The Saline County Fair is coming, and along with it are the annual pageant, parade and rodeo. The theme for the 2024 Saline County Fair is “Cool Shades & Fair Days.” This fun annual event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3rd through Saturday the 7th. This year’s sponsors are Arkansas Farm Bureau of Saline County, N&D Technical Services, Everett Chevrolet, Farmers Association and Eagle Electric.
READ BELOW FOR PAGEANT, PARADE, RIDES, EXHIBITS & RODEO DETAILS:
The parade and fair opening are on the same day, Tuesday, September 3rd. The fairgrounds opens at 406 Fairfield Road in Benton, at 9:00 a.m. with cultural art exhibits. At 6:00 p.m., exhibitors will be in place and the carnival begins. Across town at 6:00 p.m., the fair parade begins at CW Lewis Stadium at 411 S. Market Street in and circles historic downtown Benton. See the parade route below.
PAGEANT
The 2024 Saline County Fair Queen Pageant is first in the line of events – to be held August 31st at the Saline County Fairgrounds, Fair Office Building, Benton, AR. Read the details below and if you have any questions, contact Tara Shelton, Director 501-317-8239 and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/salinecountyfairpageant. This year’s entry form is online at https://form.jotform.com/241007889376062.
BOYS DIVISIONS:
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- Baby Mister 0-2 years
- Little Mister 3-5 years
GIRLS DIVISIONS:
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- Baby Miss 0-11 months
- Toddler Miss 12-23 months
- Teeny Miss 2 years
- Tiny Miss 3 years
- Little Miss 4-5 years
- Petite Miss 6-7 years
- Young Miss 8-9 years
- Preteen Miss 10-13 years
- Junior Miss 14-17 years
- Miss 18-23 years – must be graduating senior
- Ms. 20-39 years
- Sr. Ms. 40+ years
- (Ms. & Sr. Ms. will be combined if there are not 3 contestants in each group)
QUALIFICATIONS & RULES:
1. A contestant must have been born a female and a legal resident of Saline County. She cannot be, or at any time have been married, pregnant, or have a child. A contestant must not have ever been convicted of any crime or have any criminal charges pending.
2. A contestant must legally reside or attend school (academic) in Saline County for one full semester immediately preceding the contest.
3. The Jr. Miss and Ms. Saline County Fair Queens will be REQUIRED to compete in the Arkansas State Fair Pageant.
4. Little Miss will have the option to compete at District Fair.
5. Contestants are required to be on time for all events. Absent or tardy contestants may be disqualified at the discretion of the Contest Director. If you are unable to attend or be on time, due to an emergency, contact Tara Shelton at 501-317-8239 as soon as possible.
6. ENTRY FORMS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND SIGNED BY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) contestant; (2) contestant’s parent or guardian.
7. NO ENTRY FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER AUG. 23, 2024. Entry forms will be accepted online only. You may enter and pay online by scanning the QR code below.
8. The dressing area for contestants will be provided. One chaperone per contestant will be allowed backstage, NO EXCEPTIONS. Contestants are subject to disqualification at the discretion of the Pageant Director for failure to comply.
9. The reigning Saline County Fair Queen must conduct herself properly at all times. Inappropriate behavior bringing unfavorable publicity to herself and/or the Saline County Fair may result in the Fair Queen relinquishing her title and the forfeiture and return of all prizes and monetary awards.
10. Any display of poor sportsmanship and/or unbecoming conduct, any interference and/or disturbance, or any other behavioral problem created by a contestant, companion, parent, relative, or supporter of a contestant could result in disqualification of the contestant from this year’s contest and all future contests.
11. The Saline County Fair Pageant Director reserves the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard thereto or otherwise arising out of or connected with, or incident to the contest, and the right to amend or add to these rules as their judgment may determine. Any contestant who fails to abide by any of the above rules can be disqualified from the contest.
Tara Shelton, Fair Pageant Director, 501-317-8239, [email protected]
BEAUTY (Boys and Girls 0-13 years)
Contestants will be judged on modeling, attire, poise, beauty, and personality.
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- MODELING – Diamond/Figure 8. No routines. Walk and model while letting your personality show! No points will be deducted for pattern.
- ATTIRE – Pageant dress or Sunday Best dresses for girls. Tuxedo or Sunday Best for boys. Age appropriateness is taken into consideration. Attire score will be based on fit and fun. Attire should be something your child loves and can show off!!
- POISE – Confidence counts!! Chin up, shoulders back, and Take the Stage!
- BEAUTY – All of our contestants are beautiful, but too much makeup, fake hair, flippers, spray tans, etc. will lose your points. Keep it naturally beautiful!
- PERSONALITY – We are looking for someone we will be proud to have represent Saline County! Let it Shine!
PHOTOGENIC
All photogenic entries are due with entry form. If sending through the mail, please ensure the photo will not be damaged or bent. The Saline County Fair Pageant is not responsible for lost or damaged entries. All photos should be no larger than 8×10. Black and white or color photos are accepted. Contestants will be judged on natural photogenic qualities, age appropriateness, quality of photo, and over-all impression. Please NO GLITZ PHOTOS.
One photogenic entry is included in the entry fee. Additional entries may be added for $10/photo but only the top scoring photo for each contestant will count toward the division title score.
