Opening ceremonies have a royal touch
Boundary County Fair Royalty: Princess Ivy Murray, Princess Bria Hyer, Queen Molly Flower, Princess Mataya Falck, Princess Cheyenne Cada, and Princess Sydnee Blevins. In the front: Little Prince Leo Peterson and Little Princess Madalynn Beggerly.
Princess Sydnee Blevins showcases a cake during the bake sale that was won twice, finding its home with Caleb Davis.
Photos by MANDI BATEMAN Boundary County Fair Queen, Molly Flower, being escorted in by her grandfather.
Photo by MANDI BATEMANDYW Katie Summefield spoke during the opening ceremonies.
The Boundary County Fair Opening Ceremonies took place on Wednesday, Aug. 14., and Boy Scout Troop No. 114 presented the colors.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN2018 Boundary County Fair King Caleb Petersen with 2019 Little Prince Leo Peterson, helping out with the bake sale.
Photo by MANDI BATEMANFair Queen Molly Flower during the bake sale.
Photo by MANDI BATEMANJune Marshall models her outfit that she made in the Ready, Set, Sew program.
Photo by MANDI BATEMANPrincess Sydnee Blevins helps to acution off baked goods.
Photo by MANDI BATEMANLittle Princess Madalynn Beggerly and Little Prince Leo Peterson.
BONNERS FERRY — The smells of farmyard mingled with the unmistakable smell of fair food on Wednesday, Aug. 14, as people filled the indoor arena for the official start to the fair, the Opening Ceremonies.
The smell of fresh sawdust wafted up into the grandstands as the tradition ceremonies took place, from the presentation of the colors by the Boy Scouts, to Emmaline Pinkerton singing the national anthem, to the FFA Officers’ presentation.
As part of the opening ceremonies, Distinguished Young Woman Katie Summerfield spoke about her experience thus far, and experiences to come.
“Boundary County is filled with so many talented people, willing to showcase their dedication for all of us to view,” said Summerfield. “I am so honored to say that I am a part of this community.”
“In less than two months, I will be traveling down to Idaho Falls to represent Bonners Ferry in the state Distinguished Young Women program,” she said. “My goal is to show all of the other young women — from all across the state — just how incredible it is to have grown up in this community.”
Fair Administrator Paula Burt received a surprise during the ceremony, when all of the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to her and she was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
Ready, Set, Sew had an elegant presentation of garments that the participants both made and modeled.
The Boundary County Fair Royalty was introduced during the ceremonies, escorted by a family member. The Little Prince and Princess were announced, taking the 8-year old Little Princess, Madalynn Beggerly, completely by surprise.
“She wasn’t expecting it. I kept it a secret,” said her mother, Tiffany Beggerly, after the ceremony. “We do it every year and it’s just fun. They get to learn the ropes around the fair and they a little bit of a responsibility, and it is super fun. Who wouldn’t want to wear a tiara, right?”
When asked if she was excited to win, Madalynn Beggerly answered, yes, but added that she was a bit embarrassed.
Leo Peterson was chosen as the Little Prince. For the other fair royalty, they had to wait through the bake sale before finding out which of them was to be named Boundary County Fair Queen.
The bake sale showcased prize winning cakes and baked goods, and the bidders stepped up, fighting over their favorite sweet treats. Coldwell Banker North Woods Reality was the winner of the highest selling cake, a Grand Champion Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake made by Elizabeth Barton, and selling for $675.
After a decrease in sales last year, the community stepped up and brought the numbers back up again, with the funds generated from the sale totaling $2,380, compared to the $1,700 last year, under auctioneer Ben Robertson.
“It goes to a good cause,” said Coldwell Banker North Woods Reality owner, CJ Tuma.
The fair royalty were announced, with the princesses being Ivy Murray, Mateya Falck, Sydnee Blevins, Cheyenne Cada, and Bria Hyer. Molly Flower was named the 2019 Boundary County Fair Queen. This was Flower’s ninth and last year in 4-H.
“I knew if I didn’t enter I would regret it. It is my last year of 4-H so I decided to just go for it,” said Flower. “I am hoping to go through fair and talk to kids and help them understand more about fair and get them more involved as well.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, the Boundary County Fair officially began its 99th year.