Marion County Fair Queen Maggie Telford is competing this weekend at the State County Fair Queen competition at Springfield.
Telford says preparation has been underway since shortly after she was named Miss Marion County Fair Queen in August.
“Almost every weekend ever since I won back in August it has been preparing. I’ve bought new dresses, new swimsuit competition stuff, a new wardrobe for everything from my speech, my interview. I had to do alterations for all of that as well as mock interviews, speech practice, stage practice. It’s a lot like of the same I did before the county, just like times ten.”
And is she nervous:
“I’m more like excited than nervous. I’ve been a swimmer all of my life. Most of our swim competitions are three-day swim meet, so I’m really treating this just like a three-day swim meet.”
Telford went to Springfield Friday for practice. There is more practice Saturday before the initial rounds of competition on Saturday afternoon and evening. The top 15 will be selected on Sunday, with the final competition leading up to the selection of the state queen on Sunday night. The winner gets to preside over the State Fair in Springfield and DuQuion State Fair.
Telford is a Salem Community High School graduate who goes to Milliken University in Decatur where she is on the college’s swim team.
Marion County Fair Queen Maggie Telford
