Ward enjoys reign as 'Fairest of the Fair'

Devon Ward, Miss Bedford County 2008, will relinquish her crown July 18 at the 2009 Fairest of the Fair pageant. (Submitted photo)

"They didn't have a scholarship then!" she said, laughing. "I could use it!"

This year, the winner of the Miss Bedford County category, young ladies between 16 and 21, will take home a $500 scholarship, as well as a crown.

"It's a big deal," said Jeri Lynne Smith, who chairs the competition. "We want lots of young ladies to have that opportunity."

This year's Fairest of the Fair will be held Saturday, July 18. The younger groups will compete beginning at 2 p.m. Young Miss Bedford County will begin at 7 p.m. and Miss Bedford County will begin at 8 p.m.

"But the deadline to enter is coming up," she said. "They need to get their names in."

The deadline to enter is July 12 -- next Sunday. Entry forms can be found at bedfordcountyfair.org/Fairestofthefair.aspx or can be picked up at the Times-Gazette, Colleen's Cottage, J. Jordan's or Copy Express. The forms can be mailed to Jeri Lynn Smith, 808 Shelbyview Drive, Shelbyville, TN 37160.

It's more than an opportunity for a crown, and even a scholarship, said Devon, the daughter of Richard and Rita Ward.

"It's a great experience," she said. "You get to meet a lot of new people, just like I did. I had a lot of fun working with the fair board and doing things around town, like the Thanksgiving dinner out at the nursing home, doing some benefits. You get to be a role model -- a lot of people look up to you, like the other little girls at the fair."

Devon's win at last year's County Fair wasn't her first time on the stage.

"I've been in Fairest of the Fair for about four or five years now," she said. "And I was in the Country Christmas Queen pageant."

Devon, a rising senior at Central, hopes to go to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and get a degree in physical therapy. She hasn't done an intensive beauty pageant tour, but has enjoyed the competitions she's entered. She also enjoyed going to the state competition last fall and meeting other Fairest of the Fair winners from across Tennessee.

"Everybody has a hobby," she said. "This one makes you keep in line. You have a lot of people looking at you."

She does have one other, tiny regret about being Miss Bedford County -- giving it up.

"It's not going to be that hard," she confessed. "Somebody else deserves a chance, too, and I know there's a lot of great young ladies out there and I know someone who works hard will get it."

Schedule -- July 18

2 p.m. Precious Miss Bedford County Fair (Girls 0-11 months)

2:30 p.m. Baby Miss Bedford County Fair (Girls 12-23 months)

3 p.m. Toddler Miss Bedford County Fair (Girls 2-3 years)

3:30 p.m. Tiny Miss Bedford County Fair (Girls 4-5 years)

4 p.m.. Petite Miss Bedford County Fair (6-7 years)

4:30 p.m.. Little Miss Bedford County Fair (8-10 years)

5 p.m.. Junior Miss Bedford County Fair (11-12 Years)

7 p.m. Young Miss Bedford County Fair ( 13-15 years)

8 p.m. Miss Bedford County Fair (16-21 years)

Fees

$30 - First child, $20 - Second child, $15 - Any subsequent children

Door admission- $5 ages 13 and up (contestant and one backstage person admitted free); $3 ages 6-12; and ages under 6 are admitted free