H&H queen pageant registration now open

The 63rd Hootin an Hollarin festival, slated for Sept. 19-21, is fast approaching, and organizers with the annual queen pageant are now accepting registration forms from girls who would like to enter the contest.

To qualify to enter, girls must be age 14 to 18, a resident of Ozark County and attend an Ozark County high school or an approved secondary home school program for the current school year. Pageant organizers say they hope to have a large representation of girls throughout all of Ozark County. 

In the pageant, the participating contestants don old-timey dresses and step up to the microphone, one-by-one, to answer questions designated to let them show their creativity and imagination. Participants can wear their own old time dress or organizers have a large selection of dresses that can be loaned to participants. 

A panel of judges choose the queen and the queen’s court, which consists of a deputy queen and three princesses. Another honoree, Miss Sweetie Pie, is chosen by the contestants themselves after voting in secret for the contestant who has been the kindest and most supportive of the group. 

All participating contestants receive a prize package that includes a Hootin an Hollarin t-shirt, a fun mini photo shoot with Karla Smith Photography at a dress rehearsal date, and a pizza party with the other gifts. The winning contestant who is crowned the 2024 Hootin an Hollarin queen will receive a cash prize - along with two other prizes that are new this year - a $500 scholarship to Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and a full photo shoot by Karla Smith Photography. Special charms will also be given to the Hootin an Hollarin Queen and her court.

The queen pageant kicks off the three day festival at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. The theme of the festival this year is “A Harvest of Memories Past.” Hootin an Hollarin queen committee chairmen are happy to help any qualified contestant with securing a dress, working on a speech or with transportation to the pageant or rehearsals.

A registration form can be found on page 6 of this week’s edition, or forms can be picked up at Stockmens Bank in Gainesville or at any Century Bank of the Ozarks location in Ozark County (Gainesville, Bakersfield or Theodosia). Forms can be dropped off at the bank locations or mailed to Becki Strong, PO Box 412, Gainesville, MO 65655. The queen committee members are Becki Strong, Jerri Sue Crawford, Mary Kyle and Tiffany Pleasant. 

For more information, contact Becki Strong at 417-989-9617 or Jerri Sue Crawford at 417-331-6538.