Thank you for pageant support

To the editor:

I would like to thank the many businesses and organizations of Jay County for their support of this year’s Miss Jay County Fair Queen Pageant.

Thank you to Jay County Fair Board for its support and to Portland Breakfast Optimist Club for the financial and moral support.

This is the 42nd year that the Breakfast Optimist Club has sponsored the Miss Jay County Fair Queen Pageant. A big thank you goes out to the pageant committee for making the pageant such a success.

A special shout out to committee member, Rose Grapner, for her idea to bring the fairgrounds to the high school auditorium with the beautiful new backdrop.

Our thanks to Jay School Corporation and Jay County High School and personnel, especially Carol Gebert and custodians, for assistance as we used the high school auditorium and facilities for the pageant again this year.

Thank you to Ray Cooney, The Commercial Review staff, Rob Weaver, WPGW staff and Adams County Memorial Hospital for advertising and coverage of the pageant.

We appreciate the following facilities for their assistance in providing meeting places and resources: Jay County Public Library, Trinity United Methodist Church, Asbury United Methodist Church and Richard’s Restaurant. We thank Charlie Rohrer for providing the sound equipment and music for the pageant.

Thank you to Portana Travel, Spencer Apartments and First Merchants Bank for purchasing the jewelry from J&P Plating for each contestant. First Bank of Berne sponsored the crown, B&G Pools and Spas purchased the sashes made at Patriot Sportswear and Embroidery, and Scott Benter at Edward Jones, MainSource Bank and Valentine Feed and Supply bought the trophies. Reni’s Heaven Scent, The Flower Nook and Cook’s Nursery donated flowers and plants.

Photography by Debi Gillespie, and videotaping by Lori Reece will provide lasting memories for our 2017 pageant participants.

Thank you to Display Craft for helping with the signs for the parades and for donating the signs for the queen.

I encourage the community to support our local businesses that participated in this year’s pageant, including the 75 advertisers who made the program and other pageant expenses affordable. Sponsors for the contestants this year were:

Greazy Pickle, Williams Auto Parts, Closet Update, Jay County FFA, Crossroads Financial Federal Credit Union, Dave’s Outdoor Services, B&G Pool and Spa, The Flower Nook, Sunshine Boutique, Link Dozing, All Brothers LLC, P&D Auto, Best One Tire, Joni Linville - Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Homestead Quality Bedding, Schmit Chiropractic and Shield’s Garage.

Thank you to the community for supporting this year’s pageant by attending the event on June 25.

Our appreciation to Breakfast Optimist Member, Scott Benter, for acting as the master of ceremonies this year.   Several former Miss Jay County Fair Queens and court members served as coaches this year.

Finally, many thanks to the 2016 queen and court and their families for their assistance, and to the parents and families of this year’s candidates for their support. 

The 11 candidates this year were beautiful, talented, goal-oriented and dedicated to community service.

The contestants were respectful to our pageant committee and worked hard for several weeks in preparation for the pageant.

Sincerely,

Julie K. Hunt

Event chairperson

Portland Breakfast Optimist Club