A crowning achievement

For Jasper County Fair Queen Elizabeth Horn, royalty runs in the family. Horn’s mother, Neisha, held the same title in 1990. As Neisha Horn watched her daughter stroll down the catwalk Friday afternoon at the Iowa State Fair, she marveled at how much the pageant had changed since she was on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.

“It’s changed since then, but it’s still a fun experience for the girls,” Neisha Horn said.

As Jasper County Fair Queen, Horn was automatically selected to participate in the State Fair Pageant, a week-long event that brings queens from across the state to vie for the coveted state title. Despite the heady competition of the pageant, Horn said it’s also an opportunity for girls from across the state to bond with one another and form friendships that last a lifetime. While staying in Altoona, the girls spent their days practicing for the pageant, including daily workouts every morning.

“Everyone is so nice,” Horn said. “You feel like you have to bring your best. You’re representing the whole county.”

A self-described “fair girl,” Horn is a regular at the Jasper County Fair. She’s been part of the fair since she was a baby. During introductions at the state fair pageant Friday night, each entrant had a chance to tell the audience what made their county fair unique. Without missing a beat, Horn told the assembled crowd about the Supreme Showman competition at the Jasper County Fair, an event that pits the top exhibitors in each breed against one another. Horn, who’s won the equine competition at the Jasper County Fair, has competed in the event twice. Even though she’d never competed in a beauty pageant before, Horn’s parents weren’t surprised when she told them she planned to throw her hat into the ring and try out for the competition.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she would do something with the fair,” Horn’s father, James Horn, said. “Although, she’d probably be more comfortable on her horse.”

She may not have past pageant experience, but Horn does have an ace up her sleeve; every year Jasper County Queens take the time to write a note to future queens, offering up plenty of good advice, along with a few tips and tricks for navigating the state fair pageant. Horn’s note from 2017 Jasper County Fair Queen Jaclyn Michener offered plenty of pointers in both categories.

“She told me to make sure I wear comfy shoes,” Horn said, with a laugh. “She also told me to enjoy it, and to have fun — we only get to do this once.”

So far, Horn has been soaking up as much of the experience as she can, although she admitted the three interviews each contestant is required to go through have been intimidating at times. Competing for state fair queen means passing up a chance to ride in the Cowgirl Queen Competition, an event that deftly mixes the traditional beauty pageant with horsemanship skills.

“I wish I was competing this year. I miss it,” Horn said.

Regrets aside, Horn is having a ball with the ISF Queen activities. Even though she did not win the state fair crown during Saturday night’s coronation, an honor that went to Hailey Swan, of Davis County, the experience has lived up to its once-in-a-lifetime billing. Over the past week, Horn and the other contestants have gone from being strangers to fast friends in a way Horn wasn’t expecting.

“The best part has definitely been the girls. Everyone is super nice and super friendly,” Horn said. “I’ve made friendships here that’ll last forever.”

Contact David Dolmage at
641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or
ddolmage@newtondailynews.com