Hootin an Hollarin queen pageant is Thursday night
Emma Veach was crowned 2024 Hootin an Hollarin Queen. Emma is a Gainesville High School student and the daughter of Sarah and Levi Treat and Preston and Brittney Veach. In the photo above, she is pictured with her court. From left: Miss Sweetie Pie Ella Sue Barber; Princess Lakely Anderson, Queen Emma Veach, Princess Isabelle Martin, Princess Cami Strain and Deputy Queen Cheyenne Wachtel. Photo by Karla Smith.
The Hootin an Hollarin queen pageant will be held at its usual time of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.
The pageant is open to girls who are 14 to 18 and are either homeschooled or attending high school at the time of the festival. Contestants must either live in or attend school in Ozark County.
The pageant usually includes a good mix of returning queen candidates and new participants who don old-timey dresses and step to the microphone, one by one, to answer questions designed to let them show their creativity and imagination.
A panel of judges chooses the queen and the queen’s court, including 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 kindest and most supportive to the group.
Hootin an Hollarin queen committee chairmen are happy to help any qualified contestant with their dress, sponsorship or transportation needs to the pageant or rehearsals.
Each contestant receives a Hootin an Hollarin T-shirt and other gifts, and the contestants will enjoy a pizza party and mini photo shoot by Karla Smith during rehearsals.
The queen receives a cash prize and a tiara, a $500 scholarship to Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and a full photoshoot donated by Karla Smith. Special charms are also given to the queen and her court.
Citizen of the year Doug Hawkins and Hootin an Hollarin Parade Marshal Greg Watts will be honored on stage while judges are tallying the votes.
For more information on the queen pageant, contact Becki Strong at 417-989-9617 or Jerri Sue Crawford at 417-331-6538.