Arthur Foulkes
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Kayla Lindsay, a senior at West Vigo High School, is the 2012 Vigo County Fair Queen.
Lindsay was crowned Thursday evening after rising to the top of a strong field of 16 contestants for the coveted position.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so exciting,” Lindsay, 18, said moments after being fitted for her crown on the stage at Terre Haute North Vigo High School. “I can’t even believe it right now.”
A large and partisan crowd turned out for the 2012 Fair Queen Pageant. At several different times during the evening, as each contestant was introduced or walked across the stage, friends and family shouted their enthusiastic support.
Lindsay will take part in numerous events at the 2012 Vigo County Fair, which begins July 8. She also will represent Vigo County at the Indiana State Fair later in the year.
“I definitely want to do a donkey race,” Lindsay said when asked what she planned to do as Queen during the fair. The 2011 Queen, Brittany Gibson, talked during the pageant of her experience in last year’s big donkey race.
This was Lindsay’s second year as a contestant in the pageant. Last year she placed in the top five.
The first runner-up this year was Tie Manbeck, 20, a pre-med student at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. The second runner-up was Cami Lee, 16, a senior at South Vigo.
Rounding out the top five finalists were Sarah Hudson, 18, a graduate of West Vigo, and Bailey Bergherm, 18, a Terre Haute South Vigo graduate.
Hudson also was named Miss Congeniality, an honor selected by the contestants.
Three judges, all from outside Vigo County and with significant pageant experience, selected the top five finalists after each took part in an opening dance routine, a professional wear competition and an evening wear competition.
The five finalists were then asked an unrehearsed question by co-emcee Eric Michaels: What would you tell yourself if you could travel back in time to when you were 10 years old?
Lindsay, in response to the question, said she would tell herself to “take advantage of every opportunity that I could and to not sell myself short of any opportunities.”
Her big opportunity to serve as the 2012 Vigo County Fair Queen starts now.
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.amed Miss Congeniality, an honor selected by the contestants.
Three judges, all from outside Vigo County and with significant pageant experience, selected the top five finalists after each took part in an opening dance routine, a professional wear competition and an evening wear competition.
The five finalists were then asked an unrehearsed question by co-emcee Eric Michaels: What would you tell yourself if you could travel back in time to when you were 10 years old?
Lindsay, in response to the question, said she would tell herself to “take advantage of every opportunity that I could and to not sell myself short of any opportunities.”
Her big opportunity to serve as the 2012 Vigo County Fair Queen starts now.
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
