explained to first-year participants along with other tips and advice. Use regular strength tape, though, or you could pull out the insoles.

The group of young women attended an evening of workshops in June to formally work on preparing for the queen competition, but a part of the learning is more informally shared within the group.

During the workshop night, the young women learn how to walk the route on stage that they’ll walk during the Queens Gala, using a turn-pivot move they’ll also use during the public contest tonight. They go through mock interviews and receive feedback from area leaders. This year, they also started to learn the steps for a dance routine that the 40 girls not named finalists will perform during tonight’s event. This is the first year for the dance performance, which 2008 Fair Queen Courtney Simpson choreographed.

For incoming Goshen High School junior Kalin Meikle, the evening was another chance to work on what she said during her practice interview was the scariest part of the contest for her: wearing heels.

“I have huge arches,” Meikle said, which causes her ankles to roll a little no matter what shoes she wears.

Others also said that they grew more comfortable wearing heels because of the contest, and learned how to just be more poised all-around. It has also been good practice for interviewing and helped improve their confidence, several said.

Earlier this week, the women gathered to rehearse for Wednesday judging and also for tonight’s event. Co-directors Natalie Beer and Kathy Shewmaker and queen committee members Mary Dale, also a past queen, and Jessica Whickcar helped organize the contestants at the practices, answering questions and sharing stories and experiences from past contests.

Queens Gala

The queen contestants had their first semi-public event July 2 with the Queens Gala.

During the gala, the fair queen contestants and the senior queen contestants introduced themselves to the 350-some people in the audience before modeling an outfit of the contestant’s choice.

Most wore sun dresses — a few in red, white and blue in time for the Fourth of July — or cocktail dresses, but a few also highlighted particular hobbies with their selected attire: a band performance clothes complete with the contestant’s saxophone, a hip-hop/jazz dance outfit, nursing scrubs, a motocross racing jersey, a tennis uniform and a golf outfit.

The night gave the women a chance to be on stage and speak to a crowd without any judges around. “It’s practice for the girls, and a chance for them to thank their parents and sponsors and the fair board,” Beer said.

Judging

Wednesday morning, the 50 queen contestants arrived at Maple City Chapel for their time before the judges, all from outside the county. Each contestant interviewed with the three judges, later modeling a business wear outfit and an evening gown.

Several girls arrived that morning with their hair already fashioned into fancy updos, some also carrying full length mirrors, curling irons and other items for the day.

Cassie VanDiepenbos arrived with a suitcase. Inside was makeup, extra pantyhose, nail polish remover and other odds and ends she knew could come in handy.

A previous contestant, VanDiepenbos said that helping each other out and passing on tips is part of the experience of the queen contest.

“Once you get to know everybody, it’s just a family,” she said.

Beer said Wednesday that the judges were very complimentary of the group of women.

“It’s a stiff competition this year,” she said.

Each candidates’s preliminary score is broken down into three divisions: 50 percent is from the interview, 20 percent is from the professional wear division and 30 percent is from the evening gown part of the contest.

In tonight’s contest, all 50 girls will wear their formal gowns to introduce themselves to the crowd. The top 10 will also wear their business outfit to each answer an impromptu question and later also model their gowns. The winner will spend much of this next week alongside the fair’s senior queen, making appearances around the fairgrounds and greeting fairgoers. This evening also includes local entertainment, including a dance from the 40 contestants not named finalists.

“Of the 50 girls, only one will go home really excited, but I think, I hope the other 49 have had a fun time,” Beer said.