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Rockingham County Fair Pageant to be held Aug. 2

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1964_fair_queensThe Rockingham County Fair pageant is scheduled for Saturday, August 2 at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. The new titleholders will represent the Rockingham County Fair during fair week August 11-16 and at other events throughout the year. Miss Rockingham County Fair will receive $750 as well as numerous other gifts. The pageant is directed by Melissa Shifflett.

“We are very excited about the upcoming pageant,” Shifflett said. “The Rockingham County Fair pageant is a good stepping stone to other opportunities for contestants.”

“We look forward to a great pageant this year,” said Fair Association General Manager Jeff Ishee, who observed the long history of the Fair pageant. It was 50 years ago this summer when Miss Terry Preston was named Miss Rockingham County Fair – 1964. According to an article in the Daily News Record at the time, she was a 17-yr. old senior at Harrisonburg High School and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Grant Preston, Jr. of Harrisonburg. First runner-up was 17-yr old Rhonda Smallwood, also a student at HHS. Second Runner-up was Jayne Gallahan. The feature entertainer for the 1964 Fair was Grand Ole Opry star Tex Ritter.

“We actually tracked down Terry Preston (Glondys), who now resides in Florida,” said Ishee. “She keeps in touch with her Harrisonburg friends via Facebook and said she has pleasant memories of being named Miss Rockingham County Fair in 1964.”

The2014 pageant will include divisions for boys age newborn to 4 years. Girls divisions include Preteen, Jr. Miss, Miss, and Mrs. programs. The Mrs. Division is open to all married ladies and there is no age limit. There will also be a Grandmother Division. Preteens divisions include categories 0-11 months, 12-23 months, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The Jr. Miss program is for girls ages 13 to 15. The Miss contestants must be 16 to 22.

For more information about the Rockingham County Fair pageant program, contact Shifflett at 540-820-1930 or visit www.rockinghamcountyfair.com.

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