INTERVIEW (Jr. Miss, Miss, Ms. and Sr. Ms.)
This private, timed, five-minute interview is a great opportunity to showcase your personality to the judging panel. Come prepared to talk about the topics on your entry form, current events, the fair in general, etc.
PARADE OF CONTESTANTS
This is the opening number. You’ll walk up to the mic and say a fun introduction. Example: your name and your county.
INTERVIEW/PARADE OF CONTESTANTS ATTIRE
Think bright, fun with flair, yet professional. Pantsuit, casual dress, jumpsuit, skirt, etc. This outfit will be what you wear for interview and the parade of contestants.
EVENING GOWN (Jr. Miss, Miss, Ms. and Sr. Ms.)
A Contestant may wear a gown of choice. The choice of the garment will be age appropriate. This phase will be judged on confidence, state presence, eye contact, posture, walk and modeling, appropriate choice of gown for her age, and overall impression.
DRESSING & BACKSTAGE
The Saline County Fair Association is not responsible for loss or damage to clothing or other personal items left in the dressing room or in other areas. Only one chaperone per contestant will be allowed backstage. Failure to comply with the rule will result in disqualification. No makeup artists or hairdressers are allowed backstage.
JUDGING
The judges will be appointed by the Saline County Fair Pageant Director. They will be persons well qualified to judge a contest of this kind. Their decision will be final. Scores and critiques will be provided via email within 5 days of the contest. NO CONTESTANT OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF A CONTESTANT WILL BE ALLOWED TO APPROACH THE JUDGES AT ANY TIME.
JUNIOR FAIR QUEEN DUTIES
During her reign, the Saline County Fair Queens are required to attend the following events on our behalf: The Saline County Fair and Rodeo, The Saline County Fair Parade (Sept. 3), and various Saline County Fair functions. All other appearances must be scheduled through the Saline County Fair Pageant Director.
PARADE
Participate in the 2024 Saline County Fair Parade. This year entry forms are online at https://form.jotform.com/salinecofair/saline-county-fair-parade-registrat
THEME: Cool Shades & Fair Days!
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
FLOAT CONTEST:
• 1st Place – $200
• 2nd Place – $125
• 3rd Place – $75
LINE UP INFORMATION:
You must be in place by 5:30 p.m. Lineup will start at C. W. Lewis football field parking on North Market Street. Line-up numbers will be given as you call in or we will call you and give you a number. Please attach the number on the left side of your entry for the judges to see.
DO NOT THROW CANDY OR OTHER ITEMS TO ANYONE ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. YOU CAN HAND OUT ITEMS BY HAND AS YOU TRAVEL THE PARADE ROUTE. IF YOU USE A TRAILER BED FOR A FLOAT OR WILL TRANSPORT PASSENGERS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE RAILINGS TO PREVENT INJURIES.
All Equine must have a current negative coggins report with them to be checked at parking area.
If you have any questions call the Saline County Fair Association and Parade Committee 501-317-5452.
EXHIBITS & RODEO
It is time to start getting your arts and crafts, horticulture, and livestock ready to enter the fair. You may register your entries from August 1st through 31st. Go to the Online Fair Entries at https://saline.fairwire.com.
For a complete listing and additional information regarding entries, visit www.salinecountyfairgrounds.com. There is also a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SalineCoFair that will be updated regularly. Livestock and rodeo events will go throughout the week, as will the carnival and other exhibitions. See the events schedule below:
2024 Saline County Fair Schedule of Events
Thursday, Aug. 29
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cultural Art exhibits (photos, crafts, canned goods, etc. will be accepted)
Saturday, Aug. 31
9:00 a.m. Saline County Fair Pageant
Monday, Sept. 2
6:00 p.m. 4-H Junior Dog Show & Judging
Tuesday, Sept. 3
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Cultural Art exhibits (photos, crafts, canned goods, etc. will be accepted)
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Horticulture and Livestock exhibits will be accepted
6:00 p.m. Parade
6:00 p.m. Carnival opens … ARM BAND NIGHT
Wednesday, Sept. 4
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Horticulture items accepted
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Baked Goods accepted
9:00 a.m. – till done Judging Cultural Art exhibits
1:00 p.m. Horticultural Judging
6:00 p.m. 4-H Livestock Judging (Cattle, Sheep, Goats & Swine)
6:00 p.m. Carnival opens
Thursday, Sept. 5
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Senior Citizen Day
2:00 p.m. Poultry Show
4:00 p.m. Poultry & Rabbit Showmanship
6:00 p.m. Rabbit Judging
6:00 p.m. Carnival Opens … ARM BAND NIGHT
7:00 p.m. Mutton Bustin
8:00 p.m. Rodeo
Friday, Sept. 6
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. School Day
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Special Needs Day (Pre-registration required)
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 4-H Pee Wee Show (open to all kids 8 and under)
7:00 p.m. Mutton Bustin
8:00 p.m. Rodeo
Saturday, Sept. 7
9:00 a.m. 4-H Pullet Chain Auction
10:00 a.m. 4-H Premium Sale & Auction
1:00 p.m. Carnival opens (ARM BAND 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
7:00 p.m. Mutton Bustin
8:00 p.m. Rodeo
9:00 p.m. Livestock Exhibits Released
Sunday, Sept. 8
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Check out and pick up checks