This is the second year that Lisa Hill is organizing and managing the Missy/Master event at the Platte County Fair.
Last year there were 33 contestants, and while there are currently 21 kids signed up, Lisa is hoping to get to 50 this year. “I have been told many years ago, the Missy/Master had upwards of 100 contestants,” Lisa said. The deadline for the event was July 10 at midnight.
Only Platte County residents are allowed to take part in the contest, which is at 6:30 p.m., July 19, on the stage at the Platte Purchase building. Contestants must check in at 6 p.m.
The children participating in the event will be organized in their specific age group, then they will each get called up to the stage. As Lisa calls their names, volunteers will help them up to the stage while she reads a fun little fact about each child. They all stand together on the stage and are presented as a group.
Age groups are 2, 3, 4, and 5. “The children are only judged on overall personality, not cuteness,” Lisa said. In fact we promote having the children wear whatever they are comfortable in, nothing special or fancy.”
All contestants will be given a sash with a badge number, and that will be theirs to keep.
Last year's event needed extra help and Lisa felt that it was a great opportunity to get involved with the fair from a volunteer standpoint and to be involved with the local community.
The event is not only a good way for local kids to get to know each other, but parents can meet each other when checking in their children.
"What a great place to socialize with kids at the fair carnival,” Lisa said. “My favorite part is when the kids get really excited and they forget they are in front of a big audience and start waving and saying 'Hi' to Grandma and Grandpa. It's great.”
All contestants will receive a prize and the winners of each age group - one boy and one girl - will receive a trophy, crowns to wear, and a prize. Every year the prizes change. Last year the prize was a teddy bear that was wearing a Platte County Fair T-shirt and a ticket for a ride at the fair.
All participants will have their names called out and a special fact about each of them shared.
The children have different reactions to their stage appearances.
"Some definitely seem to enjoy it, and really ham it up on stage, which of course our judges love,” Lisa said. “And of course others are shy, and sometimes our volunteers help them up on stage and stand with them. The judges only get one minute to discuss and vote on whom they think should win and I know they have had a lot of trouble in the past deciding. Good news is, the children are so young, that they don’t really seem to notice one winner, but rather they all get a prize and they are happy.”
Lisa and her husband, Rick Hill have two children,Henry, 13 and Grace, 2. Lisa Solon Hill graduated from Platte County High School in 2000. She took part in the Platte County Fair Queen competition after high school, but didn't win.
"I was an athlete, and did not really have a talent that I could perform on stage,” Lisa said. “I was a runner, but my parents pushed me to do it, so of course I obliged.”
She and her family have a farm and live in Platte City. Jason is the owner of HB Construction and Mainline Service and Lisa helps out in the office. She was also a registered nurse and has worked in pharmaceutical sales.
Being a part of the Platte County Fair is something that Lisa is very excited about. “This fair is the longest running fair west of the Mississippi and if you haven’t come to our fair yet, you must come out and experience it for yourself,” Lisa said. “Each and every night there are different events, and activities for all age groups. The fair was always such a fun event every summer growing up in Platte City and to be able to help host an event during the fair for the community is really something special to me and I am very thankful to be able to do it. The Platte County Fair is very special to our family and we love bringing friends to it every year that have never experienced it. We like to say fair time is the best time of the year.”
For more information about the Platte County Fair visit plattecountyfair.com